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Social Workers

THE JOB

SOCIAL WORKERS help individuals, families, and communities with their
personal and social problems.  They assist clients in understanding the
causes of their problems and work with them to modify and change attitudes
and behavior.

The three traditional approaches to social work have been group work,
community organization work, and case work.  The approach employed is
determined by the nature of the social problem and the time and resources
available for solving it.  Social Workers may combine these approaches in
dealing with a problem.

Group Workers use group counseling methods designed to help people
understand themselves and others better.  They plan and conduct group
activities for children, teens, adults, and senior citizens in a variety
of institutions and settings.

Community Social Workers are involved in community organizations and
coordinate the efforts of political, civic, religious, business, and union
organizations to rectify social problems.

Caseworkers interview clients to identify personal or family problems and
help them obtain the needed social services, financial assistance,
education, or job training.  Caseworkers usually specialize in a particular
field, such as health services, or a specific social problem, including
delinquency, drug abuse, and poverty.

Medical Social Workers are caseworkers who help patients when personal or
social problems impede recovery.  They work with doctors to identify
environmental relationships underlying the patient's health problem.  They
also help the patient to understand and follow medical recommendations.
School Social Workers counsel children whose social problems hamper their
ability to learn.  They consult with parents, teachers, and other school
personnel to help students adjust to school life.

Children's service caseworkers aid parents with child-rearing problems and
children with social and emotional adjustment problems.  They investigate
home conditions to protect children from harmful environments.  They take
legal action on child abuse, and advise foster and adoptive parents. 

Family service caseworkers help clients deal with problems concerning family
relationships, marriages, home management, finances, health, and work 
adjustment.  Psychiatric Social Workers provide assistance to disturbed 
patients and their families.  They explain the psychiatrist's diagnosis 
and treatment methods to the families of patients.  Correctional Social 
Workers work with juvenile or adult offenders to determine and correct 
the causes of antisocial behavior.  They may work with youth groups or 
gangs.  They conduct pre-hearing and pre-sentence investigations and 
present social histories to the courts.  They also help parolees and 
probationers readjust to society.  Social Workers are employed by the state 
as consultants and as Licensing Program Analysts.  


WORKING CONDITIONS

Social Workers work in a variety of settings.  Most are employed by schools,
family service agencies, hospitals, penal institutions, youth service
facilities, and local government agencies.  Some Social Workers work
independently of traditional employers.  They may open their own office and
rely on referrals and direct contacts, or work as part of a team with other
professionals such as medical doctors and psychiatrists.

Social Workers deal with distraught or hostile people, sordid surroundings,
and distressing situations of all kinds.  They must be able to interact with
people from all economic, educational, and cultural backgrounds. 


EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

The following information is from the California Projections of Employment
published by the Labor Market Information Division.

These figures represent the occupational group Social Workers, Medical and
Psychiatric.

Estimated number of workers in 1993            19,210
Estimated number of workers in 2005            26,820
Projected Growth Percentage                       40%
Estimated openings due to separations by 2005   5,640

These figures represent the occupational group Social Workers, excluding
Medical and Psychiatric.

Estimated number of workers in 1993             32,480
Estimated number of workers in 2005             42,830
Projected Growth Percentage                        32%
Estimated openings due to separations by 2005    9,230

(These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.)


Taken together, the number of Social Workers is expected to increase by about
35 percent, compared with the 27 percent growth rate for all occupations.


WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS

Social work positions requiring only a Bachelor's degree are limited.  A
wider range of employment is available to a holder of a Master's degree in
Social Work (MSW).  According to the California Chapter of the National
Association of Social Workers, Social Workers with Master's degrees with
less than two years experience earn between $2,500 and $3,000 per month.
With two to five years experience, monthly pay increases to a range of
$3,000 to $3,400.  Between six years and 20 years of experience, monthly pay
ranges from $3,750 to $4,600.  With 20 years or more of experience, pay
ranges from $4,600 to $6,250 per month.  Generally, the lower salaries are
in the less populated areas. 

Union wages for entry level positions with a Bachelor of Arts Degree range
from $2,372 to $2,846 per month.  Social Workers with a Masters Degree
receive from $3,002 to $3,573 per month.

The average workweek is 35 to 40 hours.  Many jobs require some evening and
weekend hours.  Many private agencies hire Social Workers on a part-time or
on-call basis.  Most employers provide fringe benefit packages including
vacation, sick leave, and retirement programs.


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING

California has a registration program for Social Workers administered by the
Board of Behavioral Science.

A California license in clinical social work (LCSW) is required by many
agencies.  Most employers require a Master's degree in Social Work and some
may require that it be in some specialty, such as psychiatric social work.
In addition to education, some agencies require practical experience working
with a specific social problem.  Candidates with specialized training and
experience or who are bilingual have a better chance of being hired.  Recent
graduates and workers from out-of-state are allowed four years to obtain the
license.

The principal professional organization is the National Association of
Social Workers.  The principal labor organizations for those employed by
government are locals of the American Federation of State, County &
Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union, both of
the AFL-CIO.


ADVANCEMENT

Promotion to classifications that handle more complex and responsible
assignments usually require specialized training and an advanced degree.
By demonstrating superior judgment and more initiative, some Social Workers
advance to administrative and supervisory positions.  Promotions in
government agencies are based upon written examinations.  Advancement in
private agencies is less formal, but also depends upon demonstrated
competency and ability.


FINDING THE JOB

Announcements of civil service examinations are available at government
offices.  One may also apply at private agencies, colleges, professional
associations, placement bureaus, and the Workforce Services Offices of the
California Employment Development Department.  Ads can also be found in
professional journals.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
750 First Street NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002-4241
(800) 638-8799
http://www.nasw.org

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
California Chapter
1016 23rd Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(800) 538-2565

Board of Behavioral Sciences
400 R St. Suite 3150
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-4933

RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Psychologists                                 No.  77
Probation Officers and Parole Agents          No. 192
Recreation Leaders                            No. 357
School Counselors/Rehabilitation Counselors   No. 429

OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., 1991)
Caseworker (social ser.)                   195.107-010
Caseworker, Child Welfare (social ser.)    195.107-014
Caseworker, Family (social ser.)           195.107-018
Social Group Worker (social ser.)          195.107-022
Social Worker, Delinquency Prevention      195.107-026
Social Worker, Medical (prof. & kind.)     195.107-030
Social Worker, Psychiatric                 195.107-034
Social Worker, School (prof. & kind.)      195.107-038
Community Organization Worker              195.167-010

OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System
Social Workers, Medical and Psychiatric         273020
Social Workers, except Medical and Psychiatric  273050


Source:  State of California, Employment Development Department,
         Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
         (916) 262-2162.