Nothing is more important than the proper nurturing of a child. And whether serving as a day care center employee, camp counselor, or teacher aide, nuturing is exactly what a child care worker does. Finger painting, show-and-tell, and group projects, are much more than just activities to keep kids busy. They help children develop communications skills, build self-confidence, and learn how to work with others view more

Social workers belong to an important profession. It involves helping people solve their own problems. To be successful in this type of work, it is necessary to have more than just a caring attitude. You must be good at relating to other people and be prepared to stick with them through the difficult times in their lives. For example, social workers may provide emotional support and useful advice to clients whose families are dealing with child abuse, or domestic violence view more

Clergy are the spiritual and religious leaders of their faith. They lead their congregations in prayer and teach and interpret religious traditions. Clergy organize religious services and officiate at special ceremonies such as weddings, baptisms, bar mitzvahs and funerals. They also visit the sick and dying and counsel and comfort people with family problems. As leaders of their faith, clergy should inspire confidence while being sensitive to the needs of others view more

They practice an ancient art… …and a modern science. Embalmers take care of people who have recently died. They clean and prepare each body as directed by the family… …and in accord with laws concerning health and sanitation. Embalmers receive certification from the government, after completing a vocational program. They need to know about biology… chemistry…and cosmetics. Often they are called upon to repair disfigurement from illness or accident view more

Caring for a small child…or helping a grieving family face the death of a loved one…it takes a special person to work in Human Services. You have to be willing to make a connection--to take the emotional risks that come with getting involved with other peoples’ lives. In return, you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing you’re needed. Some of the people you care for won’t be able to express their thanks view more

A growing segment of the mental health profession is Marriage and Family Therapy. Therapists with a masters or doctoral degree in this category evaluate and treat mental and emotional disorders, health and behavioral problems, and relationship issues—all within the context of the family. How does that work? In a variety of ways. Often, a patient seeing a therapist individually, is referred to a marriage and family therapist when it is determined that family dynamics and family life cycle issues such as the birth of a child, or the death of a family member are contributing to a problem view more

Lab coats are their uniforms. Computers, microscopes and high tech equipment are their weapons. The sophisticated soldiers in the war against disease are Medical Scientists. These experts are in demand by private corporations, government agencies and universities. Often Medical Scientists work together in hospitals, the field, or laboratories. In addition to an analytical mind, medical scientists need to be able to work with others: dividing up the part of a complex project and sharing the results view more

Mental Health Counselors help to make life better for people with mental or emotional problems. They start by listening, to find out what’s wrong. They’re trained to help people talk about a wide range of issues, from depression, to substance abuse and family tensions. In addition to advising their clients, Mental Health Counselors work closely with other specialists in their field. For example, a patient might need to see a psychiatrist, who can prescribe medication view more

"There's no place like home," is more than a line from The Wizard of Oz. It's a proven fact. Studies have shown that the elderly live longer, happier lives when they can stay in their own homes. Personal home care assistants are the people who make that possible, not only for the elderly but for anyone who needs help handling the daily chores of life. As such, the duties vary with a client's needs, but they may include changing and washing sheets and towels, dusting, vacuuming, and performing other light housekeeping chores view more

Life presents challenges for all of us. But for some, those challenges are made even more difficult by disability. Helping people overcome disabilities is the job of Rehabilitation Counselors. They provide practical help and emotional support for clients who are struggling with the effects of illness, disease, birth defects, accidents, or the stress of daily life, and guide them back to productive lives view more

All people need someone to "be there" for them now and again. And "being there" is a good way to describe the role filled by residential counselors. The "residence" may be a psychiatric hospital, a half-way house, a group home, or a housing project. It may even be a prison or youth correctional facility. The people or "clients" who turn to residential counselors may have extreme infirmities or mental disorders, or they may lack even the most basic social and life skills view more

Government, community and charitable agencies offer many services to people in need…but getting in touch with those services can be difficult. Human services workers provide the connection. They are the face of an agency. Their job titles and responsibilities vary, and include social service assistant, case management aide, social work assistant, community support worker, alcohol or drug abuse counselor, mental health aide, community outreach worker, life skill counselor, or gerontology aide view more

Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors can turn peoples’ lives around. They help people break free of addiction to alcohol, tobacco, drugs or gambling. Or they may work with clients to develop strategies for coping with other behavioral problems, such as over-eating. Often this profession requires providing evening and weekend hours, to counsel clients who work during the day. Sessions may be one-to-one counseling… or in small groups view more