Social Worker

Do you enjoy helping people, working with others one on one, and making a difference? If you do, perhaps you should consider training to become a social worker. This is a growing field, with many jobs available for qualified people.

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What is a Social Worker?
A social worker is a trained professional who uses the application of social theory and research methods to study and improve the lives of people, groups, and societies. Social work impacts both the small scale, working with individuals, and the larger as a field of research, thought and study. Social workers are committed to assisting people in developing their full potential, whatever that shall be, and correcting social ills and injustices.

Social workers work with individuals, families, groups and organizations. A social worker assists people with issues in their everyday lives, including medical crises, housing issues, and family challenges. Social workers may assist those with disabilities in getting the services they need, or help homeless individuals find housing and employment. They may facilitate a variety of support groups or help people through short term challenges.

Social workers are also employed as therapists, providing counseling to individuals, families, and couples. As counselors, social workers may work with psychologists or psychiatrists, or work independently.

Social workers of all sorts, including medical social workers, child protective services workers, and substance abuse social workers provide a valuable service to both individuals and their communities as a whole. These hard working and compassionate people make life a little easier for those struggling, whether their issues are specifically social or related to mental health.

The Importance of Social Work
According to the National Association of Social Workers, “The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.” Without a doubt, this is critical work, and if you are motivated to do it, it will surely be a career that will bring great personal satisfaction.

Social workers of all sorts can make a significant difference in the lives of many people during the course of their careers. There is no doubt that a career in social work is both meaningful and rewarding. Social work as a career is not always easy, and it may be emotionally and physically draining. Social workers can not only improve lives, but in the case of child protective services workers or substance abuse social workers may even be able to save lives that could otherwise be lost.

Historically, social workers have worked to eliminate poverty and improve the lives of many. Not only do social workers help the individual but they have worked for social justice within larger communities, working toward an elimination of racism, discrimination and other social ills.

Where Do Social Workers Work?
Social workers work in a wide variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, homeless shelters and state agencies. Some social workers work for private agencies or not for profits. In many cases, the type of social work you do will determine your work environment. Many social workers also work as therapists, providing individual, couples or family counseling services.

Medical social workers work in hospitals and hospice programs. They support families and individuals dealing with illness or loss, and may also serve as a valuable resource in terms of financial aid, navigating paperwork and other bureaucratic issues. Medical social workers may help families after the death of a loved one, may be available to assist families struggling with illness, and may provide information and support to the hospital personnel.

Social workers in schools and children's services offices provide support and care to families and children. They may find themselves working to counsel abused children, working to prevent abuse or neglect, or even just assisting children through traumatic events.

Many social workers find jobs in state agencies of various sorts, including child protective services, groups assisting the disabled, or working with the elderly. There are as many places for social workers to work as there are types of social workers and career choices for social work.

Becoming a Social Worker
All jobs in social work require a bachelor's degree in social work, as well as appropriate state licensing. Specifics with regard to licensing vary from state to state. If you are interested in careers in social work, but have not yet pursued the necessary education, you may be able to work as a Care Coordinator or Social Services Assistant. These positions do not require licensing or education, and may allow you to determine if you find social work rewarding.

Furthermore, many social work jobs also require a master's degree. You may enter a master's degree program in social work with a bachelor's degree in another field, if this is a new interest for you. Many of those with a master's or doctorate degree in social work work as therapists of one sort or another and are, in fact, the primary providers of psychotherapy services in the United States. You may, while working on your master's, choose to specialize so as to become qualified medical social workers, substance abuse social workers, or counselors.

Once you have the education, there are many career options in the field of social work. Jobs are plentiful, and you should not have any trouble finding work. Social work is a growing field with a consistent demand for new, qualified people.

Specialties in Social Work
There are a number of specialties in social work, and the one you choose for your career as a social worker may depend upon your own passions, interests and skills. Social workers can work with individuals, families, or couples. They may work with young people or old. Some social workers are primarily researchers, working behind the scenes to improve the lives of many, as opposed to working with individuals.

How should you choose a specialty? You may wish to consider your own personal interests. Some social workers work with in adult protective services, criminal justice, or domestic violence. Others work in schools, child protective services, or with people with developmental disabilities. If one of your interests or passions overlaps with a specific specialty in social work, that may be the ideal career for you.

You will typically choose your social work specialization during your master's degree program; however, you may be able to work outside your specialty after your coursework. For instance, a social worker trained in one aspect of gerontology care might move into working in adult protective services, or one trained in clinical social work with children might find themselves working in a school. Your options with regard to specialization may also depend upon the graduate program you attend. Different programs may offer different social work specialties, or may group them differently.

Substance Abuse Social Workers
Substance abuse social workers provide a variety of services both in inpatient rehab facilities and as outpatient help for those struggling with drug addiction or alcoholism. They may work providing substance abuse counseling in hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, individual and family services agencies, or local governments. Their services may include individual and group therapy and counseling, community outreach, crisis intervention, social rehabilitation, and teaching skills needed for everyday living. They may also work to assist individuals in finding ways and means of changing their life to assist them in breaking their addictions. Substance abuse social workers can provide help finding the transitional care and assistance needed during this difficult time.

In some cases, substance abuse social workers provide a variety of mental health services as well, and in many cases, providing these services is integral to the substance abuse counseling. Substance abuse social workers know that in order to correct the problems of substance abuse, they must reach the root cause and work with their clients to correct those issues. Some social workers may provide a wide range of mental health care, both to those struggling with substance abuse and those not.

These clinical social workers may also work for organizations in a managerial sense, writing grant proposals, formulating community outreach strategies and more.

Medical Social Workers
Medical social workers provide a range of valuable and critical services in the hospital and hospice setting. They offer counseling and assistance to families struggling with illness or injury and are often the best source of information with regard to financial aid, community services that may be of assistance after checking out of the hospital, or transitions into a nursing home facility if appropriate. Parents who deliver a premature baby will find medical social workers helpful in assisting them with arranging the services they need for their baby after he or she comes home. Medical social workers will find themselves actively involved in supporting patients and families ranging from the youngest to the oldest. In the case of a death, medical social workers can assist the family with not only their grief, but with critical arrangements and paperwork.

Some of the most important work done by medical social workers include their work with hospice organizations. Hospice services provide compassionate end of life care to the dying and their families. Medical social workers working with hospice have a difficult, but rewarding job. Hospice organizations support the dying, allowing them dignity to the very end, and in many cases, the option to die at home. Medical social worker in a hospice organization will assist families with managing services, support, and in dealing with their loss.

Working with Children
Many people think of child protective services employees when they think of social workers. It is true that the hardworking caseworkers in these state agencies are social workers, and have among the hardest and most important jobs of all social workers. A child protective services worker manages a significant caseload, and must keep up with the workload, as well as make judgments regarding the safety of children. Furthermore, he or she provides the at risk families with the services that they require in order to improve their children's situation.

A great many social workers work with children outside of child protective service jobs. They may work in schools or independently. In a school setting, a social worker may deal with a variety of child, social and family issues. In a school, a social worker will work with parents, children, teachers and administrators to help create the best possible situation for the student. School social workers may teach workshops, address issues including bullying and emotional disturbances and even counsel teachers to help them work positively with students.

Social workers who work in schools or child protective services may be referred to as family services social workers, occupational social workers or child welfare social workers.

Social Work as a Career
As a career choice, social work is, without a doubt, rewarding. Whether you work one on one with clients in a clinical setting or work for a state or government agency, social work offers you an opportunity many jobs do not. You can make a difference in the lives of others as a social worker, whether you are a medical social worker, a clinical social worker, or a substance abuse social worker.

The question of salary is, of course, one that must be asked when considering any career choice. The salary potential for social work varies widely, depending upon your qualifications and the type of social work you do. A clinical social worker in private practice will make more than an entry level employee at a state agency. The average social worker salary in the United States today is approximately $42,000.

While many social work jobs are quite stressful, this is a growing field and a very employable one. Moreover, jobs in social work are available in both urban and rural areas throughout the country. The field of social work is growing, with more job growth than is typical in many fields. Employability will never be an issue for a trained and qualified social worker of any sort.


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