Become a Social Worker
If you love working with people from all walks of life and helping families work through their problems, then you will enjoy a career as a social worker. In order to obtain such a position, you do need to have an undergraduate degree in Social Work from an accredited university. You may also obtain an entry-level position with community agencies with an undergraduate degree in psychology, sociology or a related field. For the most part though, you do need an advanced degree, such as a Master's degree, in order to obtain a position as a social worker in a health-related field.
A Master of Social Work degree program will equip you with the skills to do clinical assessments, handle large caseloads and find ways of using the social assistance program at the state and federal level in order to assist clients. You do need to have a bachelor's degree in order to be admitted into such a program, which generally takes 2 years. Your courses must also include 900 hours of supervised field instruction, which you receive through an internship.
Once you do graduate from a degree program, either a Bachelor's or Master's degree, you must be licensed in order to practice in this field. Each state has its own licensing regulations and you must pass an examination. Most states now require at least two years of supervised clinical experience before you can take this exam. They are also placing more emphasis on licensing candidates that display professional ethics, have good oral and written communications skills and are able to deal effectively with diverse population groups.
As a social worker, there are many options in this career choice. Child, family and school social workers may work with single families, find foster homes for neglected and abused children or help to arrange adoptions. Within schools, they discuss the concerns of teachers who suspect abuse or neglect and carry out routine checks of children under the care of the social assistance program, meeting with the children and discussing their concerns. They also provide an essential link between the parents and the school.
Medical and public health social workers provide psychological support to members of the community who are suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses. This support also extends to the families of these clients in the form of counselling, advice and help plans. They may make arrangements for in-home care or for transferring the patients to long term care facilities.
Mental health and substance abuse social workers assess and treat individuals with addictions to alcohol, drugs or tobacco in the form of individual or group therapy, outreach programs or social rehabilitation, as well as other methods. They assess individuals with mental illnesses and help arrange for treatment, as well as provide support for their families.
You do need to be socially and emotionally mature for this type of work because some of cases may be very heart wrenching. You must remain objective, yet you have to be very sensitive to the needs of the people with whom you deal. Handling responsibility is a major portion of this job as well as maintaining good relationships with your clients and your colleagues.
