Types of Social and Human Services Assistants

Various factors—from growing income inequality and rising healthcare costs to increasing demand for mental health support—underscore the urgent need for social and human services in today’s world. Some key statistics illuminate the widespread impact of these challenges:

• About 11% of Americans, almost 40 million people, live in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, including about 10 million children.
• Americans spent nearly $5 trillion on healthcare in 2023, a 7.5% increase from 2022 and a new all-time high, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
• About 1 in 5 adults and about 1 in 6 children experience a mental health issue each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). 

Professionals in social and human services provide critical support to individuals and communities facing challenges, including economic hardship and housing instability, health concerns, and social isolation. Their work is instrumental in helping people experiencing disadvantages navigate complex systems and access vital resources. 

The social and human services field offers diverse career paths and opportunities to help those in need. Earning an associate degree can open doors for those who want to make a meaningful impact, positioning them to enter the field as social and human services assistants. 

Why Are Social and Human Services Important?

Social and human services professionals serve a diverse population of clients, providing critical support to individuals facing various challenges. Their work is instrumental in building healthier, more resilient communities and ensuring that essential resources are accessible to everyone who needs them.

The support social and human services workers provide is as vital as ever. As of 2019, nearly 100 million people—roughly a third of the U.S. population and about 1 in 4 adults—received some form of federal assistance, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This includes the following:

• 37 million people receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• 10 million people receiving federal rental assistance 
• 56 million people enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Additionally, millions more benefit from state and local social programs.

Exploring the significant need for social assistance among certain populations, such as older adults and those facing poverty, illustrates the essential role of these programs. 

Aging

Older adults are among the biggest beneficiaries of social and human services. Millions of older adults receive various forms of social assistance, including housing assistance, nutrition assistance, and transportation assistance. 

The nation’s population of older adults has grown significantly over the last century—five times faster than the total population—climbing to over 56 million in 2020, according to census data. By 2030, about 1 in 5 Americans will be age 65 and older, and a few years later, older adults will outnumber children (those under 18) for the first time in U.S. history. 

Older adults are more likely than the general population to rely on social programs, primarily due to medical and financial challenges.

• Approximately 6 to 8 million adults who are 65 and older were living in poverty as of 2022, according to KFF. 
• Nearly half of older adults who need assistance with daily activities, such as bathing and running errands, aren’t receiving that support, according to an analysis by The Journals of Gerontology.
• Almost 7 million Americans 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s disease—a condition that compromises their ability to take care of themselves and one of the leading causes of death for older adults—and that number could double over the next few decades, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Social and human services assistants provide a great deal of aid to older adults, including coordinating meal delivery, arranging transportation for medical appointments, and setting up personal care aides to help with their self-care needs. 

Substance Use and Mental Illness

About 17% of the U.S. population, or nearly 50 million people, experienced substance misuse in 2023, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). However, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse(NIDA; now known as the National Institute on Drugs and Addiction), only about 6% of those people received treatment for a substance use disorder. 

Additionally, SAMHSA reported that nearly 1 in 4 adults experienced a mental illness, and about 1 in 20 experienced a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. 

Social and human services professionals are instrumental in helping these individuals access the resources they need to live with dignity and independence. This may entail identifying rehabilitation centers or support groups, helping them find housing or employment, and arranging personal care services.

Poverty and Homelessness

Poverty is a significant area of focus for those who work in social services, as economic hardship is associated with all sorts of adverse health outcomes, including increased risk of mental illness, chronic disease, substance use, and lower life expectancy.

Additionally, poverty affects many of the client groups that receive social assistance, including older adults, immigrants, and those experiencing substance use. 

Homelessness is also a rising concern. Approximately 650,000 people—including many veterans, another group often aided by social and human services assistants—were experiencing homelessness in 2023, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. That includes about a quarter of a million people without housing, meaning that they had no fixed or temporary housing and lived on the streets or in makeshift accommodations.

Social and human services workers support low-income individuals and families and those experiencing homelessness in several ways. They may help them find housing or employment, locate food assistance (for example, soup kitchens), and connect them with other community resources to improve their quality of life.

What Do Social and Human Services Assistants Do?

Social and human services assistants take on a wide range of roles and responsibilities, which vary based on where they work and the type of clients they work with. These professionals generally help clients, including individuals and families, access and use various resources and community services designed to support their health and well-being. 

They may work in the private sector, supporting various nonprofit organizations, or in the public sector as government employees. Work settings include government offices, clinics, hospitals, shelters, and nursing homes. 

A social and human services assistant’s job description may encompass numerous duties, including the following:

• Evaluating clients’ needs and determining what type of assistance they need
• Identifying resources, such as nutrition assistance or Medicaid, available to clients 
• Developing a treatment plan in collaboration with clients and other professionals
• Helping clients access needed services and coordinating delivery
• Supporting clients in finding employment, housing, food, and other necessities 
• Following up with clients to ensure that services are meeting their needs 

Specific day-to-day responsibilities generally depend on the type of clients a social and human services assistant deals with. For example, a professional who works with people with disabilities may help connect them to rehabilitation and personal care services, while those who work with former prison inmates may facilitate job or housing searches. 

Social and human services assistants work closely with and typically under the supervision of social workers, psychologists, and other community and social service workers. These professionals collaborate to design and implement comprehensive plans that address the unique needs of their clients.

What Is the Job Market for Social and Human Services Assistants?

The employment outlook for those who work in social and human services is very promising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that social and human services assistant employment will grow by 8% between 2023 and 2033, creating more than 48,400 new jobs each year. This is double the projected average job growth of all careers.

Related professions in the community and social services sector, such as social workers and community health workers, will also see substantial job gains over the decade, growing by 7% and 13%, respectively. 

Various factors will drive growth, including increasing demand for social services from an older adult population that’s getting larger every day. Additionally, as more people with substance use disorders are directed to treatment programs instead of being sent to jail, more social services workers will be needed to support these individuals. 

Rising employment means that there will be plenty of opportunities for aspiring social services professionals to make an impact in this field. 

Careers in Social and Human Services

Working in social services offers diverse career paths and the chance to collaborate with a wide range of colleagues and clients. The term “social and human services assistant” is used to describe many different roles, such as client advocate, case management aide, social work aide, and family service assistant. 

Many of these roles require at least a high school diploma, as well as some on-the-job training. However, an associate degree is becoming an increasingly common requirement. This relatively accessible entry point is a notable advantage for those eager to launch a rewarding career in this field. 

Below are some of the most common career paths in social and human services. 

Client Advocate

Client advocates help various people, such as low-income individuals and immigrants, navigate complex systems to ensure that they receive needed information and resources. Working alongside other social services professionals, advocates often serve as the primary point of contact, fielding clients’ questions and concerns. They often work for government agencies or nonprofit organizations, providing direct support to clients. 

Typical responsibilities include the following:

• Assisting clients with paperwork and providing representation in administrative proceedings 
• Informing clients of their rights and the resources available to them
• Gauging the efficacy of services by tracking and reporting on client outcomes 

Client advocates earned a median annual salary of approximately $44,170 in March 2025, according to Payscale. 

Case Management Aide

Case management aides help clients access the resources and services they need to improve their quality of life, such as job training or housing assistance. Alongside case managers, their work is instrumental in maintaining effective and efficient case management processes, ensuring that clients receive the support they need in a timely manner. 

Case management aides perform various administrative and direct service tasks, including the following:

• Working with clients to assess their needs and develop a tailored plan to achieve their goals
• Coordinating client appointments and service delivery 
• Maintaining accurate client records and organizing case files
• Assisting clients with completing required documents, such as applications for government benefits

Case management aides earned a median annual salary of about $45,440 as of November 2023, according to Payscale. 

Clinical Social Work Aide

Acting in support of licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), clinical social work aides help connect clients facing various mental health and social challenges with vital services. They assist in assessment, treatment planning, and case management, as well as help facilitate access to community resources for individuals dealing with issues such as substance use, domestic violence, and poverty. Working closely with LCSWs, clinical social work aides play a crucial role in helping clients improve their overall health and well-being.

Key responsibilities often include the following:

• Performing initial client assessments 
• Supporting the development and implementation of individualized care plans
• Monitoring client progress and providing updates to LCSWs

Although Payscale doesn’t provide salary data for clinical social work aides, the BLS reports that social and human services assistants, a classification that includes clinical social work aides, earned a median annual wage of $41,410 in 2023. 

Family Services Assistant

Family services assistants primarily support families, providing a range of client services and performing various administrative tasks. Similar to other social services roles, family services assistants evaluate their clients’ needs to determine which resources will be most beneficial to them. 

While job descriptions vary from one organization to another, family services assistants are often responsible for the following:

• Connecting clients with relevant services based on their needs, such as childcare support, housing assistance, and food stamps
• Visiting clients’ homes to ensure safe living conditions and provide on-site support
• Providing emotional support to clients, sometimes including counseling

Family services assistants earned a median annual salary of about $44,430 in January 2025, according to Payscale. 

Strengthen Communities as a Social and Human Services Assistant

Social and human services play an essential role in society by supporting individuals, families, and communities facing challenges. Through direct assistance and resource coordination, social services workers are vital to helping people experiencing disadvantages improve their lives.

If you’re looking to enter this field, explore the online Associate of Arts in Community Mental Health program at New England College. The program prioritizes flexibility and convenience for those with busy lives, offering multiple start dates and a 100% online curriculum. Its coursework emphasizing career readiness will position you to make an immediate impact. 

Discover how NEC can prepare you for a rewarding career in a growing field.

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