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Social and Human Service Assistants

SOC 21-1093.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparation

Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.

Context coveredCommunity-based agencies, behavioral-health programs, government-services (TANF, Medicaid, child welfare), shelter and re-entry programs; case-aide through senior case manager.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Client intake interviews — conduct using agency forms and protocols under a case manager's review.
  2. Resource directories (housing, food, transportation, behavioral health) — locate accurate referrals for routine needs.
  3. Case notes and documentation — write factually and confidentially per agency standards.
  4. Eligibility screenings for benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF) — complete accurately on standard applications.
  5. Confidentiality and HIPAA-equivalent obligations — apply consistently in every client interaction.
  6. Mandatory-reporter obligations (child abuse, elder abuse, IPV) — recognize triggers and escalate to a supervisor.
  7. Boundary-setting basics with clients — apply consistently across home visits and office encounters.
  8. Safety planning fundamentals — deliver pre-built plans on assigned cases with supervisor backstop.
  9. Crisis-response protocols — execute by-the-book under a senior staff member's direction.
  10. Trauma-informed communication — apply learned techniques on routine client interactions.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Caseload of 15-25 clients with routine needs — manage independently across documentation and follow-up.
  2. Resource-coordination across multiple agencies — broker effectively on behalf of clients.
  3. Family meetings and case conferences — facilitate substantively on assigned cases.
  4. Crisis-line and walk-in coverage — handle routine crises with supervisor backstop.
  5. Safety planning on owned cases — develop with clients across IPV, suicidality, and substance-use contexts.
  6. Court accompaniment and advocacy — support clients through court appearances on owned cases.
  7. Community-partner relationships (schools, hospitals, law enforcement) — develop over a year on the role.
  8. Newer case aides and interns — supervise on documentation and basic technique.
  9. Specialty populations (veterans, returning citizens, immigrant communities) — serve with cultural humility.
  10. Performance-of-self in vicarious-trauma contexts — maintain through supervision, reflection, and self-care practices.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex caseload across high-acuity client populations — manage with autonomy and clinical judgment.
  2. Specialty program coordination (re-entry, child welfare, behavioral health) — own program-level outcomes.
  3. Difficult-client de-escalation and motivational-interviewing techniques — apply across the practice.
  4. Court testimony and advocacy at hearings — deliver credibly across legal-system contexts.
  5. Newer caseworkers across the team — mentor on technique and case judgment.
  6. Multi-agency case planning meetings — lead substantively on integrated cases.
  7. Documentation that holds up across legal, audit, and outcome-reporting contexts — produce reliably.
  8. Program-outcome data and case reviews — analyze and translate into team practice changes.
  9. Cultural-humility and equity practice — model and coach across the team.
  10. Boundary management across years of high-emotional-labor work — sustain through formal and informal supports.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Program supervisor or case-management team lead — manage a team of 8-15 caseworkers.
  2. Program design and grant deliverables — contribute substantively to program logic models and outcome reporting.
  3. Community advocacy at local and state level — represent program clients with credibility.
  4. Inter-agency leadership and MOU negotiation — own partnerships at the program level.
  5. Hiring, training, and performance management — shape the program's talent across multi-year horizons.
  6. Senior advocate on policy, racial-equity, and trauma-informed-practice agendas — drive across the organization.
  7. Mentorship of MSW interns and case-aide-to-caseworker transitions — develop the field's pipeline.
  8. Crisis-response and surge-staffing — lead through with composure during major community events.
  9. Program evaluation and improvement — partner with researchers and program officers.
  10. Field-level practice and culture — shape across the agency through standards, rituals, and example.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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  2. Developing
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  4. Advanced
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Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Social and Human Service Assistant · Addictions Counselor Assistant · Advocate · Case Aide · Case Management Assistant · Case Management Coordinator · Case Work Aide · Certified Peer Specialist · Child Advocate · Child and Youth Care Practitioner · Children's Aide · Client Advocate
RAPIDS apprenticeships
0290 · Social and Human Service Assistant
O*NET skills
SpeakingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationCoordinationReading ComprehensionMonitoringWritingCritical ThinkingPersuasionActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingNegotiationTime Management
Knowledge domains
Customer and Personal ServicePsychologyTherapy and CounselingEnglish LanguageAdministrativeSociology and AnthropologyComputers and ElectronicsEducation and Training
Abilities
Oral ExpressionSpeech ClarityProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionWritten ExpressionSpeech RecognitionInductive ReasoningNear Vision
Work styles
EmpathyCooperationDependabilitySocial OrientationSincerityOptimism
Technology
Data base user interface and query softwareMedical softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation softwareWord processing softwareVoice recognition softwareInternet browser software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
  2. Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
  3. Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
  4. Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
  5. Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
  6. Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
  7. Provide information or refer individuals to public or private agencies or community services for assistance.
  8. Advise clients regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
CIP education codes
19.071044.0000

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.