Things that I Know

This is the start of my offering study notes and guides to all the subjects that I have studied since undergraduate studies. The fields that I have studied while in college and even graduate school are: Early Childhood and Elementary education followed by a year in nursing school in a Practical nursing program. When after a few years I decided to go back to college and get a second Bachelors degree in Human services/Social work. This led me to starting a graduate program in Counseling that ended up in getting my Master's in Curriculum and instruction that also lead me to getting my doctorate in Reading and literacy. In studying and learning all about these areas I would like to share my class notes as well as some study guides and quizzes that I will create to give readers a chance to see what is entailed in these areas of study. I am also thinking about writing study outlines with the textbooks that I have studied over the years. There may also be some courses that I had in high school that I plan to write lesson plans and lectures for any education majors that may need ideas for their student teaching semester.

The first set of notes that I am going to share with any one that may be interested are my notes for the first course in Human services or better known as HSV 201 Introduction to Human services.

Chapter One-

The definition of human services is a discipline where various skills are shown where clients who need help with physical and emotional problems are taught how to solve their own problems over time. It is also about community welfare that uses psychology and sociology in the human service field; people who work in all areas in the community and other agencies involved.

Motivations in this field

1. helping others

2. interested in self-explanation

3. exert control- one must exert self empowerment of the client

4. validation in helping others

Motivation is important in this field for everyone involved. No single approach to agreement is the most effective to the behavioral points are considered, which are Time-out and negative and positive reinforcements.

The Eclectic Approach is the intergrated multiple methods in theoretical approaches. An example would be group or individual therapy dealing with the present. Human service workers must determine what approach to take will be what your managed care coordinator (Medicaid) decides on, and depends on the contracts with a particular agency or service with HCFA and the use of confidentiality these people will self-pay this states how they vary in delivery of human services. The laws vary from state to state.

TANF is a public assistance that is also provided. There is a term that is devolution and it is the transferring of power from the federal level back to the state and local levels, and also how the insurance laws may be affected.

There is a negative competition between the states in dealing with social problems. There are faith-based iniatives and organizations that are formed. 'Head Start' which is a preschool that is federally based with uniformly followed guidelines. Tax monies are used to find private agencies that will still try to follow guidelines on county and state level.

Information sources for Human services

1. Internet

2. Blue pages in the phone book (cell phone directories)

3. Separate resources that are sent to director's offices directories

*What prevents BARRIERS to getting help.

Internal barrier is an emotion or an attitude that makes it difficult for a person to seek help.

External barrier is something in the environment that makes it difficult to seek help like a lack of insurance or access to assistance.

BARRIERS - internal between the helper and the client.

1. difficulty of evaluating the seriousness of the problem and deals with perception of idea.

2. tendancy to deny the gravity of the problem

3. fear of being judged, labeled, or punished

4. suspicion or distrust of human service workers or agencies. As an example of this CYS (Children and Youth Services) placements- will they make me do something they don't want to do.

5. the shame of not being able to solve one's own problem(s).

6. fear of the unknown "What-If" questions.

BARRIERS- external - service development and advocacy

7. the difficulty of choosing the appropriate program or helper or how to you know the right choice.

8. inadequacy of services and cultural issues covered, for example battering programs and the language, availiability of Christian-based faith.

9. the high cost of services like insurance that doesn't cover because of location of counselor, client or agency.

10. the past history, reputation or public image of the program. An example of this are the negative experiences that affect the agency or client.

11. the myths and lack of information about the human services or how a person sees a department they need or don't need. What kind you may need to help and what has helped.

The EAP (Employee Assistance Program) are programs that are offered directly by employers to employees to give help in support-mental, substance abuse, legal issues, and financial problems. They are paid by employer or sponsored by others.

End of Chapter One