Social Work Careers Available

Social workers enjoy a variety of employment opportunities and career specializations. For
instance, degree-holders can pursue careers in school social work, geriatric social work, or
substance abuse social work. Although salaries vary by location, social workers earn
around $48,000 per year. The field also boasts a large opportunity for growth. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) projects that positions in social work will grow by 16% between 2016 and 2026,
nearly 10% more than the projected growth for all occupations. This growth is partly due to a
growing population in need of social services, including aging Baby Boomers and individuals
suffering from addiction.

What Do Social Workers Do?

Social workers help individuals, families, and communities combat difficult or stressful life
situations. They work in rehabilitation centers, schools, hospitals, hospices, and correctional
facilities, and often cooperate with professionals in other social service programs. They may help
children with behavioral disorders, families in poverty, or victims of domestic abuse. No matter
which community they serve, social workers provide care and advocate for their clients.

Social workers provide a wider spectrum of services to a larger and more diverse clientele than
counselors. Counselors help individuals manage a specific issue such as alcoholism, divorce, or
depression. In addition to one-on-one counseling, social workers help their clients access social
services like hospice care, 12 step programs, or financial assistance. Social workers do not work
as private therapists, although some social workers may perform individual counseling as part of
their services.

Why Pursue a Career in Social Work?

Individuals interested in a meaningful, people-centered profession should consider a career in
social work. In the most basic sense, social workers help others for a living. They serve at-risk
or underserved individuals, communities, and organizations. Social workers help those in need
achieve their goals, access social services, and identify treatment options. Many of their clients
cope with mental health issues, behavioral disorders, addiction, eating disorders, and terminal
illnesses. Social workers also serve couples going through a divorce, families trying to adopt
children, and students struggling in school. The career paths for social workers are as diverse as
they are rewarding. In addition to a growing number of job openings, the field also boasts a
competitive salary higher than the average wage for all occupations in the U.S.

Because social workers must complete continuing education credits in order to renew their state
social work license, the career requires a commitment to a lifetime of learning. Many states
require social workers to fulfill continuing education requirements in specific subjects like
ethics, domestic violence, and suicide prevention. In this way, social workers remain up-to-date on
current developments in the field.

Where Can I Work as a Social Worker?

Because social workers serve a diverse variety of populations, they work in many different settings
and locations. Each social worker's place of employment depends on the industry in which they work
and the population they serve. For instance, a mental health social worker may work in a
psychiatric hospital or rehabilitation center, while a geriatric social worker may work in a senior
living center (retirement home), hospital, or community center.


INDUSTRY

AVERAGE SALARY

DESCRIPTION

Counseling Services

=poradenské služby

$45,419

Social work counselors listen to and offer support for their clients, typically in a private
practice setting. They use tools like psychotherapy to assess their client's mental health. They
also help clients access other other social services.

Child Welfare Services

=služby sociální péče o děti

$46,755

Child welfare social workers advocate for children suffering from abuse, neglect, or disability.
Those working for adoption agencies also help families with adoptions and foster care services.
They work in schools, government agencies, and family service agencies.

Community Mental Health Center

=komunitní centrum duševního zdraví

$46,874

This social work career path focuses on clients who suffer from mental illness. They usually work
as part of a team of psychologists, therapists, and counselors. These social workers help clients
find employment, housing, jobs, and other services. They also help clients with day-to-day living.

Social Services

=sociální pracovníci

$47,212

Social services workers provide community services such as food subsidies, homeless shelters, job
training, and medical care. They also help people connect to and properly use these services.

Nursing Home

=pečovatelský ústav, domov důchodců

$49,790

Social workers in nursing homes advocate for their clients' general wellbeing. They protect elderly
patients against abuse and support clients and their families through medical, financial, and
emotional decisions.

Health Care

=zdravotnictví

$56,875

Health care social workers work in hospitals, clinics, outpatient health centers, and hospice
centers. They help patients understand the financial, emotional, and social repercussions of their
condition. Sometimes they help clients navigate medical options or create end-of-life plans.


Zdroj: https://socialworklicensure.org/careers/