When thinking about how human service professionals are similar and different to other professionals
that work in the agency along with non-professional helpers a lot comes to mind. One of the main
things that sticks out to me is the fact that everyone is there to help the people who come into the
agency. Although everyone's level of expertise may be different, everyone working in an agency has
an area that they contribute to the whole of the agency to be able to provide to the clients. Non-
professionals may not have all the knowledge and degrees that the professionals in the agency have
but they are there wanting to help and give back to their community and people who need help. I think
to be able to work collaboratively with both other professionals and non-professionals in the agency it
is important to communicate, to follow-up on things, and to not be afraid to ask questions, or give your
opinion on things. Human services professionals have education and training in their fields, whereas
non-professional helpers, such as volunteers, do not have specified training. However, professionals
and non-professionals can be found working together in human services agencies as they all have the
same goal of helping the client. They all have an important role.
Sometimes, it's the non-professionals who can quickly make clients feel welcome and understood. I
have interacted with professionals at different agencies who had extensive training in their field, and
were amazing at tackling a problem and finding resources, yet weren't as welcoming as their non-
professional team members. However, working collaboratively made it all work out. I think it's
important for team members to learn the strengths and weaknesses of their team so that they can all
find the best way to work together with the skills they have to best meet the needs of the client.
How are human services professionals similar to and different from other professionals who work in
the same agency?
Human Services is a very broad area in reference to what is performed. For example, a Drug and
Alcohol counselor wouldn't be the same as someone working with intellectual disabilities, but both
would be a form of counseling. Ultimately I believe it comes down to the work being performed that
sets each other apart, but the want to help others has to be there.
How are they similar to and different from non-professional helpers (e.g., volunteers) who work in the
same agency?
I think they are similar in the sense they are both helping people. There is a difference based on non-
profit vs. for profit and I think its important to differentiate between Human Service professionals and
others working within the agency. There is a difference in my opinion to a person volunteering at a
refugee camp as a chef and someone who is a refugee specialist counselling individual. Both are
helping people, but both are very different.
What could you do to work collaboratively with both other professionals and non-professionals in the
agency?
I think its important to form understanding of other roles within the Human Services realm. Its
important to know what communities they serve and how they impact others around them. I think
since collaborating on ideas would lead to innovation and change within the field.
Human service professionals have many similarities and differences when it comes to other
professionals who work in the same agency. For example, I'll choose the Children's Pediatric
Rehabilitation center. All of these professionals have one thing in common, they are there for the sake
of the children and to better the children's lives. These professionals also differ because they each do a
drastically different job. These professionals at this agency range from speech, physical, occupational,
and behavioral therapists. I would say the difference between professionals and non-professionals is
that non-professionals do this in their free time whereas professionals do it for a living. In the end,
they both have one common goal: to help children and others. To work collaboratively with
professionals and non-professionals we could have a project set in place where they have a goal they
are trying to reach together.
Human services professionals are similar to professionals in their agency is that they're there to
complete a series of tasks or provide a service. The difference amongst them are the job requirements:
For example, a school social worker isn't the same as a school nurse or principal. Everyone has
different requirements that have to be met on a daily basis to keep schools afloat. Volunteers are set in
place when someone want to do a service, but doesn't want to get paid for it, like parents who
participate in school fundraisers or toy drives. Another example would be a student teacher who needs
to get experience in a classroom. Again, everyone's mission is to deliver a services or services to one
or many individuals. I would make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to ensuring
that all students are cared for. I would also ensure that there is communication on all fronts not just
through me. At the end of the day it's a team effort and if the team isn't up to par it shows.
References:
Woodside, M. R., & McClam, T. (2018). An Introduction to Human Services (9th ed.). Cengage
Learning US. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781337671262
