Social and Human Service Assistants -- Ranks among the top 10 fastest growing occupations. Job opportunities should be excellent, particularly for
applicants with appropriate postsecondary education, but pay is low. Social and human service assistants is a generic term for people with various job titles,
including social service assistant, case management aide, social work assistant, residential counselor, community support worker, alcohol or drug abuse counselor,
mental health technician, child-care worker, community outreach worker, life skill counselor, and gerontology aide. They generally work under the direction of
professionals from a wide variety of fields, such as nursing, psychiatry, psychology, rehabilitation, or social work. While some employers hire high school graduates,
most prefer applicants with some college preparation in human services, social work, or one of the social or behavioral sciences. Some prefer to hire persons with a
4-year college degree.
