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A national study of associate degree mental health and human services workers
Author(s) -
Young Carl E.,
True John E.,
Packard Mary E.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6629(197601)4:1<89::aid-jcop2290040107>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - salary , mental health , human services , job satisfaction , mental health service , psychology , work (physics) , service (business) , human resources , sample (material) , social work , medical education , nursing , applied psychology , medicine , management , psychiatry , business , social psychology , marketing , political science , engineering , mechanical engineering , chemistry , chromatography , economics , law
A random sample of 140 graduates of associate degree mental health/human services programs were studied to determine their work activities, adequacy of work performance, and job satisfaction. Seventy‐seven percent were employed in relevant human services jobs. On site interviews with these workers and their supervisors revealed that they were performing virtually the entire range of traditional mental heath service functions and performing them well. A majority were satisfied with their work, although low salary levels and restricted opportunities for future advancement were recognized as problems. Many were receiving little supervision and the user agencies had, for the most part, not developed appropriate in‐service training programs. The findings appear very supportive to the notion that the mental health associate is a valuable new source of manpower for the mental health/human services field.