Human Services Professionals Research
Human services professionals are a group of people who empower and assist those who need assistance in society by meeting their basic humanistic needs. These include emotional, mental, and physical needs. Human services professionals work with people from diverse cultures and settings to educate, provide resources, and prepare interventions for individuals, families, and members of a community. Some of the people that these professionals serve include children, adolescents, the homeless, single mothers, and low-income families. To effectively support these vulnerable groups in crisis, human services professionals need to be committed, patient, empathetic, and possess good listening skills to enhance the ability for one to be empowered. The occupation of human services is well defined as establishing the objective of providing human needs while aiming to avoid harm to life. There are several titles given to the human service professionals including child advocates, social work assistants, therapeutic assistants, probation officers, among others. Successful human service professionals are also strong leaders. Different methodologies such as case studies, surveys, experiments, participant observations, content analysis, and in-depth interviews are used in research efforts designed to advance the human services profession.
Qualitative Sources – NEED 3
- Taylor, A. K., Gregory, A., Feder, G., & Williamson, E. (2018). ‘We’re all wounded healers’: A qualitative study to explore the well‐being and needs of helpline workers supporting survivors of domestic violence and abuse. Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(4), 856–862. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12699
The aim of this qualitative study was to examine the wellbeing and needs of domestic helpline workers. There has been little research into the impact of domestic violence on those providing support to survivors of domestic violence. Taylor et al.,(2018) states, domestic violence and abuse (DVA) include sexual, physical, psychological, financial, and even emotional abuse. This problem is widespread globally across all age groups and socio-economic cultures. Together with the effects of DVA that survivors experienced by victims, there is a growing concern that other people in the network who support survivors may also be affected by the ordeal. Organizations that promote domestic violence awareness and helplines are crucial in providing support to the victims. The authors used the qualitative method and conducted interviews with the staff selected from different helplines who worked directly with the clients. The interviews employed a semi-structured format and a topic guide detailing the training before they started working, how the work has affected their lives, self-care techniques, and any support offered by their employers.
The authors found out that domestic violence affected the life of the helpline staff in various ways threatening their wellbeing. These include burnout, inadequate training, and support at work, and also a negative effect on their relationships. The study also found out that helpline workers use some form of self-care techniques to cope with stress at work. The limitation of this study is that it used a small sample size, all of which were female. Using a small sample size may affect the reliability of the data, as only ten helpline workers were interviewed. This may lead to higher variability leading to bias. This article has been cited three times implying that this topic has been scarcely researched. This study is significant as it can be used to provide more training on trauma, mental wellbeing, and job satisfaction to the frontline health workers who deal with DVA to allow them to provide better support to the victims.
- Guydish, J., Chan, M., Bostrom, A., Jessup, M. A., Davis, T. B., & Marsh, C. (2008). A randomized trial of probation case management for drug-involved women offenders. Crime & Delinquency, 57(2), 167–198. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128708318944
This qualitative study aimed to evaluate the findings from a clinical trial of a probation case management (PCM) intervention for women offenders involved in drug and substance abuse. The study randomly selected participants following a 12-month drug and substance abuse event, psychiatric symptoms, social support, and service utilization as a measure. The therapy involved Intensive Supervision Probation/Parole (ISP), case management, and alcohol addiction recovery components. The authors utilized previous quasi-experiments and standard probation, where participants showed improvements. However, the findings did not differ between the groups. Administrative databases obtained arrest results. The survey consisted of mostly women of African American descent (57%) and included 20% Caucasian. The most popular substances abused were cocaine and morphine, 86% of the women had been arrested previously, and 74% were minors.
The limitation of this study is the outcome measures may be affected when participants in the study are imprisoned. Those women who were detained for more all 30 days following the interview made them have limited values on the measures. The findings also relied on self-report except those who were in arrest records. This may affect the credibility of the study. The article has been cited 36 times means that other scholars have fairly accepted the research.
This study is significant as the experimental design allowed rigorous tests of the effectiveness of PCM in a field setting. The PCM intervention was designed to enhance access to service delivery. The finding can also be used to improve the outcomes for women offenders who are involved in drug and substance abuse, therefore, providing them with a balanced criminal justice system and also access to treatment and other essential services that they, might require such as that offered by TASC interventions, drug court models or California’s Proposition 36. It will also guide practitioners and policymakers working in this line of work to provide supervisory, monitoring, and other services.
Quantitative Sources
- Chi, D., & Milgrom, P. (2008). The oral health of homeless adolescents and young adults and determinants of oral health: Preliminary findings. Special Care in Dentistry, 28(6), 237–242. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-4505.2008.00046.x
The quantitative study aimed to identify the factors that are associated with self-reported poor oral health. The study survey was conducted in 55 homeless adolescents and young adults between the ages of 14 to 28 who had gone for medical care at the community health center in Seattle, Washington, in 2005. The study examined 45 relevant surveys. The authors chose this survey due to the large population hence a strong statistical power and the ability to validate the research model.
Chi & Milgrom (2008) found out that the most common self-reported dental problem was sensitive teeth, 52.6%. Discolored teeth followed closely at 48.6%, toothache 38.5%, and broken took at 37.8%. The authors also found out that dental problems were linked with lower self-reported oral hygiene. Non-high school graduates, colored race youths, and those using methamphetamine are more vulnerable to dental problems.
The limitation of this study is that the relationship between the use of methamphetamine and the level of education on self-reported oral health are not examined in the study and how they change with age. This study has been cited 37 times implying that it had been widely accepted, and its significance for researchers. The study is also significant as from its findings; it provides an insight into how homeless youth can be given proper dental care to improve their self-perceived oral health.
- Lockey, S., Graham, L., Redman, T., Zheng, Y., Routledge, G., & Purves, L. (2019). The impact of a local community engagement intervention on residents’ fear of crime and perceptions of the police. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 21(3), 168–180. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355719856039
The quantitative study aimed to examine the role of policymakers in the community engagement in central police operations in England and Wales. This study has received little undertaking to support its efficacy. Lockey et al., (2019) utilized a quasi-experimental research design to examine the community engagement interventions aimed at improving the perception of the citizens in their communities regarding the police, minimize the fear of crime and antisocial behavior (ASB) scenarios with the police and the society in general. The authors also developed and tested a technique that examined the mechanisms by which social capital influences citizens’ fear of crime and their perception of the police force. It can be an essential negotiating tool to create this local region’s power to assume that a community may be thriving in achieving its goals.
The results of the study on separate t-test analysis suggest that the project effectively accomplished its targets in the field under review. Social resources, the capacity of the urban society, the confidence of police, and the views of the public population and the awareness of crime and ASB have been significantly enhanced. In a test region, such effects were not necessarily apparent. The simulation findings of systemic equations have confirmed the hypothesized hypothesis and indicate that local control mediates the ties between social capital and the project outcome.
The article has been cited, one time suggesting that the topic of study has been minimally studied. The limitation of the study is that the sample size was too large, which may give inconclusive results. This study is significant as its findings contribute to the scant scientific data and observations that tend to explain the beneficial impact of civic interaction in the UK, as they show that social cohesion as the political authority is significant precedents for the people’s supportive views towards crime and police. Those outcomes add to the scant scientific data.
- REMOVE- Robbins, M. L., López, A. M., Weihs, K. L., & Mehl, M. R. (2014). Cancer conversations in context: Naturalistic observation of couples coping with breast cancer. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(3), 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036458
The aim of this quantitative study was to examine the feasibility and possibilities of a naturalistic observations of how couples cope with breast cancer in their daily life. The study specifically aimed to evaluate in natural context and content of random conversation regarding cancer in couples suffering from breast cancer and how they relate to their spouses and other people and the psychological adjustment that they go through. The study examined 56 women suffering from breast cancer and their spouses who were required to wear an electronic activated recorder (EAR). Robbins et al., (2014), used an unobstructed observational method in this study. The EAR recorded snippets of ambient sounds periodically over weekends to observe couples’ conversations regarding cancer in their natural contexts. In the study, both patients and their spouses completed a self-reported measure of psychological adjustments over a two month follow up period.
In their findings Robbins et al., (2014) found that cancer conversations took place more often between couples than with friends or family members as they were more informal than emotional and supportive. Their finding is consistent with studies on social cognitive processing model which states that couples’ engagement in emotional disclosure and informal conversation with patients results in better patient adjustments.
The limitation of this study is that although it aimed to investigate emotional disclosure the data revealed no significant interpersonal effects of emotional disclosure or informational conversation. The sample size was also small hence future studies should consider replication with larger and more diverse samples. The article has been cited 70 times, implying that it has been fairly accepted in the topic of discussion. This study is significant as it is the first naturalistic observational study on dyadic coping as shown by EAR. It can be used with high compliance and low obstruction in the managing conditions that are sensitive with the aim of achieving better patient adjustments. The EAR can also be used to compliment in-lab and other momentary assessment techniques. It also contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the role of communication in coping with cancer.
Conclusion
Human services professionals work with people from diverse cultures and settings to educate, provide resources and intervention on individuals, families, and members of a community. The methodology in research that focuses on Human Services is important because they lead to more extensively researched social issues that might be utilized by clients, professionals, decision leaders, educators and the public at large to assist in socio-economic concerns such as the provision of housing, drug misuse, and conflict in society. The findings from these studies can also be used to solve relationship problems, including military and civilian families, child protection, and the elderly population. These approaches and methods also lead to the improvement of the wellbeing of persons, families, and communities in general.
References
Chi, D., & Milgrom, P. (2008). The oral health of homeless adolescents and young adults and determinants of oral health: Preliminary findings. Special Care in Dentistry, 28(6), 237–242. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-4505.2008.00046.x
Guydish, J., Chan, M., Bostrom, A., Jessup, M. A., Davis, T. B., & Marsh, C. (2008). A randomized trial of probation case management for drug-involved women offenders. Crime & Delinquency, 57(2), 167–198. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128708318944
Lockey, S., Graham, L., Redman, T., Zheng, Y., Routledge, G., & Purves, L. (2019). The impact of a local community engagement intervention on residents’ fear of crime and perceptions of the police. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 21(3), 168–180. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355719856039
REMOVE – Robbins, M. L., López, A. M., Weihs, K. L., & Mehl, M. R. (2014). Cancer conversations in context: Naturalistic observation of couples coping with breast cancer. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(3), 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036458
Taylor, A. K., Gregory, A., Feder, G., & Williamson, E. (2018). ‘We’re all wounded healers’: A qualitative study to explore the well‐being and needs of helpline workers supporting survivors of domestic violence and abuse. Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(4), 856–862. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12699