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Social workers help people deal with the problems
of life, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, financial management,
illness, substance abuse, family conflicts, and abuse.
This kind of help may involve assessment of mental health status
and ongoing case management.
Social worker roles vary widely. They may focus
on counseling individuals or families and groups, and/or helping
them find community resources such as child care, debt counseling,
public assistance and substance abuse counseling, and then following
up on the clients. Some positions may address policy and planning
issues through identification of social problems and suggesting
legislative or other solutions. Social workers should be emotionally
mature, objective, sensitive, very responsible, and able to work
well with all types of people.
Social Worker
Areas of Specialization
Social work offers a broad range of specialties, including mental
health assessment, counseling of individuals, families, or other
groups, and community planning or organizing for the purpose of
social problems within a neighborhood. Areas of specialization include
aging, child welfare, addictions, family services, school social
work, justice/corrections, developmental disabilities, occupational
social work, health care, mental health, community organization,
and international social work.
Work Environment
Depending on their specialty, social workers may be found in public
and private settings. Typically, social workers are employed in
schools, hospitals, mental health centers, family service agencies,
substance abuse programs, government agencies, the court system,
and correctional institutions. Most social workers have five-day,
40-hour weeks. However, they may work evenings and weekends to attend
community events, handle emergencies, or meet program and client
needs.
Job Outlook
The total number of Social Workers employed in Florida in 2006 was
28,341 with a 2014 projection of 34,276. The growth rate among the
various specialties ranges from 2.2 to 3.1 percent.
Length of Training/Requirements
A social work degree must be awarded by a college or university
that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The
bachelor's degree in social work usually requires four years of
college and is the minimum requirement for most positions. Classroom
instruction includes social work practice, social welfare policies,
human behavior, and social research methods. Also, 400 hours of
supervised field experience are required. A master's degree program
in social work typically lasts two years and includes 900 hours
of supervised field instruction. A bachelor's degree in social work
is not required for entry into a master's program; however, courses
in psychology, biology, sociology, economics, political science,
anthropology, statistics, and social work are recommended. Completion
of the master's program is required for positions in mental health
settings and many other settings involving counseling.
Advancement
Social workers may advance to positions as supervisors, program
managers, assistant directors, or executive directors of departments
or agencies. They may also pursue advanced degrees (Ph.D.) in order
to do research or teach at the university level.
Licensure/Certification
Licensing policies vary from state to state. In Florida, the candidate
for licensure must at least have a master's degree in social work
from an accredited school and two years experience under a qualified
supervisor. Those two years must be at the post-master's level.
The candidate must also pass an exam given by the American Association
of State Social Work Boards. Continuing education hours are required
every two years for license renewal.
Updated: 2007 |
