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Ekpenyonganwan
Student
Illinois City, IL
1
Question
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What do I do to get a career in social work?
I will really like to help people plan their lives. That's why I really want to study social work and psychology. This will enable me to help people well.
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2 answers
Luke Trimberger
Student
147
Answers
Champaign, Illinois
Updated
Luke’s Answer
That's a fantastic ambition! Social work is a great field for those who want to help people navigate life's challenges and build brighter futures. Here's a roadmap to get you started on your social work career:
Education:
Bachelor's Degree: A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is the minimum qualification for most entry-level social work positions. The BSW program equips you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed for social work practice.
Master's Degree (Optional): While a BSW is sufficient for many social work jobs, a Master of Social Work (MSW) can open doors to leadership roles, specialization in certain areas (like child welfare or mental health), and higher earning potential.
Social Work vs. Psychology:
While both social work and psychology involve helping people, their approaches differ. Social workers focus on the social environment and its impact on individuals and families. They provide resources, counseling, and advocacy to help clients overcome challenges and improve their well-being. Psychologists, on the other hand, delve deeper into the mind and behavior. They diagnose mental health conditions, provide therapy, and conduct research.
Building Your Skills:
Volunteer: Volunteering at social service organizations allows you to gain practical experience, build your network, and confirm your interest in the field. Look for opportunities at homeless shelters, youth centers, or community support groups.
Internships: Internships during your BSW program provide valuable supervised work experience in real-world social work settings.
Licensing and Certification:
Licensing: While not always mandatory for entry-level jobs, obtaining a social work license can enhance your career prospects and allow you to practice independently. Licensing requirements vary by state.
Finding Your Niche:
Social work encompasses a wide range of specialty areas. Some examples include:
Child welfare
Mental health
School social work
Geriatric social work
Military social work
Researching these areas can help you find a niche that aligns with your interests and passions.
Education:
Bachelor's Degree: A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is the minimum qualification for most entry-level social work positions. The BSW program equips you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed for social work practice.
Master's Degree (Optional): While a BSW is sufficient for many social work jobs, a Master of Social Work (MSW) can open doors to leadership roles, specialization in certain areas (like child welfare or mental health), and higher earning potential.
Social Work vs. Psychology:
While both social work and psychology involve helping people, their approaches differ. Social workers focus on the social environment and its impact on individuals and families. They provide resources, counseling, and advocacy to help clients overcome challenges and improve their well-being. Psychologists, on the other hand, delve deeper into the mind and behavior. They diagnose mental health conditions, provide therapy, and conduct research.
Building Your Skills:
Volunteer: Volunteering at social service organizations allows you to gain practical experience, build your network, and confirm your interest in the field. Look for opportunities at homeless shelters, youth centers, or community support groups.
Internships: Internships during your BSW program provide valuable supervised work experience in real-world social work settings.
Licensing and Certification:
Licensing: While not always mandatory for entry-level jobs, obtaining a social work license can enhance your career prospects and allow you to practice independently. Licensing requirements vary by state.
Finding Your Niche:
Social work encompasses a wide range of specialty areas. Some examples include:
Child welfare
Mental health
School social work
Geriatric social work
Military social work
Researching these areas can help you find a niche that aligns with your interests and passions.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1218
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ekpenyonganwan !
Becoming a Social Worker is indeed a wonderful career and the first step is to discover exactly what a Social Worker is and the work that they do . It is also important to know a good education path that would prepare you to be a Social Worker after you graduate college. I have worked with numerous social workers in my former career as a Social Services Case Manager and can share some observations and thoughts about the Social Worker position as well as suggest the education path that I have seen successful Social Workers take.
First, what does a social worker do ? Today, social workers are clinical therapists. Years ago, Social Workers were more like Case Managers or Case Workers assisting clients with advocacy, benefits, evaluating social situations in the family home, making case plans for their social needs and the other things that social service case managers at a Bachelors level do. But today, Social Workers are clinical therapists for patients with a wide range of mental health issues and they know how to apply various techniques to work with the patients. They are also required to be licensed and certified and can also be medical insurance reimbursable.
So, you would not be applying for benefits for people, or applying for housing or advocating for them, you would be evaluating them for hands on direct services to help them overcome a mental health situation. In college, you will learn everything you need to know about clinical therapy and will be ready to work once you are certified and licensed. Later on, according to your state's guidelines, you can be reimbursed by medical insurances for your patients' visits. Throughout your career, there will be seminars, trainings, in-services and workshops you will attend as on-going training and one day you may be called upon to facilitate trainings yourself.
I would advise reading up about the actual work that social workers do in your local area and also look at some job descriptions for Social Work to get an idea of the job requirements and duties. The job descriptions may vary from region to region. Also think about whether or not in depth learning about mental illness and various types of behavioral issues interests you as that is what you'd need to focus on so you can become certified.
The accepted path that would be expected in the labor market to be a Social Worker would be to obtain a Bachelors Degree in Social Work or Psychology and a Masters in Social Work. That would fully prepare you for the Social Work Certification Exam that you would need to take and for Licensure in your state. You would need the Masters degree because usually those who stop at the Bachelors Degree will work as a Case Manager, not entailing clinical therapy and the pay is much lower - as much as half the salary lower, so it is recommended to get the Masters degree. You would also be applying for work with others that predominantly have the Masters, Certification and Licensure.
One must be clear that as a Social Worker, you would not be planning people's lives. Instead, you would be administering psychotherapy for so many mental health issues, too numerous to name. If your patient needs case management, the Social Worker would refer the patient to a case manager, for example, at an Independent Living Services Center, A Mental Health Day Program, a Community Action Bureau, specialized disability center, Substance Abuse or Addiction facility or outpatient program, and many more social services that do only case management, not therapeutics.
I wish you all the best no matter which career you choose and I hope that this could be a helpful start in exploring your career interest.
Becoming a Social Worker is indeed a wonderful career and the first step is to discover exactly what a Social Worker is and the work that they do . It is also important to know a good education path that would prepare you to be a Social Worker after you graduate college. I have worked with numerous social workers in my former career as a Social Services Case Manager and can share some observations and thoughts about the Social Worker position as well as suggest the education path that I have seen successful Social Workers take.
First, what does a social worker do ? Today, social workers are clinical therapists. Years ago, Social Workers were more like Case Managers or Case Workers assisting clients with advocacy, benefits, evaluating social situations in the family home, making case plans for their social needs and the other things that social service case managers at a Bachelors level do. But today, Social Workers are clinical therapists for patients with a wide range of mental health issues and they know how to apply various techniques to work with the patients. They are also required to be licensed and certified and can also be medical insurance reimbursable.
So, you would not be applying for benefits for people, or applying for housing or advocating for them, you would be evaluating them for hands on direct services to help them overcome a mental health situation. In college, you will learn everything you need to know about clinical therapy and will be ready to work once you are certified and licensed. Later on, according to your state's guidelines, you can be reimbursed by medical insurances for your patients' visits. Throughout your career, there will be seminars, trainings, in-services and workshops you will attend as on-going training and one day you may be called upon to facilitate trainings yourself.
I would advise reading up about the actual work that social workers do in your local area and also look at some job descriptions for Social Work to get an idea of the job requirements and duties. The job descriptions may vary from region to region. Also think about whether or not in depth learning about mental illness and various types of behavioral issues interests you as that is what you'd need to focus on so you can become certified.
The accepted path that would be expected in the labor market to be a Social Worker would be to obtain a Bachelors Degree in Social Work or Psychology and a Masters in Social Work. That would fully prepare you for the Social Work Certification Exam that you would need to take and for Licensure in your state. You would need the Masters degree because usually those who stop at the Bachelors Degree will work as a Case Manager, not entailing clinical therapy and the pay is much lower - as much as half the salary lower, so it is recommended to get the Masters degree. You would also be applying for work with others that predominantly have the Masters, Certification and Licensure.
One must be clear that as a Social Worker, you would not be planning people's lives. Instead, you would be administering psychotherapy for so many mental health issues, too numerous to name. If your patient needs case management, the Social Worker would refer the patient to a case manager, for example, at an Independent Living Services Center, A Mental Health Day Program, a Community Action Bureau, specialized disability center, Substance Abuse or Addiction facility or outpatient program, and many more social services that do only case management, not therapeutics.
I wish you all the best no matter which career you choose and I hope that this could be a helpful start in exploring your career interest.