Services that support the health of individuals and families occur in a wide variety of settings, both as stand-alone services, such as an inpatient substance abuse center, and as services embedded in larger social structures, such as schools or hospitals. They can be funded entirely through state or federal monies and agencies, such as the Oregon Department of Human Services, or funded with a variety of funding streams that include public monies, fundraising, foundation grants, and ongoing donors. Many local agencies and small nonprofit programs fit into the second group.

Human services professionals are key agents in the communities they serve because they help connect clients to the other programs and resources that they need to remain healthy. For example, someone who comes to a food bank to pick up a box of food may also need access to money for their children’s school supplies or housing resources. The food bank worker who is skilled and knowledgeable about a variety of community programs will be able to help that family on a larger scale than merely supplying food for a week.

There is no overarching organization or resource bank that can keep perfectly up to date on what is available, although some communities have a coordinating agency that attempts to do this. Availability of grants, services, and programs tends to shift frequently in the social services field, so staying knowledgeable about what is currently available is key.

Agencies and services can be organized to serve public health in different ways. Some are organized around a specific problem. For example, most states have a public agency that looks out for the welfare of children, especially children who may be experiencing abuse or neglect in their home or in other settings. Other services may be embedded in a larger structure, such as a hospital, and serve primarily to support transition and access to a variety of resources rather than being focused on one specific problem. Yet other services are organized to serve a specific population, such as military members or veterans, or older adults. Let’s take a closer look at each of these ways of organizing services.

Services That Address Social Support Needs

When working with individuals who need help, human services professionals can both identify whether the person is experiencing a social problem and also help the person to address their individual situation. There is value in identifying an issue as a social problem, meaning that the problem is systemic in nature. In addition, the human services professional may have the opportunity to address the social problem on a mezzo or macro level.

One of the places you might work in human services could be organized around serving those who are experiencing a particular social problem. Examples of these might be an inpatient substance use disorder rehabilitation center or a shelter for people experiencing houselessness, as in figure 6.2.

In both cases, the primary purpose is to address one particular problem, with the expectation that resolving this problem will likely lead to the person being able to address other issues as well. Counseling might be provided at either of the example programs, as well as resources for employment and health care. While other resources are provided, the focus is on the primary problem. Advocacy may be embedded within a direct service organization, or it may be a separate agency altogether that primarily operates at a macro level on policy change.

Services Embedded in an Institutional Setting

Sometimes social services are embedded in an institution used by many, which makes it accessible to anyone using that setting. Most hospitals employ a social worker, human services professional, or other kind of care coordinator who works with medical patients and families. They assess a person’s overall well-being in the hospital, as well as make referrals for transitioning from hospital to home. In another example, social services may be embedded in a school itself or immediately tangential to the school. All children, whether they are currently experiencing a problem or not, would potentially be able to use those services when needed. This will be discussed in more detail in Chapter 7. Some jails and prisons also house social services. These institutions sometimes include substance use disorder treatment, counseling, life skills coaching, or transition resources.

Services That Serve a Specific Population

Some social services are designed to serve a specific population, and there may be specific criteria that must be met to access these services. For example, both current military members and veterans of the armed services are served by designated hospitals, mental health therapists, and other social service agencies. Most veterans are eligible for these benefits, although there are limitations based on the amount of time served, whether they are considered to be combat troops, and how the member was discharged (Phillipps, 2022 and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2022). Similarly, services exist specifically to serve older adults and adults that have a disability. Typically organizations that serve a targeted population provide a variety of services for that population so that they can get as many of their needs met as possible in one location.

In the Pacific Northwest, there are a plethora of services that cater to specific populations. One such service is the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) [Website], which offers a wide range of services primarily focused on supporting the Native American community in the Portland area. NARA’s services include not only physical and mental health care but also addiction treatment, support for LGBTGAI2S+ individuals, and cultural, community, and spiritual support for families.

The organization welcomes individuals from all backgrounds but remains dedicated to supporting the Native American population. NARA has a team of experienced professionals who understand the unique challenges faced by the Native American community and are committed to providing compassionate and culturally appropriate care. NARA’s holistic approach to health care ensures that clients receive comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of their well-being.

NAYA, the Native American Youth and Family Center [Website] is a social service agency that also supports this community but does so from a different standpoint. It focuses more on the medical and mental health side of support. It also has a range of services, including housing assistance, college and career services, early childhood support and education, homeownership, health equity, community gardens, foster care support, and community economic development.

Grace Center for Adult Day Services in Corvallis, Oregon

There is only one certified adult day center in a three-county area of Oregon that has a population of about 303,000: the Grace Center for Adult Day Services (Oregon-demographics.com, 2022). The center offers socialization, exercise, health monitoring, memory care, respite, and post-rehabilitation for people needing support to maintain overall functioning and personal well-being. Their mission is to “provide day services that optimize the cognitive and physical abilities of seniors and adults with disabilities so that they can remain as independent as possible and in their homes” (Grace Center, 2022). By providing stimulation and care for adults who need daily assistance and support, family and other caregivers are given valuable rest time.

Adult daycare is a planned program of activities in a professional care setting designed for older adults who require supervised care during the day, or those who are isolated and lonely. Adult daycare centers enable seniors to socialize and enjoy planned activities in a group setting while still receiving needed health services. At the same time, they offer family caregivers respite from caregiving duties while knowing that their loved one is in a safe place.

Licenses and Attributions

Open Content, Original

“Organization of Services” by Elizabeth B. Pearce is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Revised by Martha Ochoa-Leyva.

Open Content, Shared Previously

Figure 6.2. “Homeless Shelter Stays Open in Preparation for Storm” by KOMUNews is licensed under CC BY 2.0.