Employment is expected to grow faster than the average for social workers.  Five out 10 jobs are in health care and social industries.  Three in 10 social workers work for State and local government agencies.  A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement; however a master’s degree in social work or a related field has become the standard for many positions.  Opportunities should be good in rural areas while competition for jobs is expected in cities.

What is the nature of social work?

• It is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve the lives of others.
• Social workers help people cope with issues in their everyday lives such as those arising from relationships.  They also help solve personal and family problems.
• They help clients face a disability or life-threatening disease or a social problem such as inadequate housing, unemployment or substance abuse.
• Social workers assist families that have serious domestic conflicts that sometimes involve child or spouse abuse.
• Some social workers conduct research, advocate for improved services, participate in systems design or are involved in planning or policy development.
• Many social workers specialize in service to a particular population or work in a specific setting.

Child, family and school social workers provide:

• Social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families
• They strive to maximize the well-being of families and the academic functioning of children.
• They may help single parents
• Arrange adoptions
• Or help find foster homes for neglected, abandoned or abused children
• Social workers working in schools may serve as a link between parents and school to ensure students reach their academic and personal potential.
• School social workers may also help address problems like misbehavior, truancy, and teenage pregnancy
• Some school social workers teach workshops to entire classes.
• Others may specialize in services for senior citizens
• They may lead support groups for children of aging parents
• Advise elderly people or family members about housing, transportation, long-term care and other services

Social workers may help people with job-related problems

Other job titles for child, family and school social workers may include:

• Child welfare
• Family services
• Child protective services
• Occupational
• Or gerontology social workers

Medical and public health social workers provide:

• Psychosocial support to people, families, or vulnerable populations as they cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, or AIDS.
• They may advise family caregivers, counsel patients, and help plan for patients’ needs after discharge from hospitals.
• May arrange for at-home services such as meals-on-wheels.

Medical and public health social workers may work at:

• Hospitals
• Nursing and personal care facilities
• Individual and family services agencies
• Or local governments

Mental health and substance abuse social workers:

• Assess and treat individuals with mental illness or substance abuse problems
• Services include individual and group therapy, outreach, crisis intervention, and social rehabilitation.
• They may help plan for supportive services to ease clients return to the community.

Mental health and substance abuse social workers work in:

• Hospitals
• Substance abuse treatment centers
• Individual and family services agencies or local governments

Additional types of social workers include social work:

• Administrators
• Planners
• Policymakers

They develop and implement programs to address issues like child abuse, homelessness, substance abuse, poverty, and violence.  These workers also may research and analyze policies, programs and regulations.  They often identify social problems and suggest solutions, or they may help raise funds or write grants to support social programs.

Source:  U.S. Department of Labor

Written by:  Connie Limon  For more career description information visit http://smalldogs2.com/CareerDescriptions  For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles rarely found elsewhere visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved