What Do Social and Human Services Assistants Do?
Social and human service assistants help people get through difficult times or get additional support. They may work with elderly; children and families; people with disabilities, addictions, or mental illnesses; veterans; former prison inmates; homeless people; or immigrants. They assist other health care workers, such as social workers, to provide services to people. “Social and human services assistant” is a general term for workers with a wide array of job titles, including human service worker, case work aide, crisis intervention counselor, clinical social work aide, community support worker, mental health aide, community outreach worker, life skills counselor, or gerontology aide. The job titles and duties are considerably different depending on the employment setting and the clients served. They usually work under the direction of workers from a variety of fields, such as nursing, psychiatry, psychology, rehabilitative or physical therapy, or social work. The amount of responsibility and supervision they are given also varies a great deal. Some have little direct supervision—they may run a group home, for example. Others work under close direction.
Social and human services assistants provide services to clients to help them improve their quality of life. They assess clients’ needs; develop care and treatment plans; review documentation; investigate clients’ eligibility for benefits and services such as food stamps, Medicaid, or welfare; and help clients to obtain such benefits and services. They also arrange for transportation and escorts, if necessary, and provide emotional support. Social and human services assistants monitor and keep case records on clients and report progress to supervisors and case managers.
For more information, please see: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-and-human-service-assistants.htm.
Where Do Social and Human Services Assistants Work?
Social and human services assistants are employed in diverse settings, such as group homes and recovery or halfway houses; institutional settings such as prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, and other rehabilitation and long-term care facilities; nonprofit organizations; community mental health centers; community health care settings; elderly, family, youth, and child service agencies; state and local government; and substance abuse programs.
Most social and human services assistants work a 40-hour week, but their shifts may vary, so they may work evening, nights, or weekends.
What Do Social and Human Services Assistants Earn?
In 2022, the average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for social and human services assistants in the United States was $41,600. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that, in 2023, social and human services assistants in New York earned a median annual salary of $40,942 (social and human services assistants in the 25th percentile made approximately $33,430 while those in the 75th percentile made approximately $51,691).
Supply and Demand
The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of jobs for social and human services assistants in the state will increase by 36% between 2020 and 2030.
Growth in this occupation will be due to the needs of an aging population and a rising demand for health care and social services. Growth is expected as more people seek treatment for addictions, and also workers will be needed to investigate child abuse cases as well as to place children in foster care and with adoptive families.
For more information on nurse social and human services assistants by New York State labor regions, 2018-2028, click here.
New York Educational Requirements
While a bachelor’s degree is not usually required for entry into this occupation, employers increasingly seek individuals with relevant work experience or education beyond high school. Certificate or associate degrees in subjects such as human services, social work, gerontology, or one of the social or behavioral sciences meet most employers’ requirements. Some jobs may require a bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field such as counseling, rehabilitation, or social work. Many degree programs require completion of a supervised internship. Most programs also offer specialized courses related to addictions, gerontology, child protection, and other areas.
In addition, these workers should have a strong desire to help others, effective communication skills, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to manage time effectively. Many social and human services jobs involve direct contact with people who are vulnerable to exploitation or mistreatment, so patience and understanding are also highly valued characteristics.
New York State Licensure Requirements
New York does not license social and human services assistants.
Financial Support
The National Organization for Human Services offers scholarships to the students of social and human services programs. For more information, go to: http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/awards-scholarships.
Education Programs in New York (subject to change)
| Finger Lakes Community College 3325 Marvin Sands Dr Canandaigua, NY 14424 (585)-394-3522 |
Suffolk County Community College 533 College Rd Selden, NY 11784 (631)-451-4110 |
| Alfred State SUNY College of Technology 10 Upper College Drive Alfred, NY 14802 (800) 425-3733 |
Bronx Community College 2155 University Ave Bronx, NY 10453 (718) 289-5100 |
| Clinton Community College 136 Clinton Point Drive Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 562-4200 |
LaGuardia Community College 31-10 Thomson Ave Long Island City, NY 11101 (718) 482-7200 |
| Herkimer Community College 100 Reservoir Road Herkimer, NY 13350 (315) 866-0300 |
New York City College of Technology 300 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718)260-5000 |
| Dutchess Community College 53 Pendell Rd Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (845) 431-8000 |
North Country Community College 23 Santanoni Ave Saranac Lake, NY 12983 (518) 891-2915 |
| Tompkins Cortland Community College 170 North Street Dryden, NY 13053 (607) 844-8211 |
Broome Community College 907 Upper Front St Binghamton, NY 13902 (607) 778-5000 |
| Touro University New York School of Career & Applied Studies 27-33 W 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 (212) 463-0400 |
Orange County Community College 115 South Street Middletown, NY 10940 (845) 344-6222 |
| Niagara County Community College 3111 Saunders Settlement Rd Sanborn, NY 14132 (716) 614-6222 |
Cazenovia College 22 Sullivan Street Cazenovia, NY 13035 (800) 654-3210 |
| St Joseph’s College-Brooklyn 245 Clinton Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205 (718) 940-5300 |
Mohawk Valley Community College 1101 Sherman Dr Utica, NY 13501 (315) 792-5400 |
| Erie Community College 121 Ellicott Street Buffalo, NY 14203 (716) 851-1322 |
St Joseph’s College-Long Island 155 W Roe Blvd Patchogue, NY 11772 (631) 687-5100 |
| Jefferson Community College 1220 Coffeen Street Watertown, NY 13601 (888) 435-6522 |
Guttman Community College-CUNY 50 W 40th Street New York, NY 10018 (646) 313-8000 |
| Mount Saint Mary College 330 Powell Ave Newburgh, NY 12550 (845) 561-0800 |
Schenectady County Community College 78 Washington Ave Schenectady, NY 12305 (518) 381-1200 |
| SUNY Morrisville 80 Eaton St Morrisville, NY 13408 (315) 684-6000 |
Fulton-Montgomery Community College 2805 State Highway 67 Johnstown, NY 12095 (518) 736-3622 |
| Monroe Community College 1000 E Henrietta Road Rochester, NY 14623 (585) 292-2000 |
Hudson Valley Community College 80 Vandenburgh Ave Troy, NY 12180 (518) 629-4822 |
| Bryant & Stratton College (Online) 1-866-948-0571 |
Hilbert College 5200 S Park Ave Hamburg, NY 14075 (716) 649-7900 |
| SUNY Ulster 491 Cottekill Road Stone Ridge, NY 12484 (845) 687-5000 |
Excelsior College 7 Columbia Circle Albany, NY 12203 (888) 647-2388 |
| Westchester Community College 75 Grasslands Road Valhalla, NY 10595 (914) 606-6600 |
Onondaga Community College 4585 W Seneca Turnpike Syracuse, NY 13215 (315) 498-2000 |
| York College 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11451 (718) 262-2000 |
Ithaca College 913 Danby Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-3011 |
| SUNY Onetona 108 Ravine Parkway Oneonta, NY 13820 (607) 436-3500 |
Adelphi University 1 S Ave Garden City, NY 11530 (800) 233-5744 |
| SUNY Brockport 350 New Campus Drive Brockport, NY 14420 (585) 395-2211 |
SUNY Plattsburgh 101 Broad Street Plattsburgh NY, 12901 (518) 564-2000 |
| SUNY Stony Brook 118 Administration Building Stony Brook, NY 11794 (631) 632-6868 |
Syracuse University David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics 150 Crouse Dr. Syracuse, NY 13244 (315) 443-5555 |
| Manhattan Community College Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice Department 199 Chambers Street, Room N-651 New York, NY 10007 (212) 220-1210 |
Cayuga Community College 197 Franklin Street Auburn NY 13021 (866) 598-8883 |
| Empire State University 2 Union Avenue Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (800) 847-3000 |
Metropolitan College of New York 60 West Street New York, NY 10006 (212) 343-1234 |
| Nassau Community College One Education Drive Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 572-7501 |
Alliance University 2 Washington Street New York, NY 10004 (212) 625-0500 |
| SUNY Albany 1400 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12222 (518) 442-3300 |
Buffalo State University 1300 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo NY, 14222 (716) 878-4000 |
| Mercy College 555 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 (914) 674-7600 |
College of Staten Island 2800 Victory Blvd Staten Island, NY 10314 (718) 982-2000 |
| The College of Saint Rose 432 Western Avenue Albany, NY 12203 (800) 637-8556 |
Lehman College 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West Bronx, NY 10468 (718) 960 – 8000 |
| Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work 2180 Third Avenue New York, NY 10035 (212) 396-7500 |
Fordham University Lincoln Center 113 W. 60th Street New York, NY 10023 (212) 636-6000 |
| Dominican University 470 Western Highway Orangeburg, NY 10962 (845) 359-7800 |
Daemen University 4380 Main Street Amherst, NY 14226 (800) 462-7652 |
| Iona University 715 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10801 (800) 231-4662 |
Keuka College 141 Central Avenue Keuka Park, NY 14478 (315) 279-5000 |
| Long Island University 720 Northern Boulevard Brookville, NY 11548 (516) 299-2485 |
Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (845) 575-3000 |
| Medgar Evers College 1650 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11225 (718) 270-4900 |
Molloy University 1000 Hempstead Avenue Rockville Centre, NY 11570 (888) 466-5569 |
| Nazareth University 4245 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 (585) 389-2755 |
Niagara University 5795 Lewiston Rd Niagara University, NY 14109 (716) 286-8516 |
| Roberts Wesleyan University 2301 Westside Dr. Rochester, NY 14624 (800) 777-4792 |
New York University Silver School of Social Work 1 Washington Square North New York, NY 10003 (212) 998-5900 |
| Siena College 515 Loudon Road Loudonville, NY 12211 (518) 783-2300 |
Skidmore College 815 North Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 580-5445 |
| SUNY Fredonia 280 Central Ave. Fredonia, NY 14063 (716) 673-3111 |
SUNY Binghamton 4400 Vestal Parkway East Binghamton, NY 13902 (607) 777-2000 |
Additional Web Links
For more information on social and human services assistants, go to:
National Organization for Human Services: http://www.nationalhumanservices.org
Council for Standards in Human Services Education: http://www.cshse.org
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