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Quinebaug Valley Campus Library

Quinebaug Valley Human Services

Welcome to the Human Services LibGuide

Using this Guide?

Welcome to the Human Services Subject Guide.  Using this guide will help you complete your Human Services research assignments.  Using this guide you can find help with:

  • Selecting and narrowing your topic
  • Finding keywords
  • Choosing and using databases
  • Evaluating sources
  • APA Citation Help

The library is here to help if you would like any additional assistance.  You can also visit the Human Services Program Page for more information on human services and social work studies. 

What is Human Services?

Recent economic and public health crises have highlighted and contributed to mounting pressures on individuals, families, and communities, including struggles to access reliable transportation, affordable housing, and a living wage. While there are human services safety net programs, there are many unmet basic needs of vulnerable people and communities. Human services programs and workers are vital to support individuals, families, and communities to meet challenges and build resiliency through preventative, intervention, and advocacy services.

Human Services Issues Today

Human services is a wide area of needs and programs and services to respond.  Below are current topics and needs relevant to human services students, providers, participants, and the general public.  Below are recorded talks and accompanying presentations to watch and share!  Send all inquires to the Human Services Program Coordinator Shelley Buchbinder (sbuchbinder@qvcc.edu).

Spring 2023 Webinars

Food prices are rising, and record numbers of Connecticut residents face food insecurity (lack of reliable access to affordable, nutritious food). This webinar introduces food insecurity, the poor food environments many live in swamped by packaged and fast food, impact on mental and physical health, and local food assistance resources and ways to get involved.

Co-presented with Brittney Cavaliere from Connecticut Food Share.

Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1px34k71gG-LrzwJa9u0JDTFqUnrBtzio/view?usp=sharing
Recording: https://ctedu.webex.com/ctedu/ldr.php?RCID=f6c33b3b549a7ecffc465b74dcf3d668
Additional Resources from Connecticut Foodshare: https://ctfoodshare.org/get-help/

Reproductive health and access are being limited, including access to health education, birth control, and birthing services. This webinar presents the history of reproductive access, increased access, current challenges, and local resources.

Recording: https://ctedu.webex.com/ctedu/ldr.php?RCID=78a6097864ce7f8f556281867a043d4f
Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bzwv0HYqmVvr9OrNBEsdZbE6topt19re/view?usp=share_link
Additional Information in the Reproductive Rights Library Guide: https://guides.qvcc.edu/reproductivehealthrights/home

Rent is too high for millions of Americans, and there is a nationwide affordable housing shortage. Connecticut has the third most expensive housing in the US and faces acute affordability and access issues, with homelessness rising from increased shelter demand to encampments. This webinar introduces reasons why housing is expensive and local affordable housing resources.

Co-presented with Avery Lenhart from the Windham Region No Freeze Project

Windham Region No Freeze Project

Fall 2022 Webinars

When does stuff become too much stuff? For people with hoarding behaviors, getting and keeping things beyond their ability to use or keep safely causes many problems. This webinar includes approaches and resources to address excessive cluttering using harm reduction principles.

Watch Video Presentation
Download Presentation (PDF)

What’s your pronoun? Language and best practices are changing rapidly in ways that matter to the well-being & quality of services. This webinar introduces best practices concerning gender and orientation to make human services spaces more inclusive and affirming.


Watch Video Presentation
Download Presentation (PDF)

The trauma-informed shift moves away from asking “what’s wrong with you” toward “what happened to you”. This shift includes greater awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, which can contribute to negative coping like avoidance. The webinar presents information and resources on ACEs and coping skills.


Watch Video Presentation
Download Presentation (PDF)

Over-policing through disproportionate tickets, arrests, and violence was protested widely in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd. Over-policing negatively impacts many people in mental health crises. This webinar presents information about policing mental health and resources to support vulnerable participants, including those who are unhoused.


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Download Presentation (PDF)

Regions across the US face shortages of accessible and local providers. Windham county lost one of two maternity units during the pandemic throwing it into maternity desert status. This webinar presents healthcare deserts as a social determinant of (mental health) along with best practices and resources. This webinar is open to all QVCC and community members.


Watch Video Presentation
Download Presentation (PDF)