Child Welfare

The Vital Role of School Social Workers in Shaping Society

  • Nov 01, 2021

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.

Do you want to know more about making the right choice for your college and career?
Book a Free One-on-One consultation with a career expert.

Recent Blogs

5 Career Readiness Projects

5 Career Readiness Projects with Top Colleges Parents Need to Know About

General

In today's world, where competition is fierce and time is of ...
  • Jun 03, 2023
Benefits of Professional Support on Early Career Coaching for High Schoolers

Top 7 Benefits of Professional Support on Early Career Coaching for High Schoolers

General

It's no secret that the world we live in today is ever-evolv ...
  • May 17, 2023
Maximizing Your Child's Academic Potential

A Parent Outlook on Maximizing Your Child's Academic Potential

General

Parenting is no easy feat! It's a huge responsibility that r ...
  • May 02, 2023

Trending Blogs

Challenges for interns

Five Common Challenges Faced by Interns

Internships

Five Common Challenges Faced by Interns Introduction The w ...

  • Jun 06, 2022

Essential Soft Skills For New Interns

Career Prep

Many employers look for certain basic skills in interns. We ...

  • Jul 20, 2020
Skill-Based Learning

7 reasons why skill-based learning is in demand

Career Prep

How to describe the moment in time that witnessed the stock ...

  • May 28, 2021
Take Career Map Test