Job Opportunities
Professional social workers aim to build and maintain social conditions that help individuals, groups, and communities to function and succeed. The practice requires firsthand knowledge of human behavior, insight into social, economic, and cultural issues, and the ability to create a web of security that benefits those in need.
Here are six fast facts about the social work profession:
Social workers are highly trained professionals. A bachelor's or masters, social work degree-with a minimum number of hours in supervised fieldwork-is needed to become a professional social worker from an accredited school from the Council on Social Work Education. In the state of Indiana, there are 5849 licensed social workers.
Professional social workers are the nation's largest providers of mental health services. According to government sources, social workers deliver 70 percent of mental health services.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics shows social work is one of the nation's fastest growing careers. The need for social work services is expected to increase by 30 percent by 2010. In the United States, nearly 600,000 people hold degrees in social work in the United States.
Nationally, more than 170 social workers have been elected to public office nationwide.
More than 40 percent of mental health volunteers trained by the Red Cross for mental health support are social workers.
You'll find social workers in every facet of community life-they often specialize in one or more of the following areas.
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Mental Health |
Military Social Work |
Adoption and Foster Care |
Family Preservation Services |
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Eating Disorders |
Employment Services |
Senile Dementia and Alzheimer’s |
Community Mental Health |
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Private Practice |
Prenatal Services |
Disaster Relief |
Child Abuse and Neglect |
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Political Development |
Public Welfare |
Medical/Health Care Services |
Family Planning |
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Community Based Services |
Addiction Prevention |
Outpatient Treatment |
Rural Social Work |
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Child Welfare Services |
Homeless Family Assistance |
Genetics |
Depression |
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Chronic Pain |
Community Development |
Advocacy, Consulting and Planning |
Social Policy |
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Health/Hospital Social Work |
Education |
Veterans Services |
Domestic Violence |
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Parent Education |
Criminal Justice |
HIV/AIDS |
Developmental Disabilities |
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Employee Assistance |
Housing Assistance |
Public Office |
Immigration |
