Few professions get as bad a rap as social workers in our society. Amid the myriad of stories told by family, friends and acquaintances and the negative portrayal of social workers on television and in the media, it’s not hard to believe the bad things you hear. Consequently, there are many myths and misconceptions that have arisen about social workers and the service they provide.
The job of a social worker is to counsel and help people find the right resources, solutions and care available to them, specific to those individual’s issues. They deal with many issues, such as Child welfare, Pregnancy issues, Veterans’ affairs, Coping with grief and loss, Mental health recovery Domestic violence, Prison and drug rehabilitation, Adoption and foster care, Disability, Depression, Divorce and Poverty. What are the myths that are common? (more…)
The University Of Tennessee College Of Social Work is one of several social work programs located in Tennessee. The Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) program is targeted toward undergraduate students who are interested in a generalist social work program. Requirements for the BSSW program at UT College of Social Work include 60 hours of general education, 45 hours of social work credit, and 15 hours of electives.
BSSW students have the option of studying or earning certification in school social work, gerontology, veterinary social work, and child welfare. Bachelor’s degree students are also required to take a Comprehensive Assessment in social work as part of a required seminar class. An honors program is also offered to BSSW students who are dedicated to the advancement of social work as well as their careers. (more…)
The Colorado State University School of Social Work is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. CSU offers Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, and doctor of philosophy (PhD) programs to interested candidates. Undergraduates interested in entry-level social work careers can apply to the BSW program at Colorado State University provided they have already been accepted into the university.
BSW students take several courses in generalist social work practice in preparation for jobs after graduation in a wide variety of areas. Students must also enroll in a field placement, take a seminar, and successfully complete research courses. The field placement gives BSW students the opportunity to be exposed to “real world” social work settings prior to graduation in preparation for a social work job. CSU offers two options for Master of Social Work students: an on-campus option and a distance education option. (more…)
By definition, a pediatric social worker is a professional who works with children in a helping role. However, there are many different areas in which social workers can work with children. These can include any setting in which the social worker is working directly with children, such as in the areas of social services, mental health, school-based services, hospice, healthcare, and many other settings.
Pediatric social workers must receive specific training to understand typical childhood development as well as family dynamics that can typically occur in stressful situations. They may conduct family therapy to help both the family and the child learn to function more successfully at home, may arrange community services to benefit the child and family, or provide individual counseling or therapy to the child as a way of helping him or her work through difficult situations. (more…)
Social work is an area that falls in the academic arena of the social sciences, which requires lots of research in order to compile an efficient and applicable report that is both interesting and relevant to the reader. The following guidelines can serve as basic directions for assembling a social work report.
Organization is important both in terms of time management and the way your report is structured. Set aside an area where there are few distractions and where resources are accessible. Make sure you take the time to list out the different steps you plan to take in order to compile your report, such as writing your thesis, gathering information from various journals and resources, completing the research, summarizing data, and other steps in between. This will help anyone writing a social work report not only complete the report in a systematic manner, but will produce a final product that is organized and easy to read and understand. (more…)
Though it may seem an unlikely place to find social work programs, the military is an excellent environment for social workers to find jobs and acquire experience in a variety of areas. The University of Southern California offers a graduate program in military social work that allows students to train specifically to serve in the military. Students are offered the chance to specialize in this sub-concentration, which can be combined with other concentrations including Mental Health, Families and Children, and Community Organization Planning and Administration. Positions include working individually or in groups with veterans or active members of the military suffering from mental health disorders such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, substance abuse, or depression.
Social workers can also be useful in helping veterans or active military personnel to seek out additional services for themselves or their families. Students in the graduate social work program at the University of Southern California are given the option of a sub-concentration in Military Social Work, and are required to complete at least 600 hours of practicum hours in a military setting working with veteran populations. The University of Southern California Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families is a special facility designated to conduct coursework and research specific to veteran populations and their families. (more…)