Health Careers
Human Services Worker
Professional Activities
“Human service worker” is a generic term for people who hold professional and paraprofessional jobs in such diverse settings as group homes and halfway houses; correctional centers; community mental health and development disability centers; elder, family, child, and youth service agencies; and programs concerned with drug abuse alcoholism, family violence, and aging. Depending on the employment setting and the kinds of clients served there, job titles and duties vary a great deal.
The primary purpose of the human service worker is to assist individuals and communities to function as effectively as possible in the major domains of living. Some examples of occupational titles of human service workers include: Case Worker, Family Support Worker, Life Skills Instructor, Probation Officer, Group Home Worker, Mental Health Worker, Community Outreach Worker, Residential Manager, Care Coordinator.
A strong desire to help others is an important consideration for a job as a human services worker. Individuals who show patience, understanding, and caring in their dealings with others are highly valued by employers. Other important personal traits include effective interpersonal communication skills, a strong sense of responsibility, and the ability to manage time effectively.
Human Service Workers are found in diverse settings such as group homes, correctional facilities, community mental health centers, and a wide variety of other social service programs. In rural Alaska, employment opportunities include regional health corporations and federal, state, and local governmental agencies.
Educational Requirements
The human service worker may be a paraprofessional with a two-year associate degree or a professional with a four-year bachelor’s degree.
- Graduation from high school or completion of a GED.
- Completion of a two-year associate of applied science degree in human services, or
- Completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree in human services.
Academic Programs
The University of Alaska Anchorage offers both a two-year associate of applied science (AAS) degree and a four-year Bachelor of Human Services (BHS) degree. The AAS is articulated with the BHS in a “two plus two” sequence. The program offers specialized areas in substance abuse, disabilities, diversity issues, or family and youth. The Human Services Department also houses the Addictions Minor at UAA and offers an Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Conflict Resolution. It should also be noted that graduates of the Human Services AAS and BHS programs have recently been approved to apply for State of Alaska Chemical Dependency Counseling Certification.
For more information, contact:
University of Alaska Anchorage
Human Services Department, PSB 212
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Phone: (907) 786-6437
Fax: (907) 786-6436
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://hums.uaa.alaska.edu/
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Tanana Valley Campus offers an associate of applied science degree in Human Services primarily for students in Fairbanks and surrounding communities that can attend traditional classroom sessions. There are some on-line courses available too. This AAS degree offers a selection of concentrations including addictions counseling, behavioral health, and interdisciplinary concentration.
For more information, contact:
University of Alaska Fairbanks Human Services at Tanana Valley Campus
Barbara Price, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator
604 Barnette Street, Suite 205
P.O. Box 758040
Fairbanks, AK 99775
Phone: (907) 455-2987
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.tvc.uaf.edu/programs/HUMS/index.html
The College of Rural and Community Development’s Interior-Aleutians Campus offers a two-year Rural Human Services certificate Program. It is intended for Alaska Natives who are natural helpers and healers in their communities, and it is designed to offer culturally appropriate training for village-based providers. Courses blend Native and Western knowledge, values, and principles.
For more information, contact:
Interior-Aleutians Campus
Harper Building
P.O. Box 756720
Fairbanks, AK 99775
Toll free: (800) 478-5696
Fax: (907) 474-5208
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.uaf.edu/rhs/index.html
The College of Rural and Community Development offers an A.A.S. degree in Human Services through two program delivery pathways. Students may complete the A.A.S. degree through distance education from their respective home communities or qualifying students may participate in a blended delivery cohort model that includes weeklong face-to-face sessions and distance education at participating rural campuses and UAF centers. The leading degree emphasis for the Human Services program is in behavioral health and addictions services. Rural students should speak with a faculty advisor to discuss credits available for transfer to bachelor degree programs such as social work or rural development. University campus students may register for distance courses with prior approval from the Tanana Valley Campus HUMS Coordinator. For more information contact:
UAF College of Rural and Community Development (CRCD) Human Services Distance Learning
Leona Schick, Cross-Regional Coordinator of Human Services
2221 E. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 109
Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4140
Phone: (907) 786-1628
Fax: (907) 786-1657
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.uaf.edu/crcdhealth/index.htm
Diane McEachern, Coordinator Human Services statewide Cohort Program
Kuskokwim Campus
P.O. Box 368
Bethel, Alaska 99559-0368
Phone: (907) 543-4597
Fax: (907) 543-4527
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.uaf.edu/crcdhealth/index.htm
Alaska Pacific University offers a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in Human Services. Classes are dynamic and participatory, taking place outside of a formal classroom as often as inside. For more information contact:
Alaska Pacific University
Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services
4101 University Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Phone: (907)-564-8225
Toll free: (800) 252-7528
Web site: http://www.alaskapacific.edu/academics/Departments/psych/Pages/Default.aspx
Contacts
National Contacts:
National Organization for Human Services
5341 Old Highway 5, Ste 206 #214
Woodstock, GA 30188
Phone: (770) 924-8899
Fax: (678) 494-5076
Web site: http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/
Mental Health America
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: (703) 684-7722
Toll free: (800) 969-6642
Fax: (703) 684-5968
Web site: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/about-us
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on September 28, 2009
