A Career in Social Work
Sociology, Anthropology, and
Social Work Department
Professors Nancy Barker & Patricia Halcrow
Nassau Community College
What is Social Work?
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“…the professional activity of
helping individuals, groups, families,
organizations, and communities…”
TO DO WHAT?
 Enhance or restore their quality of
life
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Nassau Community College
OK, but what do Social Workers
Actually do?
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Social Workers have many roles:
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Counselors
Educators
Mediators
Administrators
Advocates/ Political consultants
Researchers
FOR MORE INFO...
Dr. Patricia Halcrow 516.572.9660 • Dr. Nancy Barker: 516.572.0818
Sociology/Anthropology/Social Work Dept: 516.572.7452
Nassau Community College
Where Do Social Workers Work?

There are many social work settings:
– Schools
– Hospitals
– Probation/Corrections Departments
– Mental Health Clinics
– Alcoholism/Drug Facilities
– Nursing Homes
– Group Homes
Nassau Community College
Example: Mental Health
Professional social workers are the
nation’s largest group of mental
health services providers. There are
more clinically trained social workers
than psychiatrists, psychologists,
and psychiatric nurses combined.
(NASW, 2005)
FOR MORE INFO...
National Association of Social Workers www.naswdc.org
Nassau Community College
Mental Health, Roles

As a social worker, you might:
– Run a group (therapy, socialization,
educational)
– Do individual counseling
– Work with families who struggle with various
problems (domestic violence, child abuse)
– Counsel children or teens
– Help alcoholics or drug addicts to deal with
their addictions
– Attend team meetings on treatment planning
for patients in mental hospital settings
Nassau Community College
Does Social Work Fit For Me?
Social Workers help people to
overcome life’s problems.
 Do you:
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– Have a genuine interest in people?
– Believe in the human potential for
growth?
– Enjoy working with people?
– Have patience and perseverance?
Nassau Community College
What Makes Social Work
Unique?
Person-in-environment perspective.
Social workers see people as being connected to a
larger social world. This might include family,
school community or peer groups.
Strengths perspective.
Social workers assume that everyone has
strengths, and that there are strengths in the
resources around us. They help people to find and
utilize these areas of strength.
FOR MORE INFO...
NASW – New York
www.naswny.org
Nassau Community College
New NCC Social Work Related
Program
Human Services: Community Service &
Social Welfare
AA degree 66 credits
Projected Start Date: January 2008
Seamless transfer to schools of social
work on Long Island
FOR MORE INFO...
Contact Dr. Barker or Dr. Halcrow
SOC/ANT/SWK Department:
Mrs. Loschin
Nassau Community College
516.572.7452
Why NCC?
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Individualized advisement
“Welcome Brunch” in fall
Awards & End of Year Party each spring
Reasonable tuition
InterACT club – Social Work Organization
on campus
NASW-NYS conference each spring
Social Work Day in March
Nassau Community College