Social and Human Service Assistants
Social and human service assistants help clients get social services.
Social and human service assistants work in a variety of places, including social service agencies, schools, and community assistance programs. Many social service assistants work in residential care homes for the elderly.
Social and Human Service Assistants are in the Human Services career cluster and the Family and Community Services pathway.
Quick Facts
Wages: |
Below the statewide median
$13.66 / hour Read more about wages |
Outlook: |
Percent Growth
21.8% Well above statewide average Read more about outlook |
Education & Training: |
Moderate-term on-the-job training (1-12 months) is common. |
On the Job: |
Work Activities
Assess your skills |
Job Title Examples: |
Addictions Counselor Assistant,
Case Worker,
Casework Specialist
See more job title examples |
Source: Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and CareerOneStop.
Wages & Outlook
Wages
Wages vary by the assistant's level of responsibility and training. Those who have experience generally earn more than those who are new to the occupation. In addition, wages vary by employer and area of the country.
Social and human service assistants who work for state and local government agencies usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and a retirement plan. Many employers give benefits only to full-time employees. Some employers may not offer benefits.
View the Regional Wage Comparison Chart for:
Employment
In Minnesota, about 16,060 social and human service assistants work in this large occupation.
Major employers:
- Social services agencies
- Residential care centers
- Vocational rehabilitation agencies
- Community relief organizations
- State and local government agencies
Outlook
The demand for social services will increase as the population grows and people get older. For example, meal delivery programs will continue to expand as the population ages. In addition, more of the elderly will move to residential care homes. Assistants will be needed to make sure the elderly get all the services they are eligible for.
Job training programs also are expected to require additional social and human service assistants. Social welfare policies have shifted from benefit-based programs to work-based initiatives. Thus, there will be more demand for people to teach job skills to the people who are new to, or returning to, the workforce.
In addition, opportunities will be available at residential care establishments, as they are facing higher needs as the number of people who are disabled is increasing. Workers will also be needed at community-based and independent-living sites that are being established to assist the homeless and mentally and physically disabled. Treatment programs for substance abuse are also going to need more assistants.
Low pay and stressful working conditions cause some people to leave this occupation. The need to replace workers who retire or leave this occupation will create many openings. Job prospects will be best for those with related postsecondary education.
| Employment | Employment Change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2020 | Number | Percent | |
| U S | 384,200 | 490,200 | 106,000 | 27.6% |
| Minnesota | 18,230 | 22,200 | 3,970 | 21.8% |
| 2010 | 2020 | Number | Percent | |
| Central Minnesota | 1,622 | 2,049 | 427 | 26.3% |
| Northeast Minnesota | 2,333 | 2,928 | 595 | 25.5% |
| Northwest Minnesota | 2,612 | 3,289 | 677 | 25.9% |
| Southeast Minnesota | 1,450 | 1,814 | 364 | 25.1% |
| Southwest Minnesota | 1,821 | 2,133 | 312 | 17.1% |
| Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN | 8,136 | 9,785 | 1,649 | 20.3% |
Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.
On the Job
Overview
Social and human service assistants help clients get social services.
Do you consider yourself the ultimate people person? Have you always thought of yourself as a helper, one who always has an "extra hand" to spare? You might want to consider working as a social and human service assistant. You'd be a helper in a helping profession.Social and human service assistants work in a variety of places, including social service agencies, schools, and community assistance programs. In social service agencies, they help determine what people's needs are for financial, health, and food assistance. They interview people to assess their needs and determine if they qualify for benefits. Sometimes they help people fill out forms to get food stamps, Medicaid, and other benefits. They monitor and keep case records on clients.
Many social service assistants work in residential care homes for the elderly. They also deliver meals to elderly people's homes or provide transportation to medical appointments. Some social service assistants check in with older people on a regular basis so they can continue living at home.
Changes in the welfare system have led to a growing number of people needing to find jobs. Many social and human service assistants provide job training. They also help parents locate child care so they can work outside the home.
In the community, social and human service assistants work in food banks and energy assistance programs. They may also work in drug and alcohol programs or homeless shelters. Sometimes they work in schools. They may serve as leaders of groups where students can express worries and concerns.
Social and human service assistants may organize or lead discussion groups for pregnant teens, AIDS patients, and others in need of support. They teach people budgeting, how to prepare healthy food, and other daily living activities. They also teach communication and conflict resolution skills.
Social and human service assistants provide emotional support and counseling to people. They work closely with social workers, psychologists, and providers of medical care. They must maintain accurate records and consult with supervisors when problems come up.
Work Activities
The following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career.
- Refer clients to community services for assistance.
- Monitor group activities of residents in institution.
- Monitor and maintain case records on clients. Report progress to supervisors and care managers.
- Interview clients and family members to assess their needs.
- Meet with youth groups to tell them about the consequences of certain actions.
- Visit clients at home or in group meetings. Provide information on community services.
- Provide or arrange transportation for elderly clients.
- Advise clients on food stamps, money management, and sanitation.
- Explain rules to clients about their housing, such as parking regulations.
- Provide clients with new ideas for preparing meals.
- Demonstrate proper use of equipment.
- Review problems with supervisors or medical support personnel.
- Monitor food programs for cleanliness and compliance to eligibility guidelines.
- Advise clients on budgeting and shopping for well-balanced meals.
- Inform clients of nearby facilities, such as laundries and playgrounds.
- Help parents locate child care.
- Assist in locating housing for clients.
- Help clients fill out forms, such as tax or rent forms.
- Provide emotional support to clients.
- Organize or lead support groups.
People in this career perform the following list of tasks, but the tasks are common to many occupations.
- Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates.
- Assist others.
- Get information needed to do the job.
- Establish and maintain relationships.
- Document and record information.
- Identify objects, actions, and events.
- Organize, plan, and prioritize work.
- Update and use job-related knowledge.
- Make decisions and solve problems.
- Communicate with people from outside the organization.
- Monitor events, materials, and surroundings.
- Schedule work and activities.
- Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others.
- Process information.
- Explain the meaning of information to others.
- Coach others.
- Work with the public.
- Evaluate information against standards.
- Use computers.
- Teach others.
Working Conditions
In a typical work setting, people in this career:
- Have a high level of social contact. Social and human service assistants work closely with clients, medical professionals, and other social service workers.
- Communicate with clients daily by telephone or in person.
- Write e-mails, letters, and memos on a weekly basis.
- Are often involved in conflict situations in which people might be unpleasant, angry, or rude.
- Are somewhat responsible for the health and safety of their clients. They must be sure that clients receive the food and medical care they require.
- May occasionally be exposed to people who may be aggressive or violent.
- Are somewhat responsible for the work done by other assistants.
- Work in a group or as part of a team.
- Usually work indoors. However, they sometimes work outdoors when visiting clients or delivering meals.
- Work in a vehicle when visiting clients or delivering meals.
- Work somewhat close to other people, such as when sharing office space.
- Must be exact in their work. Errors could prevent clients from receiving the services they need.
- Must repeat the same physical activities, such as driving to clients' homes.
- Make decisions on a weekly basis that strongly impact clients. They rarely consult supervisors before making decisions.
- Are able to set most tasks for the day without consulting with a supervisor.
- Must meet strict deadlines on a weekly basis.
- Generally have a set schedule each week.
- May work part time or full time, but most work 40 hours a week.
- May work evenings and weekends, if working at residential care homes.
Interpersonal Relationships
Physical Work Conditions
Work Performance
Hours/Travel
Physical Demands
In a typical work setting, people in this career:
- Sit while helping people fill out forms.
- Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
- Understand the speech of another person.
- See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
- See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
- Use fingers or hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
- Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
- Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
- Determine the distance between objects.
- See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
- Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
- Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
- Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
- Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
- Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
- Use muscles to jump, sprint, or throw objects.
- Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
- Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
People in this career frequently:
It is important for people in this career to be able to:
It is not as important, but still necessary, for people in this career to be able to:
Source: Minnesota Department of Education.
Education & Training
Preparation
To work as a social or human service assistant, you typically need to:
- have a high school diploma or GED; and
- complete short-term on-the-job training.
Education after high school
Social and human service assistants who specialize in clerical work must have at least a high school diploma. To work directly with clients you need college-level training. Certificates or degrees in social work, psychology, sociology, human services, or gerontology are favored. Community colleges and universities offer degrees in these areas. Look for programs that train you to observe patients and write reports. You should also know how to conduct interviews, manage caseloads, and perform crisis intervention.
Work experience
Experience working with people and handling clerical tasks is good background for this occupation.
On-the-job training
Social and human service assistants receive training after they are hired. This may be in a classroom setting, on the job, or both. You learn to observe clients, record information, conduct client interviews, and make referrals. You also learn to use problem-solving skills, perform crisis intervention, and use proper case management methods. You may receive training for up to one month.
You should consider participating in an internship while in college. An internship is usually part of a four-year degree program. It offers you a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a work situation. It also allows you to build skills and make contacts with people in the field.
Related Programs (Current training programs available)
- Developmental Services Worker.
- Human Services, General
- Mental & Social Health Services & Allied Professions, Other
Fields of Study (What to study to prepare for this career)
Click on any of the Fields of Study listed below to find out more about preparing for this career.
Helpful High School Courses
In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.
You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.
Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include:
- Computer Applications
- Ethnic and Gender Studies
- Keyboarding
- Legal System
- Psychology
- Sociology
The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.
You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.
Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career.
Source: Minnesota Department of Education.
Skills
People in this career need to:
- Listen to others, understand, and ask questions.
- Express ideas clearly when speaking or writing.
- Read and understand written information.
- Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
- Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
- Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
- Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
- Develop rules or follow guidelines for arranging items.
- Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
- Identify problems and review information. Develop, review, and apply solutions.
- Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
- Check how well one is learning or doing something.
- Manage the time of self and others.
- Be aware of others' reactions and change behavior in relation to them.
- Look for ways to help people.
- Persuade others to approach things differently.
Communicate
Reason and Problem Solve
Manage Oneself, People, Time and Things
Work with People
Knowledge
People in this career need knowledge in the following areas:
- Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of providing special services to customers based on their needs.
- Therapy and Counseling: Knowledge of the effect of diseases and injuries. Knowledge of how to give advice on social or personal problems. Also includes the knowledge of setting up a plan for treatment.
- Psychology: Knowledge of people, their actions, and mental processes. This may include knowledge of how to treat emotional and behavioral problems.
- Administration and Management: Knowledge of managing the operations of a business, company, or group.
- Clerical: Knowledge of general office work such as filing and recording information.
- English Language: Knowledge of the meaning, spelling, and use of the English language.
- Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of protecting people, data, and property.
- Education and Training: Knowledge of teaching and the methods involved in learning and instruction.
- Sociology and Anthropology: Knowledge of the behavior, customs, and origins of groups of people.
- Law, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, rules, court procedures, and the political process.
Interests
People in this career are people who tend to:
- Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
- Consider support from their employer important. They like to be treated fairly and have supervisors who will back them up. They prefer jobs where they are trained well.
- Consider independence important. They like to make decisions and try out ideas on their own. They prefer jobs where they can plan their work with little supervision.
- Have conventional interests. They like work activities that follow set procedures, routines, and standards. They like to work with data and detail. They prefer working where there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Have social interests. They like work activities that assist others and promote learning and personal development. They like to communicate with others: to teach, give advice, help, or otherwise be of service to others.
- Have enterprising interests. They like work activities that involve starting up and carrying out projects, especially in business. They like to lead and persuade others, make decisions, and take risks for profit.
Source: Minnesota Department of Education.
Tools & Technology for Social and Human Service Assistants
Tools
Automobiles or cars
| Personal computers
|
Technology
Data base user interface and query software
| Office suite software
|
Licensing / Certification
Certification Details
Certifications are examinations that test or enhance your knowledge, experience or skills in an occupation or profession.
There are 12 certifications related to this career.
Licensing Details
No State of Minnesota license requirements are found for this career.
Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and CareerOneStop.
Jobs
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Hiring Practices
Most employers require applicants to have some education beyond high school. Work experience may also be required. Sometimes summer jobs or volunteer positions lead to permanent work. Some employers hire student interns after they complete their degree.
Social and human service assistants who work in group homes may be required to have a valid driver's license. They may also be required to pass a background check.
Employers look for applicants with good communication and time management skills. Employers also look for applicants who are patient, supportive, and encouraging.
Advancement Opportunities
Social and human service assistants may advance to other positions in their agency. They may advance to dealing with more difficult cases or have larger caseloads. Those who have good organizational skills may become managers or supervisors. Attending in-service training, such as seminars and workshops, is a good way to acquire skills needed for advancement.
Assistants may also advance to other occupations that involve counseling. For example, they may become social workers, counselors, or psychologists. However, a master's degree is usually required for these positions. Some employers may pay for assistants to take classes.
Job Title Examples
Addictions Counselor Assistant, Case Worker, Casework Specialist, Homebased Assistant, Human Services Program Specialist, Mental Health Technician, Outreach Specialist, Advocate, Caseworker, Social Worker
Similar Careers
Below are careers similar to Social and Human Service Assistants you may be interested in reading about.
If you are looking to broaden your job search,
these careers require similar skills. Click on the names to link to their career profile.
Child Care Workers
Job Benefits and Analysis Specialists
Occupational Therapists
Personal and Home Care Aides
Physical Therapist Assistants
Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers
Psychiatric Technicians
Rehabilitation Counselors
Residential Counselors
Social Workers
Related Industries
Below are industries related to Social and Human Service Assistants you may be interested in reading about. Employers in these industries typically hire
Social and Human Service Assistants. Click on the names to link to their industry profile.
Education
Hospitals
Social Services And Counseling
Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.
