1. PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE IN HUMAN SERVICES 1
Past, Present and Future in Human Services
Jeffrey Reed

2. PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE IN HUMAN SERVICES 2
Past, Present and Future in Human Services
Past
My journey into the Human Services field began because I knew that I needed to have an
education to continue in my own journey of recovery. I have a very close friend who went
through this program and successfully graduated (and overcame some tough obstacles while
doing so). It was at her graduation ceremony that I knew that this was something I wanted to do.
At first I was nervous because I’ve been challenged with addiction issues in the past and
developed a criminal record because of the consequences of my use so I didn’t even think that
the college would accept me (I believe the college tried to make that aspect more stringent as of
late).
When I applied to HACC I was coming off the tail end of a drug treatment court
sentence, attending outpatient counseling sessions and working a full time job (please note there
were many speed bumps before this journey began that I won’t explore in this paper, I will say it
did not come easy). Everyone from those areas of my life told me I could do it and all I needed
to do was try. I was adamant that I would give it my best shot. My target population is drug and
alcohol, the “red headed stepchild” of Human Services per say. At this point I was very involved
in my recovery community and saw the lack of support for some individuals in recovery, and the
immense amount of stigma and discrimination that occurred on a regular basis against people
who struggle with substance use disorders.
Addiction is an equal opportunity disease. The general population hasn’t changed per
say, maybe it’s better to say they’ve been overlooked. For instance, more elderly folks are being
treated for abusing their prescription medications. Some of the elderly populations are being

3. PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE IN HUMAN SERVICES 3
arrested for driving under the influence of their medicine, and for years never really thought
twice about it. In today’s society, the adolescent population is experimenting with drugs,
especially synthetics ones. I can’t say 100%, but in most cases whether it is criminal or new
admissions into services, addiction is very prevalent in their presenting problems.
Present
So far I have really enjoyed being in this particular program at HACC. Honestly, I was a
bit unsure how this particular class would go. As it turns out I’ve gained lots of knowledge
about the different areas of high risk populations. My challenge is to remain open that one issue
like a drug and alcohol problem can also span across many other realms of the Human Service
field like individuals who are suffering from co-occurring disorders. Clients can be affected by
many different problems at one time and it’s important for me to recognize what those areas are.
I’m a strong advocate for individuals who might have lost their voice to stand up for
themselves. Learning how to advocate for clients in diplomatic way can be very hard to do at
times. Understanding we represent the people we serve is so vital to how the general public
perceives our clients. I realized that various aspects of my life will need to change because of
the profession I decided to pursue. At times I feel like this field can sometimes be a lonely one
because of all the laws and statures that are in place especially if you live in small town like I do.
On the other hand, these laws are in place to protect the clients that I have a passion to serve.
Ultimately, I need to take a closer look at myself as I move further in this field.
Skills and Methods II gave me a clear understanding of various ways to address certain
populations. Moreover, I really enjoyed the teaching style used in this class. I will channel some
of these very open, compassionate approaches to aid me in developing relationships with people

4. PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE IN HUMAN SERVICES 4
and show a genuine sense of warmth and understanding. Most people can point out when
someone is just being a fake and robotic in their presenting style.
Future
As I continue into my practicum I hope to get more experience with the hands on aspects
of using client intake surveys and experiencing how counseling sessions work since I am now on
the other side of the spectrum. I must develop a very clear understanding of ethics, boundaries
and confidentiality as I continue to serve clients. Since drug and alcohol laws are considerably
the most stringent of the Human Service law my plan is to be prepared for upcoming instances
where I will face those “gray areas” that can be a bit hard to decipher which way to go. On the
bright side I know that I have a vast amount of supports that I can utilize for supervision when
these areas surface.
Continuing to remember why I chose this work is extremely important to me. Once in a
while I will take a step back and make sure my motives are where they should be. I must focus
on the fact that I’m here to serve individuals that need support. When I apply these reasons I’ll
need to keep my personal morals and values out of it. Because frankly, what’s been working for
me might not be the pathway my client will feel comfortable with taking. For me, remembering
to meet the client where they’re at, and remaining open minded are some things I hope to see
more of as I endeavor forward in this field. Finally, I haven’t really had much thought about
what type of individuals I might not feel comfortable working with in this field. With that being
said, I hope to get a chance to be exposed to different populations which will give me a better
understanding of my boundaries.