Although human services and social work may be considered separate fields, there is considerable overlap. In fact, social work is typically defined as a subfield of human services.
Human services is quite broad and focuses on various societal problems. It is an interdisciplinary field that involves the delivery of social assistance programs and services designed to meet a wide array of human needs. This might include anything from food and shelter to counseling services and substance use treatment.
Human services professionals work toward the remediation and prevention of common human problems. These include homelessness and housing insecurity, food insecurity, mental health challenges, at-risk children, children in foster care and substance use disorder.
Similarly, the social work field is interdisciplinary and focuses on empowering people, families and communities and enhancing overall well-being.
Differences in Human Services vs. Social Work Fields
The most significant difference between human services and social work is the scope. The human services field encompasses a broad range of professions with different settings and goals. Human services workers offer entry-level positions across fields and many do not require licensure, unlike social workers.
And although both fields aim to solve societal problems, social workers generally focus on empowering marginalized populations, such as people affected by poverty, unemployment, hate crimes, domestic violence, mental health disorders or disabilities. Because they are educated in the intersections between law and social welfare, social workers are oftentimes advocates for social justice and policy reforms. Human service workers may also advocate for change but focus on offering individual support and service instead of large-scale advocacy.
