ABSTRACT
This chapter examines dimensions of the human ecology that influence how human services are delivered. It explores the historical roots of social services in the United States and considers the ideological bases for these services. The chapter discusses some of the issues involved in delivering services that meet the developmental needs of children and families. The term "human services" encompasses a broad range of activities, programs, and agencies designed to meet the physical, intellectual, and social-emotional needs of individuals and families. Many services fall somewhere between the extremes of direct service to individuals and indirect service through management of the physical and social environment. Both human and community services can deal with a wide range of life domains: education, mental and physical health, safety and sanitation, religion, transportation, housing, employment, legal services, and recreation. The chapter develops the notion of informal support systems as helping services.
