Human Services Education in Maine
Maine has need for well-educated human services workers throughout the state. Whether you are teaching at one of Maine’s universities with a Doctorate of Social Work or opening a private mental health practice, there are a variety of employment options in the human services sector. Maine’s school system, university system, hospitals, government and non-profit agencies all have a great need for well-trained human services workers who want to give back to their community.
Choosing your career path is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. As such, it is a decision that requires a lot of research and understanding so you can make an informed decision. We have compiled a resource of information on a wide variety of human service careers. With career overviews that include salary ranges, educational requirements and state-by-state licensure requirements. You have at your hands a great resource for navigating your way through your career and education choices.
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Once you have earned your Bachelor’s degree from a Maine university or college human services program, you will be able to apply for work in the following positions:
- Case Management Aide (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology)
- As a Case Management Aide you will be responsible for assisting Eligibility and Case Workers to help them do their job. You will have the opportunity to learn both positions and if you show initiative you are likely to be able to promote into one of the positions. Here is a recent Main Government job listing for an Eligibility Worker so you can understand what your career arc looks like, you will also want to look at the DHSS website as a resource:
- Juvenile Court Liaison (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology or Criminal
- Juvenile Court Liaisons perform a vital service of helping convicted youth understand their position legally within the court and correctional systems. You will find that the Maine Department of Corrections is a very valuable resource for researching this career:
- Maine Substance Abuse Counselor (Bachelor of Sociology, Social Work or Psychology)
- The Maine Association of Substance Abuse programs is a helpful Non-profit and potential employer whose website is a great source of information for those seeking a career as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Maine, click here.:
- Licensed Social Worker (Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE accredited program)
- The rules and laws surrounding licensure are different in every state and we have an in-depth article explaining all the requirements here:
- Rehabilitation Case Worker (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology)
- Helping people with chronic conditions overcome perceived limitations and find work is an amazingly fulfilling career. For more information on what is entailed in this career and potential job opportunities check out the Maine Department of Voc. Rehab.
- Community Outreach Worker (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology)
- Many organizations are looking to connect with local communities through Community Outreach, here is an example of a local Non-profit dedicated to Community Outreach.
- Behavioral management aide (Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, Psychology)
- There are 85+ school districts in Maine, many of who have need of Behavioral Management Aides, you will find a wealth of information the Maine Department of Education website
- Probation officer (Bachelor of Sociology, Social Work, Psychology or Criminal Justice)
Justice)- Probation Officers work with convicts to help them understand their legal responsibilities after being released and to avoid future incarceration due to breaches of probation. You will find that the Maine Department of Corrections has a great amount of valuable information for you as part of a career in Criminal Justice.
After graduating with a Master’s degree from a Maine college or university human Services program, you will be eligible to begin a career in one of the following positions:
- Social and Community Service Manager (Masters in Business Administration, Social Work, Psychology or Sociology)
- Marriage and Family Therapist (Master’s in Counseling, Psychology or Marriage and Family Therapy)
- Licensed Master Social Worker (Master of Social Work from a CSWE accredited school)
- Child Welfare Case Manager (Masters in Business Administration, Social Work, Psychology or Sociology)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Master of Social Work from a CSWE accredited school + field experience)
If you want to maximize your earning potential, take on leadership or teaching roles and expand your overall career options, you should consider getting your Ph.D. Whether you want to open a private practice in mental health, teach at a university, lead a clinical research team or train new generations of human services worker a doctorate will help you to realize your career goals. While earning a Ph.D. is a tremendous commitment, it will help you reap tremendous rewards.
The first step on your educational journey is to consider all your career options and to discern which one best matches your goals and inborn strengths. By browsing our section on human services career overviews you can learn about some of the most commonly available careers in the field. Once you have discovered a career track that fulfills your needs, our overviews will help you determine what your educational requirements are. We have a database of schools both online and in the state of Maine that have accredited programs in the human services discipline of your choice. Remember, most schools will require that you apply several months in advance of beginning your actual studies. It is always wise to contact your school directly and learn about their particular application process. If you wish to have a career in a licensed capacity it is good to plan out your post-graduate field experience.