This diverse career cluster prepares individuals for employment in career pathways that relate to families and human needs. Because it's all about interacting with and helping other people, the Human Services cluster is also where some of the most personally rewarding careers can be found.
This cluster prepares students for careers that improve quality of life and promotes safe and healthy communities. Workers in human services better the lives of others by tending to the "whole health" of an individual which includes their psychological, social and physical needs. Social service organizations help individuals with basic needs, such as housing, health and nutrition. This accounts for a number of jobs in this cluster.
A human services worker has many job opportunities in such diverse settings as group homes and halfway houses; correctional, mental retardation and community mental health centers; family, child and youth service agencies; and programs concerned with alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence and aging. There also are opportunities in cosmetology and personal fitness training. Depending on the career-field setting and the kinds of people served there, job titles and duties vary a great deal.
A strong desire to help others is an important consideration for a job as a human services worker. Patience, understanding and caring in dealings with others are necessary characteristics when applying for jobs in this field. Other important personal traits include communication skills, a strong sense of responsibility and the ability to manage time effectively.
Students need a solid background in academic, science, technical, communication and presentation skills. High school students seeking a career in the Human Services field should investigate ways to earn community-service credits in their schools.
The educational background for a career in the Human Services Cluster can begin in high school, then continue in technical colleges, two-year community colleges and four-year colleges, as well as from internships at career technical schools or institutes, and human resource organizations.
There are five pathways in the Human Services Career Cluster:
Students who want to pursue any of these career pathways should investigate these Cincinnati Public Schools' schools:
Aiken College and Career High School is located in the beautiful neighborhood of College Hill. Centrally located, the school is conveniently accessible to public transportation. Aiken College and Career High School creates an excellent learning environment and exemplifies strong school spirit, providing students the opportunity to explore and discover their possibilities. A school uniform policy contributes to the positive school climate.
Ninth and tenth graders have extensive opportunities to explore many career fields in public service. Juniors and seniors are provided the additional opportunity to declare a major and gain further awareness and understanding of a specific career. Areas of focus are:
Paideia (from the Greek word "pais, paidos," meaning the upbringing of a child) Human Services High School at Hughes offers a unique approach to active learning, and is built on a commitment to life-long learning. The Human Services pathway involves students in a variety of activities to teach them specialized skills for conflict management, problem solving, research with technology, and provides community-based experiences in the field of human services.
Hughes Center Paideia graduates must have completed four years of Seminar in Human Services Foundations, in which they have Socratic discussions of classical literature (Homer, Shakespeare, Milton), philosophy (Kant, Socrates, Plato) and the best of modern literature (Morrison, Gladwell, Angelou), as well as art and music. This all is related to the Human Services field experiences in counseling, social work, and volunteerism.
Students can graduate from high school having already earned college credit from area universities. Students also are encouraged to become active in their community by earning credit for verified community service. All seniors participate in the "Second Tuesday" project, where they volunteer for self-selected local service agencies to complete service requirements. They are required to research the political, historical and social aspects of the fields in which they are volunteering. They then present a summary of what they have learned and how it will help them move forward to an audience.
Additionally, juniors and seniors all take "College and Career Options in Human Services," in which the sole goal is to prepare for college — and possibly a career in human services — by discovering their interests, learning about colleges suited for them, preparing for and taking the ACT and SAT, and finally securing admission into the colleges of their choice.