Social Work Offers a Million Ways to Serve

If you can think of a way to help other people, and if you can find the funding to cover the cost, you can be sure there’s a
niche for social workers to fill. There’s really no practical limit in the field as long as the resources are there.

But not everyone is entrepreneurial, and there are no shortage of positions in well-established areas of practice. As it
stands, most existing social work jobs fit into five different categories. You aren’t restricted to just one of these in your
career path, but if your interests lead you in to one, you might find that the natural progression of things keeps you there,
advancing to higher level positions along the way. Still, there can be a lot of crossover between these different practice
areas… medical and mental health issues often intersect with geriatric practice, as they do with substance abuse
counseling and treatment.

Child Welfare and School Social Work

Working with kids can be some of the most heartbreaking and uplifting social work you will ever practice. It takes a
special kind of person to deal with issues affecting the most innocent among us, either in schools as a public school social
worker or as a counselor or case worker for other agencies. But if you want to make a big difference in a human life,
starting out with kids when they are most impressionable and need the most protection is a great way to do it.

Typical employers of child welfare and school social workers include:

 Schools
 Private clinics
 Community organizations

Geriatric Social Work

It’s often been observed that it’s toward both the beginning and the end of our lives that we need the most assistance. Just
as there is a strong need for social workers among the young, there’s also a growing need among the very old. Geriatric
social workers deal with a wide range of challenges that come with advanced age:

 Financial issues resulting from fixed income

 Medical problems
 Mental health issues
 Social problems such as loneliness

Yet the elderly are not children, and interactions with them can be surprising and rewarding, offering a window into the
experiences of an entire lifetime.

Typical employers of geriatric social workers include:

 Public agencies
 Community organizations
 Hospitals and clinics
 Rehabilitation and rest homes

Healthcare Social Work

Just about any time a person is diagnosed with a serious illness or has to undergo an invasive medical treatment, you can
bet that there is a big dose of emotional trauma and financial stress to go along with it. Medical social workers are there to
help people cope with those add-on issues and get through their medical treatments without the rest of their life falling
apart. Financial and mental health issues are common aspects of this work, as is acting as an empathic communicator
between the medical team and patients.

Typical employers of healthcare social workers include:

 Hospitals
 Rehabilitation facilities
 Private clinics

Substance Abuse

The opioid epidemic is just another front in a long war that substance abuse counselors and treatment centers have been
waging against addiction. From alcohol to sex to gambling, there are many destructive paths addiction can follow. Social
workers in this field try to mitigate the damage and treat the underlying addiction, working alongside psychologists,
behavioral therapists, and other counselors.

Typical employers of substance abuse counselors and social workers include:

 Prisons and jails

 Public health agencies
  Rehabilitation centers
 Private clinics

Mental and Public Health

Mental health disorders like depression and schizophrenia, and even more common neurodevelopment and behavioral
disorders like autism and ADHD can lead to a lot of coping issues and friction in daily life. That’s where social workers in
mental health come in, acting as counselors, therapists, and case managers to smooth out the difficulties. Mental health
work always includes a strong public health component. Homelessness, along with the serious health and addiction issues
associated with it, often starts with mental health issues. Social workers do their best to manage large scale issues that go
along with poverty and disaffection.

Typical employers of mental and public health social workers include:

 Community mental health centers

 Hospitals
 Public health agencies

How Social Workers are a Service to Society

Social workers help individuals, families and members of groups and communities restore their capabilities to function in
society. The field of social work focuses on interactions between people and the societal institutions that impact a person’s
ability to accomplish essential life tasks and realize goals. Social workers are trained to help people improve their
developmental capabilities, problem-solving skills and coping mechanisms. Professionals in this field strive to create
conditions that are conducive to attaining these goals.

Social Work’s Impact on Society

Social workers connect people with systems and institutions that provide services, resources, support and opportunities for
individuals and families.

Some social workers arrange for homebound clients to obtain services in their homes, such as physical or occupational
therapy, nursing, meals-on-wheels, home health care or housekeeping services.

Types of Social Workers:

 Corporate Social Worker
Works with employees whose personal issues, substance use or problems with coworkers may be causing trouble
on the job.
 School Social Worker
School social workers specialize in helping students with school-related issues and personal problems that affect
their lives at school and at home. Working at one or more schools, these social workers mediate between
community resources and students who need special services.
 Gerontology Social Worker
Gerontology social workers provide services for elderly people and advise these individuals about housing,
transportation, meal delivery and long-term care. The social workers also coordinate client services and may
facilitate support groups for family caregivers.
 Clinical Social Worker
Clinical social workers offer counseling or psychotherapy services in clinics, public agencies, medical facilities
and private practices. Some social workers are licensed to provide therapy for children and families coping with
life changes, such as divorce, death or other serious family problems.
 Child and Family Social Workers
These are social workers provide information about resources for children and families, coordinate services and
facilitate contact with local and state agencies and community organizations. They also perform supportive
casework with parents and offer advice about positive parenting skills. It’s also the responsibility of child and
family social workers to protect vulnerable or at-risk children and aid families who need help finding or applying
for services, such as childcare, food stamps and other benefits. They step in when children are in danger of neglect
or abuse, arrange for foster care homes for children, work to reunite families and help evaluate and place
adoptions.

 Medical and Public Health Social Workers

Medical social workers help people who have serious or chronic health problems. They advise individuals and
families about methods to deal with being ill. They also find services, such as nursing care, nutrition classes and
therapies that are available to help sick individuals and their families.