With a focus on the interdisciplinary nature of social work, the book describes both traditional careers and those that are off the beaten path in such arenas as forensic social work, social entrepreneurship, working in political systems, international careers, and community practice.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• I THE PROFESSION OF SOCIAL WORK
• 1 What Is Social Work?
• Separating the Facts From the Fiction
• Top 7 Myths About the Social Work Profession
• How Is Social Work Different From Other Related Professions/Disciplines?
• How Did Social Work Begin?
• What Is the Future Outlook for Social Workers?
• A Brief History of the Social Work Profession in the United States
• 2 Got Social Work?
• Is Social Work for You?
• Benefits of a Career in Social Work
• Challenges of a Career in Social Work
• The Social Work Oath
• An Invitation to You
• 3 Follow the Yellow Brick Road: Education and Licensure for Social Workers
• What Steps Are Involved in Becoming a Professional Social Worker?
• What Degree Do I Need to Become a Social Worker?
• What Are the Prerequisites for Being Accepted to a Social Work Program?
• Who Qualifies as a Social Worker?
• What Is the Purpose of Licensing?
• What Do I Need to Know About Social Work Licensing?
• Is Licensing Really Necessary for the Social Work Profession?
• Do All Social Work Jobs Require Getting a License?
• If I Am Licensed in One State, Will I Be Able to Use This License in a Different State if I Relocate for a Job?
• What Are the Differences Between a License, a Certification, and a Credential?
• After Graduation From My University's Social Work Program, Will I Be Able to Obtain a License?
• Where Can I Learn More About the Requirements for Social Work Education, Supervision, and Licensing?
• Postscript
• II CAREERS IN SOCIAL WORK
• 4 Careers in Child Welfare
• Child Protection Caseworker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Jessica A. Ritter, Children's Protective Services
• Intake Worker
• CPS Investigator
• Family Preservation Caseworker
• Substitute Care Caseworker
• Foster Care and Adoption Caseworker
• Careers With Private or Nonprofit Agencies
• Careers in Child Welfare Research
• Careers With the Government
• Child Welfare Advocate
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Adoption Social Worker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Agnes Zarcaro, Spaulding for Children
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Foster Care Social Worker
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Emerging Field of Practice: Home Visiting Programs
• 5 School-Based and School-Linked Services
• School Social Worker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Magda Flores, School Social Worker
• After-School Program Counselor
• Day-Care or School Readiness Program Worker
• Adult Literacy Program Worker
• Special Education Social Service Worker
• Social Worker on a College Campus
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• 6 Social Work With Older Adults
• Adult Protective Services Caseworker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Lori Delagrammatikas, Program Coordinator
• Social Work in Adult Day Centers
• Residential Care Case Manager
• Careers in Psychogeriatrics
• Social Work in Hospitals and Other Health Care Settings
• Social Worker Spotlight: Sheryl Bruno, Social Work Supervisor
• Hospice Social Worker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Mary Jane O'Rourke, Hospice and Palliative Care
• Home Health Social Worker
• Geriatric Case Manager
• Social Worker Spotlight: Simon Paquette, Medical Social Worker
• Careers in Research and Policy
• Careers With the Government
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• 7 Social Work in Health Care
• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or “ObamaCare”
• Social Work in Hospitals and Other Medical Settings
• Social Worker Spotlight: Jacqueline Frausto, Medical Social Worker
• Emergency Room Social Worker
• Hospice Social Worker
• Director of Social Work
• Public Health Social Worker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Erica Solway, Doctoral Student in Sociology
• Rehabilitation Social Worker
• Patient Navigator/Patient Advocate
• Health Care Policy Specialist
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• 8 Social Work in Mental Health and Addiction
• Prevalence of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse
• Social Work Mental Health Practice Today
• Clinical Social Worker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Sue Matorin, Treatment Coordinator
• Social Work With Groups
• Social Worker Spotlight: Mary Kiernan-Stern, Northern Virginia Cancer Center
• Social Work and Substance Abuse Intervention
• Social Worker Spotlight: Robert Klekar, Social Work and Substance Abuse
• Social Worker Spotlight: Shana Seidenberg, Mental Illness Substance Abuse Coordinator
• Employee Assistance Worker
• Military Social Worker
• Mental Health Advocacy
• Core Competencies and Skills
• Educational and Licensing Requirements
• Best Aspects of This Job
• Challenging Aspects of This Job
• Compensation and Employment Outlook
• Self-Assessment Checklist: Is This Job for Me?
• Mental Health and Addiction Exercise
• 9 Careers in Crisis Intervention
• Careers in Disaster and Emergency Management
• Social Worker Spotlight: Brian Rivers, Case Manager/Volunteer Coordinator
• Suicide Prevention
• Family Violence Counselor
• Sexual Assault Counselor
• Policy Advocate
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Social Worker Spotlight: Cindy Southworth, National Network to End Domestic Violence
• 10 Careers in Criminal Justice and the Legal Arena
• Social Worker Spotlight: Lyn K. Slater, Interdisciplinary Center for Family and Child Advocacy
• Probation Officer (Adult or Juvenile Justice System)
• Parole Officer
• Correctional or Detention Officer
• Correctional Treatment Specialist
• Juvenile Justice Counselor
• Gang Prevention Counselor
• Family Court Social Worker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Brandy Macaluso, Coalition for Independent Living Options
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Jails and Prisons)
• Victim Services Specialist
• Social Worker Spotlight: Marilyn Peterson Armour, Institute for Restorative Justice and Restorative Dialogue
• Mediation and Conflict Resolution
• Careers in Restorative Justice
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Careers in Forensic Social Work
• Custody Evaluator
• Mental Health Evaluator
• Mitigation Specialist
• Social Worker Spotlight: Alison Cusick, Intern, Office of the Public Defender
• Forensic Social Work in Juvenile Justice
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Social Worker Spotlight: Joel T. Andrade, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work
• 11 Careers in International Social Work and Human Rights
• U.S.-Based Immigrant, Refugee, and Asylee Resettlement Worker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Marleine Bastien, Founder, Fanm Ayisyen nan Miyami/Haitian Women of Miami
• Social Worker Spotlight: Juliane Ramic, Resettling Refugees
• Immigration Policy Advocate
• Disaster Relief Worker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Susan Kosche Vallem, Professor and Chair, Social Work Department, Wartburg College
• Human Rights Worker
• International Development Worker
• Careers With the United Nations/UNICEF
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Social Worker Spotlight: Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director (Program), UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund
• 12 Careers in Poverty and Homelessness
• Income Assistance Caseworker/Employment Counselor
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Social Work Careers in the Field of Homelessness
• Careers in Research
• Poverty Advocate
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Social Worker Spotlight: Kristin Noel Ludwig, Community Action
• 13 Careers in the Political Arena
• Lobbyist
• Campaign Worker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Greg Shufeldt, Political Social Worker
• Legislative Aide
• Field Organizer
• Social Worker Spotlight: Elizabeth Alex, Lead Organizer/Manager
• Policy Analyst/Researcher
• Advocacy Organization
• Legislator or Public Official
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• Social Worker Spotlight: Representative Elliott Naishtat, Attorney and Texas State Legislator
• 14 Careers in Community Practice
• Community Planner
• Social Worker Spotlight: Odis Dolton, Assistant Director for Finance
• Community Developer
• Social Worker Spotlight: Amy Krings-Barnes, Community Police Partnering Center
• Community Organizer
• Social Worker Spotlight: Trina Scordo, Senior Organizer
• Social Work in Urban Communities
• Urban Social Worker Spotlight: Tracy Harris, Family Service Case Manager
• Entrepreneurial Social Worker Spotlight: Johnnie Fielding, Cofounder, Leading by Example
• Rural Social Worker
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• 15 Leadership in Human Service Organizations
• Administrator
• Executive Director
• Social Worker Spotlight: Laura Elmore Smith, Executive Director, Crime Prevention Institute
• Program Manager
• Social Worker Spotlight: Mary Kiernan-Stern, Arlington Hospital
• Organizational Consultant
• Public Relations/Media Relations
• Volunteer Services Director
• Fund-Raiser
• Social Worker Spotlight: April Kerwin, Director of Stewardship and Planned Giving
• Grant Writer
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• 16 Careers in Research and Academia
• Social Work Researcher
• Social Work Professor
• Social Worker Spotlight: Jessica A. Ritter, Director of BSW Program and Associate Professor
• Adjunct Faculty/Lecturer
• Field Education Director/Coordinator
• Director of Special Programs
• Program Director/Department Chair/Dean
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• 17 “Out of the Box” Social Work Careers
• Dual Degrees
• Novelist/Journalist
• Social Worker Spotlight: Anne Driscoll, Journalist, Author
• Documentary Filmmaker
• Social Worker Spotlight: Murali D. Nair, Communicating Beyond Print Media
• Artist
• Corporate Consultant
• Careers in Human Resources
• Social Worker Spotlight: Elaine Charpentier Philippi, Program Manager
• Careers in Mediation and Conflict Resolution
• Ombudsman
• Self-Employment/Consulting Careers
• Animal-Assisted Social Work
• Social Worker Spotlight: Richard B. Joelson, Private Practice
• Social Entrepreneur
• Attorney
• Recommended readings/websites to learn more
• III WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
• 18 Paying for Your Social Work Education
• The Rising Costs of Higher Education
• The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Conducting a Scholarship Search
• Other Methods of Financing Your Education
• Social Work Scholarships, Fellowships, and Other Programs
• In Sum
• 19 Job Hunting Tips
• Books on Job Hunting
• Job Hunting Websites
• International Social Work Opportunities
• Online Job Hunting
• Creating Your Résumé
• Networking
• Epilogue