Social workers are people who care about other people, who want to make things better, who want to relieve suffering, and who want their work to make a difference.

If this is the kind of work that resonates with you, and if you too wish to make a difference in society, then this blog is for you! 

Who are child, family, and school social workers?

Child, family, and school social workers are trained mental health professionals who provide critically important services. Their responsibility is to provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. Many social workers have expertise related to administration, research, and policymaking — and they tend to be good candidates to coordinate wraparound services.

Further, social workers have a distinct professional commitment to promoting social justice, protecting children’s rights, and helping families resolve difficult life situations.

The best social workers are much the same — they draw on a wide range of skills and knowledge to serve students in a myriad of ways.  

Where are social workers needed the most?

Most people think of social workers when they think of poverty alleviation and child welfare. Many social workers do that kind of work — but they also do much more. So, let’s look at some of the places where social workers are needed the most:

1. Social workers can be found in hospitals, helping people cope with acute conditions and chronic illness. 
2. They are employed in schools to provide therapy and community health centers where they help prevent students from dropping out of school and look after child welfare. 
3. They also help prisoners as they reenter communities and provide rehabilitative support in drug and alcohol centers.
4. Further, social workers provide outreach and long-term care in nursing homes and homeless shelters. 
5. They also serve as clinical therapists for members of the military and veterans. 
6. And, they are the first responders during natural disasters.
7. Moreover, many social workers are executive directors of nonprofit organizations, community organizers, and professors as well.

If you see yourself in any of these roles, you should consider joining the social work profession.

Prerequisites to Becoming a School Social Worker

There are over 600,000 professional social workers in the United States, and most of them either have a BSW, MSW, or a DSW/Ph.D. in Social Work. Prospective social workers must meet education requirements, apply for a license, and complete work experience requirements before practicing. Following are the prerequisites to becoming child, family, and school social workers-

1. Earning a bachelor's degree represents the first step toward becoming a social worker. During a bachelor's degree, prospective social workers should take courses in social services, case management, and social work practice.
2. Social workers often specialize in their training by focusing in an area like healthcare, school social work, mental health, or children and families. Selecting a social work specialty helps students build specialized knowledge and stand out in the job market. 
3. We recommend you earn a master's of social work degree to get an edge over others in the field. During an MSW program, social work students build advanced training in their field. 
4. After you've earned the respective degrees, social workers need to complete an internship as part of the educational requirement. You may sign up for the career pathway program at InternMart to find the right internship opportunities!
5. Lastly, you'll have to earn a professional certification. 
6. In every state, clinical social workers must hold a state-issued license to practice. While the requirements for a social work license vary depending on the state, they generally include an accredited social work degree, passing scores on social work examinations, and completing supervised practice hours.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for social workers are projected to grow 11?tween 2018 and 2028.

So, if you’re looking for a career with meaning, action, diversity, satisfaction, and a variety of options, consider social work.