Human Services Assistant (with Special Skills Classes)

Sacramento County; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Sacramento County is seeking a Human Services Assistant to support program operations, assist applicants, and connect individuals with available services under close supervision. The role emphasizes helping with information collection, form distribution, and identifying relevant services to strengthen communication between staff and clients.

Applicants should meet basic qualifications, including six months of paid experience in social services or financial assistance, with background checks and

Qualifications

• Six months of full-time, paid experience in a public, private, or non-profit agency providing social services or financial assistance to the public.
• Note: Part-time experience is converted to full-time on the basis of 173.6 hours = 21.7 days = 1 work month.
• Note: If the word \"experience\" is referenced in the minimum qualifications, it means full-time paid experience unless the minimum qualification states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.

Responsibilities

• Assists and supports program operations under supervision, obtaining information and providing forms.
• Identifies program services, requirements or procedures to augment communications between department staff and disadvantaged or low-income individuals and groups.

Skills

Farsi Language

Lao Language

Russian Language

Spanish Language

English Proficiency

Job description

The Position

This is a continuous filing exam. Next filing cut-offs are at 5:00 pm on:

9/2/2026, 9/16/2026, 10/14/2026 (Final)

Under close supervision, the Human Services Assistant performs program support duties such as obtaining information, providing forms, and identifying program services, requirements, or procedures to augment communications between department staff and disadvantaged or low-income individuals and groups.

The eligible list established from this examination may be used to fill Human Services Assistant vacancies in multiple departments. Current vacancies require proficiency in the following language and cultural competencies:

• Farsi Language and Persian Culture (including Dari and Pashto)
• Lao Language and Culture
• Russian Language and Culture
• Spanish Language and Latin Culture

Candidates who believe they meet the language and cultural qualifications for any of these positions and wish to be considered must provide the appropriate responses to Supplemental Questions 13 through 17.

Examples Of Knowledge And Abilities

Knowledge of

• The problems, needs, attitudes and behavior patterns of individuals lacking the necessary resources and/or education to reach self-sufficiency
• Various characteristics or problems unique to multi-cultural groups in employment, education, health, economics and social customs and the current social movements involving multi-cultural groups
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Ability to

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public assistance applicants and recipients, employees, and the department staff, other agencies, and the general public
• Understand and accept differences in human behavior caused by deprivation
• Willingness to accept and benefit from training
• Learn to use a variety of office equipment, such as computers, scanners, copiers, faxes, and related equipment

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Six months of full-time, paid experience in a public, private, or non-profit agency providing social services or financial assistance to the public.

Note: Part-time experience is converted to full-time on the basis of 173.6 hours = 21.7 days = 1 work month.

Note: If the word "experience" is referenced in the minimum qualifications, it means full-time paid experience unless the minimum qualification states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.

General Qualifications

Background/Criminal History: The County may access criminal history information on candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for this class consistent with the provisions of Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 82-602, Personnel Policies and Procedures, and applicable federal and state laws. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate's ability to perform the job duties of this class unless it is determined that mitigating circumstances exist. For purposes of accessing criminal history information, the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained.

The County may also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within this class. The background check may include personal and professional reference checks, credit history checks where authorized by Labor Code section 1024.5, Social Security Number verification, professional license/registration verification, military service information and driving history. Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection process. In obtaining such information, the County will comply with applicable consent and disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act.

Driver's License: A valid California Driver License, Class C or higher, may be required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain the appropriate California Driver License may constitute cause for personnel action in accordance with Civil Service Rules or applicable bargaining agreement. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Child and Elder Abuse Reporting: Persons selected for employment must, as a condition of employment, sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code and Section 15630 of the Welfare and Institutions Code relating to child and elder abuse reporting.

Working Conditions

• Be exposed to hostile, emotionally disturbed or mentally ill persons and/or confrontational interpersonal situations.
• Work in dangerous, high crime areas of the community.
• Work during non-routine hours, standby and/or callback.
• Work in and around substandard living areas with exposure to common communicable diseases, scabies, impetigo and other rashes.
• Work outside in all types of climatic conditions including inclement, very hot and/or cold weather.

Special Skills Language Requirement: Special skills classes require sufficient knowledge to speak, read and write fluently a language other than standard English; and/or knowledge of a multi-cultural group encompassing but not limited to: family member roles and living environments; the various characteristics or problems unique to the group in employment, education, health, economics and social customs; and current social movements involving the group. Incumbents use the specific language and multi-cultural knowledge in the performance of typical duties, incorporating this knowledge to appropriately serve clients and families in a manner that is culturally competent and affirming. In addition, incumbents translate and interpret using standard English and a language other than standard English, and act as a consultant to others regarding the specific multi-cultural group.

Human Services Assistant Titles

• Human Services Assistant - African American Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Arabic Language and Middle Eastern Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Armenian Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Cambodian Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Chinese Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Farsi Language and Persian Culture (Dari and Pashto)
• Human Services Assistant - Hmong Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Japanese Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Korean Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Lao Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Mien Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Native American Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Punjabi Language and East Indian Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Russian Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Spanish Language and Latin Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Tagalog Language and Filipino Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Ukrainian Language and Culture
• Human Services Assistant - Vietnamese Language and Culture

Probationary Period

The probationary period for this classification is six (6) months.

Sacramento County is about enriching communities to thrive. We strive to create inclusive workplaces that reflect the communities we serve. We value and celebrate the unique perspectives, backgrounds, abilities, and diverse dimensions of our employees and residents. Through transparency, courage, innovation, and trust we are committed to advance equity and transformational change.

We are a proud equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability for any phase of the hiring process, please contact our Disability Compliance Office at [e-mail] or 916-874-7642, CA Relay 711. For more information, visit: Reasonable Accommodation Requests - Job Applicant Instructions