Social workers

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About the work	Training qualifications	Job outlook	Earnings	Related links

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Social workers typically counsel clients and arrange for services that can help them function the effectively in their environment, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems. They follow through with the client to assure that services are helpful and that clients make proper use of the services offered. Most social workers specialize.

Clinical social workers offer psychotherapy or counseling and a range of diagnostic services in public agencies, clinics and private practice.

Child welfare or family services social workers may counsel children and youths who have difficulty adjusting socially or advise parents on how to care for disabled children. If children have serious problems in school, child welfare workers may consult with parents, teachers and counselors to identify causes and develop plans for treatment. Some social workers arrange adoptions and help find foster homes for neglected, abandoned or abused children. Child welfare workers also work in residential institutions for children and adolescents.

Child or adult protective services social workers investigate reports of abuse and neglect, and intervene if necessary.

Mental health social workers provide services for persons with mental or emotional problems.

Health care social workers help patients and their families cope with chronic, acute or terminal illnesses and handle problems that may stand in the way of recovery or rehabilitation.

School social workers diagnose students' problems and arrange needed services, counsel children in trouble and help integrate disabled students into the general school population. They also advise teachers on how to cope with problem students.

Substance abuse social workers counsel drug and alcohol abusers as they recover from their dependencies and become independent.

Criminal justice social workers make recommendations to courts; prepare pre-sentencing assessments; and provide services to prison inmates, parolees, probationers and their families.

Occupational social workers usually work through employee assistance programs, helping workers cope with job-related pressures or with personal problems that affect the quality of their work.

Gerontology social workers specialize in services for senior citizens.

Social work administrators perform overall management tasks in a hospital, clinic or other setting that offers social worker services.

Social work planners and policy makers develop programs to address such issues as child abuse, homelessness, substance abuse, poverty and violence. They research and analyze policies, programs and regulations. They identify social problems and suggest legislative and other solutions. They may help raise funds or write grants to support these programs.

Full-time social workers usually work a standard 40-hour week. Some occasionally work evenings and weekends to meet with clients, attend community meetings and handle emergencies. Understaffing and large caseloads add to the pressure in some agencies.

Training and qualifications

Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people's lives.

A bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) degree is the most common minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker. But majors in psychology, sociology and related fields may be sufficient to qualify for some entry-level jobs, especially in small community agencies. A master's degree in social work (MSW) is necessary for positions in health and mental health settings and typically is required for certification for clinical work. Jobs in public agencies also may require an advanced degree, such as a master's degree in social service policy or administration. Supervisory, administrative and staff training positions usually require an advanced degree. College and university teaching positions and most research appointments normally require a doctorate in social work (DSW or Ph.D.).

All states and the District of Columbia have licensing, certification or registration requirements regarding social work practice and the use of professional titles.

Social workers should be emotionally mature, objective and sensitive to people and their problems. They must be able to handle responsibility, work independently and maintain good working relationships with clients and coworkers.

Job outlook

Competition for social worker jobs is stronger in cities where demand for services often is highest, training programs for social workers are prevalent and interest in available positions is strongest. Opportunities should be good in rural areas.

Employment of social workers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2010. The elderly population is increasing rapidly, resulting in particularly rapid job growth among gerontology social workers. Social workers also will be needed to help the large baby boom generation deal with mental health concerns stemming from midlife, career or other personal and professional difficulties. Continuing concern about crime, juvenile delinquency, as well as services for the mentally ill, the mentally retarded, the physically disabled, AIDS patients, and individuals and families in crisis will spur demand for social workers.

Earnings

Social workers held about 468,000 jobs in 2000. About one-third were in state, county or municipal government agencies.

Median annual earnings of child, family and school social workers were $31,470 in 2000. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of child, family and school social workers in 2000 were:

Local government, except education and hospitals $33,950
Hospitals 33,150
Health and allied services, not elsewhere classified 28,270
Individual and family services 28,160
Residential care 26,620