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Camryn
Student
Tucson, Arizona
2
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What’s the most emotionally challenging part of being a child welfare social worker, and how do you cope with it?
I am a psychology major who is really interested in becoming a child welfare social worker, and I'd like some advice on what to expect from the job and how to prepare for it. Especially the emotional aspect as someone who's highly empathetic.
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Michelle M.
Actress
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Camryn !
I must preface this by saying in between two eras of acting careers I had 27 years experience in the social services field as a case manager, so I have enough experience around this to offer advice to you.
There is no pleasant way to say it. Working for child welfare or child protective services is the most unrewarding, stressful and vicariously traumatizing realm of social work that you can possibly think of involving yourself in. I will discuss a better option later. A lot has been said about this realm of social work and you can read actual child welfare worker's accounts by using the Brave search engine and typing in "true horror stories of doing social work in child protective services". This is a reality that students need to know about before planning to work in this sector.
A much better option would be to continue with your Bachelors in Psychology and then enroll in a Clinical Social Work Program for your Masters Degree. A total of six years of college for the Bachelors (4 yrs) and Masters (2 yrs).
As a clinical Social Worker, there are so many more types of working with children that would be more results oriented, satisfying and less stressful. You can work at a clinic and eventually have your own practice after a while. Through these options, you can develop programs, especially for children and teens, that will enrich their maintenance and progress into adulthood which is very important. You can make a genuine impact on the community you serve. You will also be more marketable working with all populations as you will discover that this broad field of Clinical Social Work offers a lot of opportunity.
As for Child Welfare/Child Protective Services/Foster Care, remember that additional stressors come from the added need to work with not only the children but their families as well. These families can be in deep distress and that just adds to the challenge.
So explore these options more and make a decision about work that you wouldn't have to worry about coping with. You absolutely can work with children but in a more results oriented way and a way in which your ideas can be put forth in developing programs that allow children and teens to grow.
I hope this is helpful for a start and I wish you all the best in whatever you choose to do as a worker in the social services field.
I must preface this by saying in between two eras of acting careers I had 27 years experience in the social services field as a case manager, so I have enough experience around this to offer advice to you.
There is no pleasant way to say it. Working for child welfare or child protective services is the most unrewarding, stressful and vicariously traumatizing realm of social work that you can possibly think of involving yourself in. I will discuss a better option later. A lot has been said about this realm of social work and you can read actual child welfare worker's accounts by using the Brave search engine and typing in "true horror stories of doing social work in child protective services". This is a reality that students need to know about before planning to work in this sector.
A much better option would be to continue with your Bachelors in Psychology and then enroll in a Clinical Social Work Program for your Masters Degree. A total of six years of college for the Bachelors (4 yrs) and Masters (2 yrs).
As a clinical Social Worker, there are so many more types of working with children that would be more results oriented, satisfying and less stressful. You can work at a clinic and eventually have your own practice after a while. Through these options, you can develop programs, especially for children and teens, that will enrich their maintenance and progress into adulthood which is very important. You can make a genuine impact on the community you serve. You will also be more marketable working with all populations as you will discover that this broad field of Clinical Social Work offers a lot of opportunity.
As for Child Welfare/Child Protective Services/Foster Care, remember that additional stressors come from the added need to work with not only the children but their families as well. These families can be in deep distress and that just adds to the challenge.
So explore these options more and make a decision about work that you wouldn't have to worry about coping with. You absolutely can work with children but in a more results oriented way and a way in which your ideas can be put forth in developing programs that allow children and teens to grow.
I hope this is helpful for a start and I wish you all the best in whatever you choose to do as a worker in the social services field.