Are you interested in Direct Service Work?
Direct Service careers offer a large array of opportunities to work with others in need of support to as self-sufficiently as possible. There are entry level, paraprofessional, and professional level jobs – working with people with disabilities, people with traumatic brain injuries, people with mental illness, people with chronic alcoholism and substance abuse, and elder Alaskans who need support.
Care is provided in different settings:
- Person’s home
- Residential facilities
- Community facilities
- Out in the community
- Clinics and offices
- You name it, we are probably there
Care is provided in a variety of ways:
- Personal and hygiene care
- Physical care
- Emotional care
- Behavioral health care
- Coaching
- Rehabilitation
- Recreation therapy
- Listening
- Counseling
- Advocacy
- And a variety of other verbs
Although not totally comprehensive, click here to see a list of qualities appreciated by all direct service professionals when looking to hire someone new.
Entry Level Jobs
Many jobs will train you on the job, or require minimal training before hiring you.
Read a fact sheet about working with people with developmental disabilities.
Read a fact sheet about working with people with mental illness.
Read a fact sheet about working with seniors.
Read a fact sheet about working in substance abuse treatment.
To find job opportunities, go to our job bank page or the Alaska Job Center Network.
There are opportunities for professional development. There are also opportunities to cross train within the professional; that is to be knowledgeable about people with mental illness and people with developmental disabilities.
There are many opportunities to move up to paraprofessional jobs.