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?
According to the 2019 BLS, the average salary for full time social and human service assistants nationwide was $37,050, varying by specialty and geographic region. Average annual salary also varies greatly across New York State, depending on location. The NYSDOL reports that social and human service assistants in New York earned an average annual salary of $38,840, (entry level-$26,190, experienced- $56,060).
Supply and Demand
In the time period of 2016 to 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of social and human services assistants is projected to grow 16.4% nationwide and by 21.9% in New York during the same period.
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, 2014-2024, 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 |
| Columbia-Greene Community College 4400 Route 23 Hudson, NY 12534 (518) 828-4181 |
New York City College of Technology 300 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718)260-5000 |
| Corning Community College 1 Academic Dr Corning, NY 14830 (607) 962-9222 |
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 |
| NY School of Career & Applied Studies Touro College 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 |
Elmira College One Park Place Elmira, NY 14901 (800) 935-6472 |
| Canisius 2001 Main St Buffalo, NY 14208 (716) 883-7000 |
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 |
| Herkimer Community College 100 Reservoir Road Herkimer, NY 13350 (315) 866-0300 |
Dutchess Community College 53 Pendell Rd Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (845) 431-8000 |
| Hudson Valley Community College 80 Vandenburgh Ave Troy, NY 12180 (518) 629-4822 |
Bryant & Stratton College (Online) 1-866-948-0571 |
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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