Social Worker
Specialties:
Eligibility Workers.
What does a Social Worker do?
- Social Workers provide numerous services to help individuals and groups
solve or cope with their social problems.
- They interview clients to identify problems and provide counseling
and/or psychotherapy.
- They may refer clients to other professional or community resources.
- Social Workers specialize in such fields as child welfare, family
services, adoptions, public assistance, group, medical, clinical,
psychiatric, or correctional counseling, parole and probation casework, and
aging.
- Some are involved in social planning research, consumer affairs, and
industry-based counseling programs.
Salary and Employment Outlook:
EDD Labor
Market Information
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Career Info Net
Typical Employers:
Most social workers are employed by state and local government agencies. They
may also be employed in private agencies, by hospitals, community mental health
centers, nursing homes, retirement centers, housing authorities, group homes,
hospices, health maintenance organizations, home health agencies, youth
facilities, adoption agencies, rehabilitation centers, offices of physicians,
correctional institutions, the veterans administration, the peace corps, and the
military. Some are in private practice.
Preparation:
Employers often require at least a four-year degree for most Social Workers.
Some entry-level positions such as Caseworker I or Eligibility Worker may
require less education and/or experience (one to two years education or
experience). Some jobs and supervisor positions may require a master's degree.
Specialized training in Social Work or Corrections is most closely related to
this occupation, but it is not required for all entry positions. Coursework in
Interviewing, Counseling, Guidance, Social Welfare, Community Organization,
Psychology, Sociology, Economics, and Cultural Studies is especially useful, and
is generally included in degree programs preparing you for this field of work.
You can also get training and experience in the military. Experience as Social
Service Aides is helpful in providing experience to qualify for entry-level
jobs. Many are promoted to these Social Work positions.
Educational Program(s):
Social Service
Related Programs: Counseling, Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science,
Psychology , Religion, Sociology, Theology