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 Social Worker 05 Oct 2010 [pdf, 203 KB]

Working Conditions

Full-time social workers usually work a standard 40-hour week; however, some occasionally work evenings and weekends to meet with clients, attend community meetings, and handle emergencies. Some, particularly in voluntary nonprofit agencies, work part time.

Social workers usually spend most of their time in an office or residential facility, but also may travel locally to visit clients, meet with service providers, or attend meetings. Some may use one of several offices within a local area in which to meet with clients.

Professional social workers are found in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, elected office, private practices, prisons, corporations, the military, and numerous public and private agencies. They usually specialize in one or more of over 40 practice areas – including Disaster Relief, Child Welfare Services, Homeless Family Assistance, and Gerontology Services, among many others.

The work, while satisfying, can be emotionally draining. Understaffing and large caseloads add to the pressure in some agencies. To tend to patient care or client needs, many hospitals and long-term care facilities are employing social workers on teams with a broad mix of occupations, including clinical specialists, registered nurses, and health aides.