Health and Human Services Professional Development

WHAT IS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES? Students who study human development and family studies (HDFS) gain an understanding of how individuals and families develop across the life span and how individuals and families are shaped by the environment and culture. HDFS students learn how to optimize individual well-being, strengthen family relationships, and become leaders in community, education, and work settings that focus on issues which include, but are not limited to: Teen pregnancy Sexuality education Child and elder abuse Grandparents raising grandchildren Balancing work and family Drug and alcohol abuse Media literacy Divorce Romantic relationships Parenting Family diversity Children with special needs WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES DEGREE? Jobs one can get if they focus on HDFS include, but are not limited to: Family caseworker Addictions counselor Intimate partner violence case manager Rehabilitation counselor Child care worker Ch...

Video: What is Family and Consumer Sciences Author: Jill Bowers    https://youtu.be/qBa_2w7Z5b0  *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Avoiding Burnout: Human Services Program Administration Professionals by   Mikki Sherwood   on   August 16, 2013   It is personally rewarding to work in a human development and family studies (HDFS) career. It is also challenging in many ways as professionals in the area of FCS and HDFS face unique challenges. For instance, often those that work in HDFS are at the mercy of government funding, leading to a feeling of insecurity related to employment possibilities. In addition, we tend to make less money than those working in other areas of family and consumer sciences (for example, consumer studies or entrepreneurs). Those of us that work in the helping profession also face a daunting array of regulations regarding proper documentation of expenses and activities (in other words, A LOT of paperwork). Finally, we can feel as if we are spinning our wheels if we do not see change occurring in those with whom we work. When we don’t perceive improvement in the qualit...