human services

Programs and activities designed to enhance people's development and well-being, including providing economic and social assistance for those unable to provide for their own needs. The term“human services”is roughly synonymous with the terms“social services”or“welfare services”and includes planning, organizing, developing, and administering programs for and providing direct social services to people. The term came into wider use in 1979 when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was established to replace the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). It was thought that the term“welfare”had a negative connotation and that the organization would have more influence with the new name. Use of the term“human services”(and“human resources”) instead of“social welfare services”is also part of the trend toward employing other professionals in addition to social workers in the services arena. Some social scientists identify the six basic human services as (1) personal social services, (2) health, (3) education, (4) housing, (5) income, and (6) justice and public safety.