Help People By Becoming a Social Worker

Which Types of Jobs Are Available for Those Interested in Social Work and Human Services?

Although job titles may be varied, people working in the field of social work and human services share a commitment to helping people cope with interpersonal relationships and finding resources to improve their lives. Depending on your specific job title, a career in in social work and human services may involve promoting healthy lifestyles, intervening in cases of addiction or domestic violence, advocating for public policy changes, or work in community organizing. People in these careers may work on a case-by-case basis as counselors, or they may administer or lead non-profit or government services.

This career field is especially rewarding in that you can have a huge positive impact on the lives of others. But it's also extremely challenging. It takes a certain type of person--someone emotionally mature, responsible, caring, attentive, and emotionally stable--to work in social work and human services.

Formal Training Required to Work in a Career Related to Social Work and Human Services

Because there are numerous careers in social work and human services, the training requirements are quite varied. In general, however, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree to work as a licensed social worker or case worker, although some positions--especially those overseeing agencies, managing departments, forming public policy, or post-secondary teaching--require advanced degrees. All states have some requirement for certification; most states require that, in addition to the bachelor's degree in social work or a related field, candidates must have two years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience.

Social worker isn't the only job title available for this field. For example, social and human service assistants aid social or health care workers in tasks like:

• Promoting community initiatives
• Providing emotional support to clients or patients
• Administering social programs
• Planning or running events
• Coaching life skills to patients
• Maintaining client or patient records
• Assisting elderly or disabled people in their homes with various daily tasks

To become a social and human service assistant, one typically needs to earn only a high school diploma, although volunteer experience or associate degrees and certificates are often preferrred.

The Typical Career Path of Someone Interested in Social Work and Human Services

There are many subspecialties among social workers. These include:

• Child, family, and school social work--providing social services and assistance to children and their families to improve their social and emotional well-being
• Medical and public health social work--offering psychological and social support to people whose lives or loved ones are affected by illness or injury
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers--assess and treat those with mental illnesses or substance addictions, including group therapy and rehabilitation

Other career paths in social work and human services may include becoming a program director or administrator of a social program, a social researcher or policymaker, a community outreach worker, a life skills counselor, or a client advocate.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 54 percent of jobs in social services were in health care and social assistance industries in 2008, and 31 were with government agencies. There are more than 8,000 social work jobs in the federal government, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services manages more than 300 programs that utilize the talents of social workers. Some of these include:

• National Institutes of Health
• Indian Health Services
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Administration on the Aging
• Administration for Children and Families.

The Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. military also rely heavily on social workers.

Job Outlook and Salary Information for Those Interested in Social Work and Human Services

Job opportunities within the field of social work and human services are expected to be plentiful. According to the BLS, social worker jobs, in general, should grow faster than average (16 percent) from 2008-2018. Some specialties may grow faster than others. The area projected to experience the fastest growth is medical and public health, due mostly to the aging of the baby boomer population.

The increase in treatment programs as a replacement for jail time should call more and more on mental health and substance abuse social workers as well, driving growth at a rate of 20 percent. And social work and human service assistant jobs should also grow quite rapidly, at a rate of 23 percent.

Salaries tend to be highest in hospitals and schools, and lowest within individual and family services organizations, mental health facilities, and nursing homes. The median annual wages in 2009 were as follows:

• Child, family, and school social workers--$39,960
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers--$38,200
• Medical and public health social workers--$46,300
• Social workers, all other--$49,420
• Social work and human service assistants--$27,940

Social work careers are not for everyone--they can be demanding and require great patience and compassion. But if you want a career helping people and working for social change, human services jobs may be your calling.