The
Truth about Social Work
Five Emerging Opportunities in a Misunderstood
Profession
by Megan
Malugani
Summary Demystifying the myth Areas
for opportunity in social work Is social work right for you?
What people think they know about social work is often a myth, according
to the National Association of Social Workers.
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Learn More
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Would
You Make a Good Social Worker?
According to veteran social workers Miriam Oliensis-Torres and Ruth W. Mayden, you'll
succeed in the field if you have:
The ability to accept (and not judge) people who are different from yourself Patience A
sense of humor An interest in the dynamics of interpersonal and organizational
relationships An interest in social policy The capacity to be self-critical and always
alert as to whether you're taking the proper steps on a client's behalf Good
listening skills The ability to put situations in perspective (which will help you avoid
burnout)
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Related Links
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Communicate
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Message Board:
Ask questions and get answers from healthcare expert Susan Odegaard
Turner, PhD
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Contrary to popular belief, social workers are trained professionals who have bachelor's,
master's or doctoral degrees –- they are not social services employees,
caseworkers, or volunteers. Only a fraction of social workers are employed in public or
child welfare, and social workers are the nation's largest providers of mental health
and therapy services.
"The diversity of roles for social workers is enormous," says Ruth W. Mayden,
MSS, president of the National Association of Social
Workers and dean of the graduate school of social work and social research at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia.
Social workers practice in a wide variety of settings, and their presence is constantly
evolving. According to Mayden, five arenas in which the demand is growing for social
workers are:
Aging
As the population of elderly Americans explodes in coming decades, social workers with
expertise in gerontology will keep busy. They'll provide counseling to seniors, help
them maintain their independence at home, plan for future care and generally help improve
their quality of life.
Human Resources
Businesses hire occupational social workers to help manage onsite workplace conflict
and to make workplaces more safe and family friendly. A growing practice area for
occupational social workers is in employee assistance programs.
Schools
Social workers are often part of the interdisciplinary teams that school systems set up
to help children with emotional, developmental or educational needs. Some schools now
serve as community centers and offer classes and social services for adults, too, which is
spurring further demand for school social workers.
Healthcare
Social workers are vital members of the healthcare team in many hospitals and clinics.
Licensed clinical social workers provide direct counseling services, and other social
workers serve as patient advocates by coordinating medical and emotional treatment,
managing services a patient may require for recovery, and planning for care after
hospitalization.
Institutional giving
Corporations that place an emphasis on employee volunteerism and community service are
hiring social workers to coordinate their efforts. Private foundations with money
earmarked for community development also place a premium on social workers because of
their inside knowledge of worthy causes.
Despite the diversity of settings, the common thread joining all social workers is
their motivation, Mayden says. Social workers are part of a professional community
"dedicated to social justice and empowerment," she says. "It's not
about the individual, but about how the individual can use his or her skills and talents
to help other individuals or communities grow and thrive," Mayden says.
"As social workers, we view clients within their own environments,"
adds Miriam Oliensis-Torres, MSW, co-owner of Geriatric Support Associates
in Milwaukee. "That's one of the things I like most about social
work. We get to approach situations from a holistic perspective,"
she says.
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