Social Work: A
Growing
Profession
What is Social Work?
• The primary mission of the social work profession is to
“enhance human wellbeing and help meet the basic
human needs of all people, with particular attention to
the needs and empowerment of people who are
vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty” (NASW,
2008, p.1).
• This profession is committed to the pursuit of social
justice to enhance the quality of life, and the
development of individuals, groups, families, and
communities to its full potential.
About Social Workers
• Each social worker is uniquely trained and qualified
to assess people and their environments that they
are influenced by.
• Social workers work to enhance the overall wellbeing of the individual to create positive
opportunities for the future.
• Social workers use a large network of resources to
link the person to community services to help them
overcome life’s most difficult challenges.
How Do Social Workers Help?
Social workers work with
a variety of different
issues that can greatly
impact individuals,
families, and
communities. Some of
these issues include:
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Poverty
Stress
Mental Health
Addiction
Abuse
Disability
Death
Physical Illness
Discrimination
Where Do Social Workers Work?
Social workers can be
employed virtually
anywhere! There are a
range of different fields
of practice that social
workers can work in.
Here are just a few of
them:
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Hospitals
Schools
Mental Health Agencies
Retirement and Senior
Communities
Government
Drug and Alcohol Facilities
Hospice
Family and Children Services
Juvenile and Adult
Corrections
NASW Code of Ethics
• The NASW Code of Ethics sets forth values,
principles, and standards to guide social
workers’ conduct.
• This is relevant to all social workers and
social work students, regardless of their
professional functions, the settings in which
they work, or the populations they serve
(NASW, 2008).
Six Core Values
The mission of the
social work profession
is rooted in a set of
core values. These
core values are the
foundation of social
work’s unique purpose
and perspective
(NASW, 2008).
How to Become a Social Worker
• Social workers are trained with proper
education, experience, and dedication to help
individuals whenever and wherever they need it.
• It takes a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral social
work degree — with a minimum number of hours
in supervised fieldwork — to become a social
worker (NASW Help Starts Here, 2008).
What is a BSW?
• The BSW is a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree.
• This is the only bachelor’s level human service degree
whose educational programs are accredited by a
national body, which is the Council on Social Work
Education (CSWE).
• The CSWE accreditation process insures that the
programs meet national standards on all levels.
• Through this process, social work students receive
appropriate education and training to better serve our
clients.
Schools of Social Work – BSW
Programs
• Alvernia College
• Eastern University
• Bloomsburg University
• Edinboro University
• Cabrini College
• Elizabethtown College
• California University of
• Gannon University
Pennsylvania
• Juniata College
• Carlow College
• Kutztown University
• Cedar Crest College
• La Salle University
• Chatham College
• Lock Haven University
Schools of Social Work – BSW
Programs -- Continued
• Mansfield University
• Saint Francis University
• Marywood University
• Seton Hill University
• Mercyhurst College
• Shippensburg University
• Messiah College
• Slippery Rock University
• Millersville University
• Temple University
• Misercordia University
• University of Pittsburgh
• Philadelphia Biblical
• West Chester University
University
• Widener University
What is a MSW?
• An MSW is a Master’s of Social Work degree.
• This prepares students to move from a
generalist approach to a more advanced
practice.
• Students will concentrate more on their
particular area of interest and will be able to
perform an advanced range of roles upon
graduation.
Direct Practice Social Work
• Direct practice involves providing direct
services to individuals and families.
• Social workers are generally employed in
clinical or direct practice settings.
• Supervisory, administrative, and staff training
positions usually require a MSW.
Macro Practice Social Work
• Macro social work involves practice at the
society and community level.
• This can include roles in public policy that
perform grassroots advocacy on a state,
national, or international level.
• Other roles would include community
organization, community development, and
public health.
Schools of Social Work – MSW
Programs
• Bryn Mawr College
• Shippensburg University
• California University of
• Temple University
Pennsylvania
• University of Pennsylvania
• Edinboro University
• University of Pittsburgh
• Kutztown University
• West Chester University
• Marywood University
• Widener University
• Millersville University
What is a LSW?
• A LSW is a Licensed Social Worker.
• An individual with a LSW will be able to perform a
wide range of roles specifically focusing on direct
practice services.
• To receive this license, an individual in
Pennsylvania must complete the following:
– Graduate with a Masters degree in Social Work
or Social Welfare from an accredited university.
– Pass a general Master’s level exam.
What is a LCSW?
• A LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
• An individual with a LCSW will be able to provide direct
mental health or health services and/or open a private
practice.
• To receive this license, an individual in Pennsylvania must
complete the following:
– 3,000 hours (2-6 years) of clinical supervision
experience after completing the Master’s degree in
Social Work.
– Pass a clinical level exam.
LCSWs as Mental Health
Providers
• Clinical social workers generally provide mental
health services for prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment of mental, behavioral, and emotional
disorders.
• The main goal is to enhance an improved quality
of life and to maintain physical, psychological,
and social functioning of individuals, groups, and
families who are in direct need.
Future of Social Work
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
the need for social workers is expected to
grow twice as fast as any other occupation.
This especially focuses in gerontology, home
healthcare, substance abuse, private social
service agencies, and school social work
(NASW Help Starts Here, 2008).
Questions?
References
National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code
of Ethics. Retrieved November 25, 2008 from
http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/Code/code.asp
National Association of Social Workers, Help Starts
Here. (2008). About social workers. Retrieved
November 25, 2008 from
http://www.helpstartshere.org/About_Social_Worker
s.html