Misconceptions persist about the breadth and depth of services offered by social workers. This article examines the role of social workers and how they help the public at large.
社会工作比大多数人意识到的要多得多. Misconceptions and stigmas about the profession may prevent people from taking advantage of the help social workers can provide or deter 学生’ interest in pursuing a social work degree and serving the public. 社会工作者的主要目标是回答问题, provide support and develop a plan to help their clients succeed in life. 不要相信那些神话. Read on to learn the truth about what social workers really do and how they can help people in all walks of life.
谬论:社工是福利工作者
Social work isn’t just for those who are down on their luck. Social workers help lots of different people in many different situations. Most social workers tend to specialize in one sector of the population or environment, 包括儿童和家庭, 学校, 医疗保健, 精神健康和药物滥用.
在医疗保健行业, 例如, social workers may provide trauma and end-of-life counseling. Social workers help patients and families understand a diagnosis and craft a game plan for clients to make necessary adjustments, 比如为住房提供资源, 家庭保健和支助小组.
误解:社工想把你的孩子带走
让家人团聚是每个人的最大利益. 出于这个原因, social workers provide assistance so at-risk children and families can get access to resources and programs that can help. 在学校, 社会工作者与教师协调, parents and 学生 to tackle issues like bullying and aggressive behavior so that 学生 see academic success. Child and family social workers help parents find affordable child care and apply for benefits like food stamps. These workers also offer mental health support to children and families dealing with divorce, 丧亲之痛, 青少年怀孕和其他生活变化.
谬论:社会工作是一个危险的职业
It is true that social workers may find themselves dealing with potentially aggressive clients. Physical assault does exist in the profession, but is less common than psychological aggression. Some of the people social workers help may be unstable due to stressful situations they are experiencing.
Not all social workers experience aggression in the workplace, nor are they without protection. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) provides a safety training program and has instituted policies to ensure the well-being of social workers.
Myth: A kind heart is all you need to be a successful social worker
While it’s great in any profession to care about others, social work requires more than compassion. 社会工作者为他们的客户满足许多需求. 他们提供咨询服务, 评估客户的优势和目标, 协助客户申请福利, respond to crisis situations and offer advice on available resources and programs. Social workers also evaluate and monitor client success to make sure their methods are effective. 除了他们天生的同情心和同理心, 社会工作者应该具备良好的倾听能力, 研究, 时间管理和解决问题的能力, 以及在压力下工作的能力.
谬论:社工是志愿者，薪水不高
社会工作是一个真正的职业. There are two main types of social workers: direct-service social workers and clinical social workers. Direct-service workers help clients with everyday problems and life changes, whereas clinical social workers diagnose and treat patients with mental illness, 上瘾, 行为问题和情感问题. While volunteers do great work to help improve their communities and lives of those around them, 社会工作者不是志愿者. They study and train for years before entering the workforce. 成为一名社会工作者需要学位. 根据美国.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2010 the median salary for U.S. 社会工作者为42,480美元. 收入最高的10%的人年收入在70390美元或以上.
Myth: A degree in sociology qualifies you to do social work
社会学学位和社会工作学位是不一样的. Sociology is the study of the structure and functioning of human society. Social work courses prepare 学生 to find resources and help combat societal problems. While an understanding of sociology is good for any aspiring social worker, a sociology degree does not qualify you to become a social worker.
Direct-service social workers should hold a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW). Clinical social workers are required to have a master’s in social work (MSW). All states have a licensure and certification requirement in place for social workers, as well.
Now that you know the truth about social workers, do you think it’s the path for you? If you want make a career out of helping others, start by earning your BSW or MSW. Classes can be taken online, so you can learn at your own pace. 有关 在线社会工作学位，访问布雷西亚大学的在线校园.
成立于1950年, 布雷西亚大学是一所天主教大学, liberal arts institution founded in the Ursuline tradition of personal and social transformation through education. 随着BUonline的出现, Brescia brings accredited undergraduate and graduate programs to 学生 across the nation. Brescia’s commitment to a student-centered environment rewards 学生 who seek success through meaningful careers and service to others.