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The past several years have changed the face of daily life for every American. The changes have become so commonplace that many begin to feel like “old-timers” when recounting the days prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. While these changes are numerous, they cannot be qualified as either “good” or “bad,” just as describing the varying shades in a sunset may become difficult. One particular sector that has seen great changes in their practices and trends is that of human services. While some changes were to be expected with the addition of an aging population, others were not. The human services field experienced a state of growth directly following the 9/11 attacks and during the later economic challenges that many Americans faced. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) gained widespread recognition and acceptance. Gone are the days of military personnel returning from combat and going through their lives suffering silently from their exposure to battle zones. There was previously a mention of a relative going off to war and being “changed,” but there was little done to help them work through their experiences. Grandfathers, (sometimes great grandfathers), fathers, sons (and now daughters) are able to relate and to discuss their memories, find help and to move on. Change is inevitable after a life-changing event, but these changes do not necessarily need to haunt a person for the rest of their lives. The aging Baby Boomers have begun to enter their retirement years, and with the economic climate of the last several years, this has been a rocky ride for many. Predictions have always been that the entrance of this generation of Americans into retirement would tax the system, but no one was able to predict the challenges of this generation entering their retirement during a recession. Many seniors are experiencing financial hardships from their investments’ slow growth in the last decade or so. While there is a greater need for human services, those providing human services software products have been able to help agencies meet their clients’ needs are with fewer fiscal resources. The human services field while in a period of great growth, is also taxed. Many nonprofits offering services to families, veterans and seniors have found creative ways to service their respective communities while trying to stay in budget. The demand for services for the next decade in human services is expected to at least remain constant. Some estimates suggest that services will be in higher demand with fewer resources over the next several years.
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human services, software, nonprofit, famcare, chid services,
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