Overview
Social workers are a diverse group of skilled professionals who help people function as best they can, given the challenges of their personal situation or environment. They assist individuals, groups, or communities to restore or enhance their capacity for social functioning. The approach to care is oriented toward problem-solving and promoting positive social change.
Professional social workers respond to and help prevent crises, and they counsel individuals, families, and communities on how to cope with the stresses of everyday life. Social workers frequently work with people with socio-economic disadvantages, including severe poverty, unemployment, discrimination, or inadequate housing. They also help people who have serious illness, disabilies, or substance abuse problems, as well as families with serious domestic conflicts, sometimes involving child or spousal abuse.
There are various types of social workers, including:
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Medical and Public Health Social Workers
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
Social workers' responsibilites often overlap with those of other practitioners in the mental health field. LCSWs have special training in mental illness, but their scope of practice is narrower than it is for such other mental health professionals as psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, or psychologists, who hold advanced practice degrees.
To be effective, social workers must have deep understanding of human development and behavior. They also must have an appreciation for the effects of various social, economic and cultural factors, and an understanding of how these factors interact. To learn more about how social workers help families coping with health issues, watch the video profile of "Medical and Public Health Social Workers."
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Social Worker 14 May 2008 [pdf, 164 KB]