Social Work

Medically reviewed by Dr. Andrea Cziffer Paul , MD, Dr. April Brewer, DBH, LPC, and Julie Dodson, MA, LCSW

Overview

The social work profession’s primary mission is to meet the basic and complex needs of all people, often focusing on those who are oppressed, vulnerable, or impoverished. Social workers focus on the individuals they are trying to help and their environment or communities. They may support individuals in coping with how they feel about a situation and behavioral changes that may be beneficial for moving forward. They often work with external factors that may affect someone’s outlook and may create opportunities for intervention.

Social workers work in several settings. They can manage or administer agencies that provide client services or serve as advocates and community organizers. They may also be involved in writing policy, conducting research, and proposing legislation. They may also work in schools, help older adults find the services they need to live independently, or protect vulnerable children and youth from neglectful or abusive situations.

Social workers can work with people with developmental disabilities or who are caught in the justice and corrections system. Clinical social workers also provide mental health services and are trained to treat tobacco, alcohol, and other substance addictions (sometimes referred to as substance use or substance “abuse”). They can work as case managers and facilitate group, individual, and family counseling. Only licensed social workers can offer counseling.

What it is

Social workers focus on supporting individuals and groups and external factors impacting their situations. They help people cope with reality and make changes when necessary, assisting clients in effectively addressing thoughts about a situation and directing actions they can take toward change.

The role of a social worker depends on where they work and their specialty, but generally, social workers may perform the following tasks:

Identify communities and people who would benefit from support
Create a plan of action to help people overcome challenges
Help people adjust to challenges and changes
Research and refer people to appropriate community resources
Respond to crises, like spousal abuse cases or child abuse cases
Monitor the effects and outcomes of the plan of action and make adjustments when needed

For those experiencing abuse, contact the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Support is available 24/7.

Social work in mental healthcare

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) play a crucial role in mental health care, employing social work practice to address the complex psychosocial needs of individuals. As part of the social work profession, Social workers work to provide support across diverse settings, including health care facilities and schools, while advocating for social justice as part of their social work. Social workers and school social workers, often holding a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, may also collaborate with educators and families to enhance students' well-being. Within the National Association of Social Workers, these professionals uphold ethical standards while promoting the integration of mental health services into broader social systems.

Levels

Social work as a profession involves three levels: micro, mezzo, and macro.

Micro-level social work

Micro-level social workers work directly with clients to solve problems. They often play the role of a counselor with appropriate licensure and focus on the person’s individual experience, supporting the client in understanding their emotions or teaching coping skills. This type of social worker may include school social workers, child and family case workers, licensed clinical social workers, and medical social workers.

Mezzo-level social work

Mezzo-level social workers focus on supporting multiple clients or groups, such as school groups, families, or communities of faith. While they may help individuals meet one-on-one goals, they also involve other people or systems to offer support.

Mezzo social workers might also play the role of community advocate, identifying common struggles in the community and bringing in different support systems. Mezzo social workers can include leaders of non-profit or community agencies, faculty members teaching and training new social workers, and those who lead classes for local groups about public health issues.

Macro-level social work

Macro-level social workers focus on making systemic changes, working as advocates of influencing public policy, working with government agencies, drafting petitions, organizing activists, conducting research, developing new public service programs, or supporting legislation. These actions can incite social change rather than focusing on individual clients.

Core mandates

Social workers follow a code of ethics spelling out the profession’s core values, including the following.

Service

Often, social workers aim to support people in need and address social challenges. They use their values, experience, knowledge, and skills to help those in need and are encouraged to volunteer some of their skills as pro bono work.

Social justice

Social workers may challenge social injustice on behalf of oppressed and vulnerable people, focusing primarily on discrimination, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. They promote sensitivity and spread knowledge about oppression and diversity, ensuring meaningful participation in decision-making and access to opportunities, necessary services, information, and resources.

Dignity and worth of a person

Social workers respect the dignity and worth of all people, treating everyone with care and respect while being mindful of their differences. They seek to enhance people’s ability and opportunity to address their needs while resolving conflicts between the interests of their clients and society.

Importance of human relationships

Social workers often recognize how important human relationships are and understand that they can be a vehicle for change. They engage with people as partners and seek to strengthen relationships to restore and maintain the well-being of individuals, families, organizations, social groups, and communities.

Integrity

Social workers aim to behave in a trustworthy manner, being continually aware of the profession's values, mission, ethical principles, and standards of practice. They act responsibly and honestly, promoting ethical practices.

Competence

Social workers practice within their scope, aim to enhance their professional expertise, and apply that in their practices.

Education and qualifications

A social worker’s education can vary. Depending on the type of social work they intend to practice, social workers may need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from an accredited program.

Entry-level positions in social work may require a bachelor’s degree. In these programs, social work students learn about human behavior,¹ diverse populations, ethics, and social welfare policy. All bachelor’s programs for social work require students to participate in supervised fieldwork or complete an internship.

Those who want to work as clinical social workers and treat people with emotional, mental, or behavioral illnesses often need a master’s degree in social work. These social work programs are more in-depth than bachelor’s programs and prepare students by developing clinical assessment and diagnostic skills. After completing the coursework for social work, clinical social workers complete supervised training, which may take several years. All states require clinical social workers to be licensed.

Finding help

The way to find a social worker can depend on your unique situation. You may be able to connect with a social worker through an organization with which you are associated or a facility you belong to, whether that be a school, hospital, treatment program, prison, or community program. You can also search for social workers in your area online.

If you are interested in getting help from a clinical social worker for your mental health, search for a licensed professional in your area. Some clinical social workers may practice independently, while others may work with other mental health professionals as part of a more extensive practice.

Alternatively, you can find help from a social worker online to attend sessions from the comfort of your home. Through platforms like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a qualified mental health professional, often within 48 hours. After being matched, you may use resources like individual sessions, group sessions, and worksheets assigned by your therapist.

Associated terms

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Updated on September 20, 2024.

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