probation, schools, and food banks. This course serves as your introduction to the field. In the final assignment, you will apply what you learned about the
history of the human services field and about current trends, theory, ethics, the helping process, roles, and the variety of settings in which human services
professionals are employed.
The project is supported by four formative milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality
final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four, Five, and Six. The final submission will be due in Module Seven.
This assessment addresses the following course outcomes:
Analyze the history of the field of human services for its relationship to current trends in the field
Describe theories, values, and ethics for guiding work as a human services professional
Differentiate between the various roles human services professionals employ facilitating the helping process
Research human services employment opportunities for informing career paths
Prompt
For the final assessment, you will select an agency in which you would like to be employed. You will research the types of services this agency offers by looking at
its website, visiting the agency (if possible), emailing or interviewing someone who works at the agency. Once you have gathered the information for this
project, you will explain why you selected this particular agency instead of others, write about how history and current trends have influenced this agency, what
theories, values, and ethical standards you would apply if you worked at the agency, and how your personal values might be challenged, what your role in the
helping process might be, and what qualifications you would need to apply for a job at that agency.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Human Services Profession
Choose a human services agency in which you would like to be employed.
a) What is the agency you selected, and what was your rationale for choosing this particular agency? What other agencies did you consider, and
why did you not select them? Why would you like to be employed at this agency?
II. Agency Description
Research the types of services this agency offers by looking at its website, visiting the agency (if possible), emailing or interviewing someone who works
at the agency.
a) What are the main types of services offered?
b) Describe what main type of professionals work within this agency, and describe their roles.
III. History and Current Trends
a) Give a brief history of the development of the agency. Consider describing who established it, why it was originally established, and how it has
evolved. Include the mission of the agency and any other pertinent information.
b) How is the history of the human services field similar to and different from the history of the agency?
c) Describe current trends that impact the work of the agency. How do these trends relate to the history of the human services field?
IV. Theories, Values, and Ethics
Review the code of ethics for human service professionals and theories learned in this class.
a) What is the importance of having a code of ethics? How would the code of ethics impact your provision of services in this agency?
b) Which standards in the Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals will be more and which will be less challenging to implement, and
why?
c) What theory might you apply while working with clients in your selected agency? Describe an example of how you might apply this theory in
your work at this agency.
V. Role in the Helping Process
Based on your research, what roles might you utilize at this agency in each stage of the helping process?
VI. Career Opportunities
Research the careers available in the specific agency, and discuss the qualifications.
a) Choose an entry-level position you are interested in pursuing, and discuss the qualifications you would need to apply for the position.
b) Detail the qualifications you possess and which skills you are lacking to qualify for the position.
VII. Summary of Learning
To conclude this paper, summarize what you have learned in this course that you can apply to your everyday life.
Sample Solution
