Career Path to Top

One of the types of careers I would like continue as I get older would be Social and Human Service Assistants. Through this intern I have learned more about this type of work and what it takes to accomplish this dream.
This career includes assisting psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, to provide client services, and also being able to support families in need. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or adult daycare. Exclude "Rehabilitation Counselors", "Personal and Home Care Aides", "Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs", and "Psychiatric Technicians".

State and National Wages
In California the median hourly wage is $13.70 and 90 % of it is $21.34 and hour. I think that this is a very low wage for the type of work they, and especially how in California they pay a lot more than other places in the United States

United States	Employment		Percent Change	Job Openings 1
	2004	2014
Social and human service assistants	351,700	456,000	+ 30 %	16,630
California	Employment		Percent Change	Job Openings 1
	2004	2014
Social and human service assistants	27,800	35,800	+ 29 %	1,300

State and National Trends
The employment in California seems like is not as much as other places in the United States and the percent change is only 1% difference.

Location	Pay Period	2005
		10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
United States	Hourly	$7.61	$9.54	$12.03	$15.30	$19.51
	Yearly	$15,800	$19,800	$25,000	$31,800	$40,600
California	Hourly	$8.79	$11.00	$13.70	$17.10	$21.34
	Yearly	$18,300	$22,900	$28,500	$35,600	$44,

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
A Social and Human Service Assistant has a lot of skills, knowledge and abilities that are needed to really help them do their job the best they can.
The most important knowledge that is needed to be a Social and Human Service Assistants is to know about Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Psychology, Therapy, Counseling, Education and Training.
There are also skills that are needed; some of them are, being an active listener, being able to speak to others and conveying information effectively, having the ability to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Social Perceptiveness is also another kill needed that includes being aware of others reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
The abilities a person should most likely have are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression, Speech Clarity, Speech Recognition, and Problem Sensitivity.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation Specific Tasks:

• Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
• Assist clients with preparation of forms, such as tax or rent forms.
• Assist in locating housing for displaced individuals.
• Assist in planning of food budget, using charts and sample budgets.
• Care for children in client's home during client's appointments.
• Consult with supervisor concerning programs for individual families.
• Demonstrate use and care of equipment for tenant use.
• Explain rules established by owner or management, such as sanitation and maintenance requirements, and parking regulations.
• Inform tenants of facilities, such as laundries and playgrounds.
• Interview individuals and family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
• Keep records and prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
• Meet with youth groups to acquaint them with consequences of delinquent acts.
• Monitor free, supplementary meal program to ensure cleanliness of facility and that eligibility guidelines are met for persons receiving meals.
• Observe and discuss meal preparation and suggest alternate methods of food preparation.
• Observe clients' food selections and recommend alternate economical and nutritional food choices.
• Oversee day-to-day group activities of residents in institution.
• Provide information and refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.
• Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
• Transport and accompany clients to shopping areas or to appointments, using automobile.
• Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements and procedures.

Generalized Work Activities:

• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Detailed Work Activities:

• advise clients or customers
• advise families with household problems
• attend to or care for children
• communicate visually or verbally
• compile data related to social service programs
• coordinate social service activities with resource providers
• demonstrate or explain assembly or use of equipment
• determine program eligibility
• determine social service program status
• empathize with others during counseling or related services
• explain rules, policies or regulations
• fill out business or government forms
• maintain awareness of social trends
• make presentations
• manage detailed case records in a social work setting
• motivate people
• obtain financial information from individuals
• obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
• prepare reports
• provide information about facilities
• record client's personal data
• relate to clients' socioeconomic conditions
• teach correct eating habits
• teach food or nutrition principles
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of food handling rules
• use teaching techniques
• work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses

Education and Training

Occupation	Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is-
	High School or Less	Some College	Bachelor Degree or More
Social and human service assistants	14.9%	27.9%	57.2%
Counselors, Social Workers, and Other Community and Social Service Specialists	11.2%	19.6%	69.1%
Community and Social Services	11.3%	20.2%	68.5%
Total, All Occupations	40.5%	27.4%	32%