Foundations of Human Services Worksheet Essay

1. Identify the four themes of human services. The four major themes of human services according to the chapter are one problem in living human beings not being able to meet their own needs all the time. Second the growth number of problems in modern world helps with people not able to get help from family or the community. Third self-sufficiency giving people the tools needed to provide for themselves. And last, social care is assisting clients in meeting their social needs, with the focus on those who cannot care for themselves, social control in who receives services and under what conditions they receive them and rehabilitation is the task of returning an individual to a prior level of functioning. 2. Identify professional disciplines that influence human services. Sociology examines ways in which human societies influence the people who live in them. Sociology helps the human service field by trying to understand the differences within human culture. Also to understand the surroundings of life affect their living, like family structure, roles within the family, gender, race, and poverty. Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. It embraces the affects of human functions of the brain from childhood to old age. And for Anthropology is the study of culture, physical, and society. 3. How have societal viewpoints concerning mental illness or health influenced human services over the past three centuries? The societal view point in the beginning was people who were mentally ill were treated as if they were physically ill. In hospitals and they lived in atrocious conditions and were treated with brutality and cruelty; customary treatment methods was bleeding, restraint, and cold showers. Then occupational therapy, amusements, and exercise were introduced. Over the years the bad treatment in hospitals was closed and some stopped and centers was open in patient out patient, and groups homes now help with the treatment of mental illness. It is not treated as one illness for everyone but as an illness for just that person. 4. How have societal viewpoints concerning child welfare influenced human services over the past three centuries? Societal viewpoints went institutions multiplying, as the public demanded the removal of children from almshouses. Unfortunately, juvenile institutions were not always an improvement, and overcrowded conditions and poor care prompted the establishment of a system that placed children in private homes. To having foster parents and rules of child care in place that must be followed. There are now services in place for children that max out of the system to get help with food, education, and housing. Families can now get child care, the Earned Income Tax Credit, food stamps, and Medicaid to help take care of their children. 5. How have societal viewpoints concerning incarceration and probation influenced human services over the past three centuries? According to the chapter the probation system we have today started back in 1813. Things have been added to it along the way, like meeting with the prisoners before they are set free into the world to see if they have somewhere to go and if they need help with housing, food and employment. Today probation is given by a judge and can be also given after serving time in prison. There are probation officers in place to make sure that they are following the laws, getting help to get off of probation and live in the real world. 6. Explain how political and legislative changes have affected client care. Over the time political and legislation have changed laws. To make things work for the people and the government. Rules and guidelines put in place for human service workers to follow to help clients with their needs. Also with guidelines and rules for clients to have to follow so they can receive government assistance. The rules are still changing today due to the amount of need and the limited funds available. Guidelines are changing who can qualify for help and who don’t. Also the amount of children you can claim. Changes will always change for good and bad as time go on until legislation finds what works for all equally.