Review: 101 Careers in Social Work - Third Edition (2019)

101 Careers in Social Work - Third Edition (2019) by Jessica Ritter, Ann Obermann and Kirstin Lindsay Danhoff, is an expanded career guidebook that addresses the breath of the social work profession and the different career options available with a social work degree. The goal of the book is to help readers assess whether they are suited for a career in social work, describe more than 100 distinct career paths for social workers, and provide readers with the tools and resources they need to plan their social work careers, based on their skills and interests. It builds upon the second edition with updated information and new features, such as:

• Fifteen new personal narratives describing the rewards and challenges of different social work practices
• A new section highlighting important social and political issues relevant for each social work practice
• New data on employment opportunities and salaries from the U.S. Department of Labor
• New resources (books, essays, films and websites) for additional career exploration

The book begins with dispelling myths about the social work profession and how it is different from related fields and disciplines, such as psychology, sociology and counseling. The book is categorized under three sections: a) The Profession of Social Work (which includes an overview and future outlook of social work); b) Careers in Social Work (featuring 14 practice domains); and c) education and job hunting tools and websites (from earning a degree in social work to preparing your future career). 

The featured practice domains comprise of the following:

• Child Welfare
• School-Based Social Work
• Social Work with Older Adults (Gerontology) 
• Social Work in Healthcare 
• Mental Health and Addiction
• Crisis Intervention
• Criminal Justice and the Legal Arena 
• International Social Work and Human Rights
• Poverty and Homelessness
• Advocacy and the Political Arena
• Community Practice
• Human Service Organizations
• Research and Academia
• Nontraditional Careers in Social Work (including Dual Degrees) 

Each practice domain chapter includes a wealth of information about various job titles and career paths (e.g., nonprofit agencies, research, and government), core competencies and skills, educational and licensing requirements, best and challenging aspects of the job, compensation and employment outlook, self-assessment questionnaires and checklist to see if the job would be a good fit based on interest and skills.

I enjoyed the section on nontraditional careers in social work because the social work degree is versatile in a variety of professional settings. Social workers can be found as filmmakers, consultants, mediators, journalists, attorneys, and much more! Social workers can pursue a myriad of dual degrees in fields such as law, public health, public policy, nonprofit administration, education/higher education, and so forth. Part of my blog has been to highlight nontraditional careers in social work, particularly for those who specialized in macro practice as administrators, researchers, and advocates/organizers. The social work profession is deeply committed to social justice and helping those in need regardless of practice. 

As a macro practice social work student, this career guidebook was a wonderful resource to help me plan my career path. Social workers can be found creating positive change with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.  I highly recommend this new edition to prospective and current students as well as working professionals and practitioners who want to explore the array of career options in social work. 

Social Work History Month 2021: Social Workers are Essential

March is National Social Work History Month. The 2021 theme is " Social Workers are Essential.”  

From the NASW website:

Social workers are essential to community well-being.

As practitioners, social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living. They are employed to effect positive change with individuals, families, groups and entire communities.

As a profession, social workers frequently use their collective power to pass laws and establish policies that give more people access to community services and benefits, improving the quality of life for everyone.

Social work is the only helping profession which requires social justice advocacy as part of its professional code of ethics, and is therefore a large workforce mandated to advance the rights of the most vulnerable in society.

For more than 120 years, the social work profession in the United States has helped bend the arc of justice, making our nation a more equitable and inclusive place. 

Read the proclamation here. 

Social workers aim to improve the lives of children, the elderly, minority groups, disadvantaged populations. The social work profession accomplished major milestones throughout American history.  Social workers and allied professionals (from human services to social policy) have:

• Achieved the minimum wage and safer workplaces for poor people (Progressive Era)
• Fought for civil rights and voting rights (Civil Rights Movement)
• Expanded employment and reproductive rights for women 
• Supported marriage and employment protections for LGBT people

Social workers can be found in many different specializations, industries and fields requiring different levels of training, education and licensing to fulfill the various roles of advocate, therapist, mediator, researcher, educator, manager, evaluator, facilitator, case manager, administrator, and community change agent. Social workers play a vital role in helping to create programs and policies that make society a better and more equitable place for all. 

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has revealed major racial, gender and socioeconomic disparities in access to health care, employment, and critical supplies. This is a crucial time for social workers, especially macro social workers, to enhance the lives of the disadvantaged through advocacy, research, education and support. 

For more information about National Social Work History, browse the websites below:

• National Association of Social Workers: Social Work History
• National Today: National Social Work History Month
• National Association of Black Social Workers: NABSW Celebrates Social Work Month
• Rutgers University: Influential Women in the History of Social Work
• MSW Careers: A Short History of Social Work

For more information about the social work profession's response to COVID-19, check out these websites:

• Council on Social Work Education: Responses Addressing Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• National Association of Social Workers: Coronavirus Disease 
• National Association of Social Workers: COVID-19 Resource Center
• Responding to COVID-19: New Trends in Social Workers’ Use of Information and Communication Technology
• Social Work Guide: The Role of Social Workers During COVID-19 

Professional Certificates for Macro Social Workers

Lifelong learning is is important for personal and professional development. First, it enhances our understanding of the world around us. Second, it provides us with more opportunities for career advancement. Social workers and allied professionals in particular are required to obtain continuing education units (CEUs) for licensing renewal. CEUs are typically offered as a course, workshop, or webinar by universities, agencies, and associations. However, practicing macro social workers may encounter challenges in finding relevant content in macro practice settings (e.g., administration and leadership; advocacy and organizing; community-based initiatives; policy analysis and implementation; program development for organizations and communities; and research and evaluation). However, the majority of social work continuing education offerings are targeted for social workers in clinical or psychiatric settings. Generally, topics will focus on issues related to mental health and wellness with individuals and small groups. As a result, practicing macro social workers have to pursue a strategic approach towards continuing education that meets our needs.

What is the difference between a certification and a certificate?

Certification typically involves an exam administered by a third-party organization, such as the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). The ASWB offers five different types of exams for early-career social workers: Associate, Bachelor, Master, Advanced Generalist, and Clinical. The exams allow social workers to qualify for licensure in the states where they will work, depending on their level of education and practice area. For most professionals, certifications must be renewed on a regular basis. Obtaining relevant CEUs is part of the licensing renewal process. Certification recognizes achievement among professionals who meet the established knowledge, skills, and competencies in their industry.

Certificates are designed to respond to demand in a specific industry. These programs, which are offered for-credit or non-for-credit by educational institutions, follow a designated curriculum, have intended learning outcomes, and lead to an earned credential upon successful completion of the coursework. Certificate programs are typically shorter than master's programs. Since certificates are narrow in scope, the goal is for professionals to acquire specific knowledge, skills, and/or competencies.

For example, two top-ranked social work programs--University of Maryland and University of Michigan--offer several innovative macro-oriented professional certificate programs for social workers:

University of Maryland School of Social Work

• Financial Social Work Certificate Program
• Human Services Leadership and Management Certificate

University of Michigan School of Social Work

• Online Certificate Program in Mixed Methods Research
• Online Certificate Program in Political Social Work

I provided examples of the broad range of professional certificates available at educational institutions. CEUs can also be obtained at conferences and events sponsored by industry-specific associations. The following areas may be of interest to macro social workers:

• Global health and social development
• Higher education and student affairs 
• Intergroup relations and conflict resolution 
• Law and legal methods 
• Nonprofit management
• Program evaluation and assessment

Guidebook: Human Service Management Competencies for Social Workers

Social workers and allied professionals need access to best practices on managing public and private service organizations. In 2018, the Network for Social Work Management (NSWM) composed and released a guidebook (2018) of human service management competencies that every experienced and academically trained social worker should know for the successful management of both public and private nonprofit organizations.

• For Professionals, the guidebook provides the framework to four domains: Executive Leadership, Resource Management, Strategic Management and Community Collaboration.
• For University Staff, the guidebook offers a curriculum check-list (coursework, field education, and other educational opportunities) to ensure that social work (MSW) programs offer leadership development for students and professionals.

From the NSWM website:

"These are not intended to be minimum competencies, but are descriptions of the level of practice that are expected of experienced and academically trained professionals. Social workers practicing management at any level are encouraged to review these competencies, making use of the Self-Assessment form available through the Network office, to determine their own skill level and to develop an individual plan for upgrading their management performance."

As a MSW graduate who specialized in management and community practice, these competencies would help professionals, universities, and even state licensing boards develop uniform practice standards for human service management. While prominent organizations such as NSWM and ACOSA (Association for Community Organization and Social Administration) exist to assist macro-practice social workers, more information is needed to better prepare social workers for careers in nonprofit and public management. Many social workers enter the field without considering management as an option. Click here to explore and download the guidebook.

Webinar: CSWE's Macro Social Work Practice Curricular Guide

The Council for Social Work Education (CSWE) presented a webinar on its publication, Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Macro Social Work Practice (2015). The 300-page guide book categories macro social work under three primary focus areas: organizational administration; community organizing, and policy practice. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the nine professional competencies for macro social work practice.Each competency contains vignettes, case studies, classroom exercises, and additional resources for social work professors. The final section presents guidelines and frameworks for macro practice field education. The nine professional competencies for macro social work practice include the following:

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
4. Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
5. Engage in Policy Practice
6. Engagement with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

 
This guide book is part of CSWE's Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Printed copies are available for purchase at info [at] cswe.org. The webinar recording (September 4, 2019) can be viewed here.

CSWE Releases Report on the Careers of Social Work Graduates

In April 2019, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) recently released a report on the careers of social work graduates. The report, From Social Work Education to Social Work Practice: Results of the Survey of 2018 Social Work Graduates, The George Washington University's Health Workforce Institute surveyed graduates of more than 100 MSW and BSW programs across the country to better understand the job market for social workers and the demographic background of new social workers, their educational and career pathways, employment outcomes, and job satisfaction. Below are the key findings from the report:

• Social workers are employed in a wide variety of settings serving clients with diverse needs. More than a third of MSW graduates focused on children and families, and a quarter focused on mental health issues.
• Most social workers are employed at private not-for-profit organizations, health-care organizations, and government agencies.
• Most new MSW graduates are providing direct services to individuals, families, and groups. Relatively few (7.8%) are providing indirect social work services, such as public policy, administration, management; planning; program evaluation; and research.
• More than three-quarters of MSW graduates are entering social work jobs, although not all such jobs require an MSW. More than 17% of MSW graduates are going into positions that do not have social work titles but in which they are using their social work education and skills.
• The profession is largely female; there are some differences in practice patterns by race and gender.
• Salaries of new MSWs are relatively low for individuals with a master’s degree.
• Online education offers access to educational opportunities in rural and semi-rural areas and to African Americans.
• The job market for new MSWs is mixed: There are opportunities, but many are not what the new graduates are looking for and the pay is lower than desired.
• More than one of three jobs taken by new graduates were with organizations with which the graduates had field placements during their social work education.
• The majority (80 percent) of new MSWs plan to become licensed clinical social workers.

Not surprisingly, macro social work practice ("indirect social work") is severely underrepresented in the social work profession. This reflects social work curriculum primarily focusing on clinical practice (I have nothing against clinical work, but we also need more social workers doing advocacy work in addition to providing direct assistance to high-need populations). This reflects two factors: (1) schools' unwillingness to invest in macro social work curriculum, and the (2) state licensing boards refusing to offer licensure in macro social work. Some states, such as Michigan, do offer a macro practice licensure, but the vast majority of states do not offer this option. For example, the ASWB (which is the equivalent of a state bar exam for lawyers) offers the Clinical and Advanced Generalist exams. Clearly, the latter option could incentivize states to offer macro practice licensure. 

Another surprise is the increasing use of online education ("distance learning") in social work education, especially among African Americans. Rural students who live more than 30 miles from a social work school would benefit under online education. But why are more African Americans shifting to online education? Researchers need to look into why students are seeking online education over brick-and-mortar schools. Is it cost? Is it convenience? The urban areas, in particular, tend to offer many social work schools. Does online education provide a means for some students to keep their day jobs and attend school at the same time? A problem with most social work schools is that they generally offer daytime instruction and prioritize full-time enrollment. While this scheduling works for young college graduates with few family responsibilities, it is not feasible for working parents who need full-time employment to cover child care expenses and transportation.

Overall, this report was timely and necessary to gain a better sense of the social work profession. More work needs to be done to promote macro social work practice and provide more scheduling options for working parents. My recommendation for macro practice social workers is to pursue another degree (e.g., public policy, law, business, education) in your field that will give you a leg up both in terms of salaries and career advancement. Macro social workers have to be entrepreneurial to employers on how the skills they learned in social work can transfer into a non-social work-title position. It is my hope that policymakers use this report to improve social work education.

Review: Great Job for Sociology Majors - Third Edition (2009)

Great Job for Sociology Majors - Third Edition (2008) by Stephen Lambert is a comprehensive career guide book that highlights the myriad of careers that someone can do with a sociology major. I picked this book because sociology was one of my specializations in college. This book helps students and recent college graduates on how to present a major in sociology as a workplace asset during an interview, how to conduct a job search, and ways to use the major in sociology in the real world. The advice on cover letter and resume are very useful for recent college graduates on how to craft their skills and work experience in sociology for future employers.

The book covers five common career paths with a major in sociology:

1. Human Services (Community Organizations and Social Services)
2. Human Resources Management
3. Public Employment
4. Social Research and Data Analysis
5. Teaching with an Advanced Degree (Master's and Ph.D.)

The major in sociology, as you can tell above, is an ideal preparation for careers in social work, education, public policy, law, and the private sector. Lambert, who is a career counselor by training, does an excellent job breaking down sociological concepts to real-world application. If you think your sociology major has on real value, Lambert helps you re-think that idea. If your specialization is sociology of the family, then it's ideal background for work with children and youth in social service agencies. Do you like learning how human relations operate in the workplace? That sociology of labor coursework is ideal for careers in human resources management. Sociology has portable skills; thus, the possibilities are endless. Lambert outlines how to conduct a self-assessment of your personal values, skills, areas for improvement, and long-term goals. Then he identifies what it is like to work in that career path from recommended skills to employment outlook. He also provides a listing (directory) of organizations in the common career paths. Overall, I believe this book is a great resource for those who are seeking ideas on what career to pursue. The content is still relevant even a decade later.

Review: SAGE Guide to Social Work Careers (2019)

SAGE Guide to Social Work Careers: Your Journey to Advocacy (2019) by Melissa Bird, PhD is a career book about macro social work practice. Unlike the other career books, this book does not focus on clinical work. Rather, it provides guidance for social work students whose dreams and aspirations are leading them toward a career in social justice and advocacy work. In macro social work, students learn this under other names such as community practice or policy practice. Ultimately this book provides students and professionals with a strategy that can be used to effect broad policy change in all political climates: community engagement, policy and legislation.

Each chapter has stories from the profession, job descriptions from the practice area, as well as advocacy and policy examples in each practice area. I am thankful for this book because there is little literature out there that focuses specifically on the needs of macro social workers. Macro social work practice is underrepresented in the social work profession, yet the origins and foundation of social work is rooted in macro-level processes (e.g. the settlement house movement, Progressive era, and New Deal policies such as Social Security, disability insurance, workers' compensation, and so forth). This timely book, based on the author's own experience as a social worker in political advocacy, is needed to encourage more social work students that they can have a career in macro social work practice. While the career path is more entrepreneurial than the typical requirements for a clinical social worker, the experiences gained can be rewarding and life-changing, particularly if you work on a policy that will benefit a population in need. Overall, I highly recommend this invaluable resource for anyone who is considering macro social work practice. I believe that everyone should follow their passion and use the available resources to turn those aspirations into a career, whether it's through direct work with individuals or advocating on behalf of groups in the policy arena. Social work is not simply clinical work; it a microcosm of the different ways in which we as a profession effect social change.

This book contains the following chapters:

1. Follow Your Passion, Not Just a Path
2. Poverty
3. Child Welfare
4. Health Care
5. Disability
6. Mental Health
7. Substance Abuse
8. Aging
9. Criminal Justice
10. Advice for Moving Forward (resume, interview, etc.)

Review: Careers in Human Services (2015)

Careers in Human Services (2015) by Michael Shally-Jensen, PhD is a comprehensive occupational guidebook that contains 25 chapters describing specific fields of interest in the human services. It provides the necessary insight into potential careers and instruction on what job seekers can expect in terms of training, advancement, earnings, job prospects, working conditions, relevant associations, and more. Each chapter comes with fun facts, famous firsts, photos, and charts and tables, including projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and median annual salaries or wages for those occupations profiled. A highlight of each chapter is the interviews with a professional working in a related job sharing their personal career paths, detail potential for career advancement, and advice for students. The guidebook is specifically designed for undergraduate students or those changing careers.

Social Work is one of the chapters in the guidebook. The first section provided a snapshot with career cluster, interests, earnings, and employment outlook. The overview focused on the sphere of work ("Social workers are social service professionals committed to improving the social and behavioral lives of individuals, families, and communities." Macro social workers are labeled as "administrative social workers" who engage in research, policy, and administration. Interestingly, the profile section includes the type of people drawn to the social worker profession and the Holland Interest Score, a career inventory that measures your personality under six occupational categories. This makes me want to take a Holland Interest Test! There is extensive coverage on the duties and responsibilities of social workers by practice area (child welfare, school, psychiatric, etc.) as well as relevant skills and abilities in the physical and human environment. The second section focused on education and training. It starts with high school/secondary preparation and continues with recommended college majors. There is detail on the professional licensure requirements and the importance of joining a professional social work association. All of this information is helpful and conducive for someone who is new to careers. The third section focused on earnings and advancement. The guidebook offers a hourly wage chart for social workers by metropolitan areas which is useful when one must consider regional economic differences. It concludes with an interview with a clinical social worker, selected schools that offer MSW programs, and websites of professional social work associations.

Overall, I found this guidebook to be wonderful for young readers who might be intimidated by career books and want a gradual introduction to human services. It doesn't only focus on social work but related fields like psychologist or the clergy. For someone who wants to help individuals and communities but have not decided on a precise occupation, this is the right book for you to explore and learn. I highly recommend it.

Social Work Month 2019 Theme: Elevate Social Work

The 2019 theme for Social Work Month is Elevate Social Work. From NASW website:

Every day, the nation's 680,000 social workers work to empower and elevate millions of people, including some of the most vulnerable in our society.

National Professional Social Work Month in March 2019 is an opportunity for social workers around the nation and world and their supporters to educate the public about the invaluable contributions of the profession.

And we will also use the month to begin a conversation on how to boost the pay of social workers, which continues to lag behind that of other helping professions.

March also has World Social Work Day. The 2019 theme is "Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships." From IFSW website:

The 2019 world social work day highlights ‘Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships’.

World Social Work Day is on the 19th March 2019. It is the key day in the year that social workers worldwide stand together to celebrate the achievements of the profession and take the theme message into their communities, workplaces and to their governments to raise awareness of the social work contributions and need for further action.

This year’s theme focuses on the social relationships between people’s essential relationships with each other, their environments and their futures.

NPQ: The Organic Role of Libraries as Centers of Inclusiveness and Support

The Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ) has a very interesting story on the evolving role of public libraries as community centers. As a result, librarians are increasingly finding themselves in the role of social service provision, even though that was not their primary responsibilities (and certainly not their training in graduate school!). Public libraries are forming partnerships with social workers to become more inclusive and supportive in addressing the diverse needs of marginalized populations in the community. I remember San Francisco became the first major public library system to hire a social worker on their staff. Public libraries are more than just books--librarians and paraprofessionals must be cognizant of social problems in the community like affordable housing and other adverse challenges. Below is an excerpt:

People may check out fewer books from libraries than they used to, but libraries have continued to grow as their role as community hubs deepens. Here at NPQ, we have profiled libraries that have become maker spaces, supported gardening, and rented out musical instruments. In some cities, librarians have been trained to administer Narcan to interrupt opioid overdoses. In Ferguson and in Baltimore, as those cities were in a state of unrest after the killings of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray, respectively, the libraries served as sanctuaries, remaining open to the community. They have, in some cases, even been affordable housing partners.

Michigan, Harvard partner to solve poverty in Detroit

This is fantastic news for my hometown, Detroit. and Harvard University have formed new partnerships to bring actionable change through research and community engagement. With Harvard's new president, Lawrence Bacow, a native Michigander, supporting the effort, this project will bring immense opportunities for researchers to study and propose effective interventions that help the residents of Detroit.

From the alumni magazine, Michigan Today:

The University of Michigan and Harvard University are forming two new partnerships designed to spur economic mobility and reduce poverty in Detroit, as well as combine resources and expertise in response to the national opioid crisis.

The Equality of Opportunity Project — led by Harvard faculty members Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren and Brown University’s John Friedman — will work with U-M’s Poverty Solutions initiative, led by Luke Shaefer, U-M faculty member and Poverty Solutions director.

The universities will collaborate with the city of Detroit and local partners on an action plan to identify promising, results-based interventions for improving the livelihoods of low-income Detroit residents.

Social Work Month 2017: Social Workers Stand Up

The 2017 theme for Social Work Month is "Social Workers Stand Up."

From the National Association of Social Workers:

Social workers stand up for millions of people every day. These include people who are experiencing devastating illnesses and mental health crises, our veterans, children, families and communities. Yet many people still misunderstand who social workers are and the invaluable contributions they bring to society.

This year we will commemorate Social Work Month with a “Social Workers Stand Up!” campaign. This campaign will educate the public about the contributions of social workers and give social workers and their allies tools they can use to elevate the profession.

The 2017 theme for World Social Work Day is "Promoting Community and Environmental Stability."

Social Workers and Librarians Working Together to 'Humanize' the Homeless

In recent years, public libraries have increasingly hired social workers to help with at-risk populations get the resources they need. CityLab has an article about San Jose hiring the first library social worker to help connect the homeless patrons with assistance, mental services, and counseling. The homeless often take refuge at the public library where they find shelter from inclement weather and a daytime roof where they have access to media.

“These programs are humanizing homelessness throughout the library,” says Esguerra. “The library becomes a sanctuary for many of the patrons and our program helps them to feel safe again.”

Related content:

• Library Offers Homeless People Mental Health Services, And It’s Working (The Huffington Post)
• D.C. adds a social worker to library system to work with homeless patrons (The Washington Post)
• Library social worker helps homeless seeking quiet refuge (PBS Newshour)
• Public Libraries Add Social Workers and Social Programs (The New Social Worker)
• Extending Our Reach: Reducing Homelessness Through Library Engagement (American Library Association)
• From nurses to social workers, see how public libraries are serving the homeless (PBS Newshour)
• Peer-Reviewed Academic Journal: Envisioning Libraries as Collaborative Community Anchors for Social Service Provision to Vulnerable Populations

NASW: Social Workers in Government Agencies

In 2011, the NASW Center for Workforce Studies and Social Work Practice released the occupational profile, Social Workers in Government Agencies.

Social workers are key employees in federal, state, and local government agencies. Social workers may work on-site at a government agency; at a non-governmental agency whose client base is generated from their relationship with a government agency; or in a contracting relationship as independent consultants. The range of government settings in which social workers practice include: agencies serving children and families; health care settings; schools; federal, state or local correctional facilities; nursing homes and agencies in aging; and agencies serving military veterans and active duty military personnel. In the federal government, the larger employer of social workers include the Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice; and Department of Health and Human Services.

The occupational profile is very comprehensive. However, my biggest complaint with this document is that it overlooks social workers in macro-level roles such as policy analyst, program specialist, or public health educator. A growing number of social workers have non-clinical job titles. For example, becoming a Presidential Management Fellow is one way to launch a macro social worker career in the federal government. Greater awareness of social workers pursuing careers in policy and program evaluation is necessary so that students who are interested in politics or public policy know their options.

Professional Competencies for Social Workers

March is Social Work Month. Social work is a helping profession aimed to help those in need. What do social workers do?

• Social workers help individuals, families, and groups restore or enhance their capacity for social functioning, and work to create societal conditions that support communities in need.
• The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior, of social, economic and cultural institutions, and of the interaction of all these factors.
• Social workers help people of all backgrounds address their own needs through psychosocial services and advocacy.
• Social workers help people overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges: poverty, discrimination, abuse, addiction, physical illness, divorce, loss, unemployment, educational problems, disability, and mental illness. They help prevent crises and counsel individuals, families, and communities to cope more effectively with the stresses of everyday life.

All social workers should be familiar with professional competencies in the social work profession. I provide a sample below:

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics


MSW/ACOSA – EPAS MATRIX for Core Macro Practice Competencies

State of Michigan Social Work Grid - Scope of Practice (Clinical & Macro)

Don't forget to browse books about careers in social work at the Michigan Girl's Social Justice Bookstore.

Social Work Month 2016: Forging Solutions Out of Challenges

March is Social Work Month 2016. The official theme is 'Forging Solutions Out of Challenges'. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) picked this theme to honor macro social worker Frances Perkins. She used the skills she gained from her experience at Chicago's Hull House to formulate policies that addressed unsafe working conditions and economic crises. She would become the first female secretary of labor and cabinet member in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration. She used that position to improve conditions for working Americans. As an advocate of safer workplaces and workers' rights, her contributions helped create the American middle class.

From NASW:

Our nation’s more than 600,000 social workers have amazing tenacity and talent. They confront some of the most challenging issues facing individuals, families, communities and society and forge solutions that help people reach their full potential and make our nation a better place to live. We celebrate the contributions of social workers during National Social Work Month in March.

World Social Work Day 2016 is on March 15th. The theme ‘Promoting the Dignity and Worth of Peoples'.

Social Work Day on the Hill - March 1-2, 2016

March is Social Work Month. Social workers from across the country will gather together for a day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC:

BSW, MSW, PhD social work students and new entry profes­sionals from across our nation will join together in Washington DC to attend the second annual student-led Social Work Student Advocacy Day on the Hill. The Congressional Auditorium in the Capitol Visitor Center from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM is the location of the full-day conference that is organized by social work students and sponsored by the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP) and the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work (GWSCSW). Come meet and greet other social work students, new entry social work professionals, and other colleagues. The March 1st, Social Work Student Advocacy Day on the Hill is the kick off event for the Congressional Social Work Caucus' Annual “Social Work Day on the Hill” on March 2, 2016.

The goal of the March 1st event is to discuss how policy is shaped and learn the critical issues that affect the social work profession and our consumers. This year's event will focus on H.R. 3712, the Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2015. Hands on training will provide unique opportunities for engaged social work students and others to learn first hand how advocates can promote professional growth and inclusion. Hear how event speakers and other leaders voice ideas and the professions concerns to legislators and Congressional staff. Most importantly, experience the power of social work by getting involved in collective engagement and experience the impact of direct advocacy efforts.

Click here to register for the event. The cost for registration is $25.00 which includes lunch. Early career professionals, guests, and sponsors are welcomed to participate.

Former congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns, in conjunction with the Congressional Social Work Caucus and its Chair, Rep. Barbara Lee, invite you to attend the Social Work Day on the Hill. It will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, on Capitol Hill. For more information, contact Charles E. Lewis Jr. at celewisjr@gmail.com. In the meantime, browse the 2015 press release and 2015 report of Social Work Day on the Hill.

ACOSA: Why Macro Practice Matters

ACOSA released a highly anticipated essay (full and condensed versions) that every prospective and current social worker should read about the history and future of macro social work practice.

Why Macro Practice Matters By Michael Reisch, University of Maryland

This 2015 essay was commissioned by the Special Commission to Advance Macro Practice in Social Work initiated by the Association of Community Organization and Social Administration (ACOSA) in 2013. It is an outgrowth of the Special Commission's outreach to macro social work educators and practitioners who were asked to answer the question: "Why Macro Matters" in 2014.

• Condensed Version of Why Macro Practice Matters By Michael Reisch

In addition, ACOSA's Special Commission to Advance Macro Practice in Social Work published a report about five frameworks for macro practice in social work. An abstract can be read here. The five frameworks include (a) Case to Cause, (b) Organizational Management and Leadership, (c) Community Organizing, (d) Policy Practice, and (e) Human Rights.

 Has Child Protective Services Gone Too Far?

Child welfare agencies need major reform when parents are being criminalized for their parenting skills. From The Nation:

A debate sparked by the free-range parenting movement has drawn attention to the threats and intrusions poor, minority families have long endured welfare system hope that the national debate sparked by the free-range parenting movement will draw attention to the threats and intrusions that poor and minority parents endure all the time. Child-neglect statutes, says Martin Guggenheim, a New York University law professor and codirector of the school’s Family Defense Clinic, tend to be extremely vague, giving enormous discretion to social workers. “The reason we’ve tolerated the level of impreciseness in these laws for decades,” he notes, “is that they tend to be employed almost exclusively in poor communities—communities that are already highly regulated and overseen by low-level bureaucrats like the police. For somebody like me, the ‘free-range’ cases that are hitting the paper today are a dream come true, because finally people who otherwise don’t care about this problem are now calling out and saying, ‘Aren’t we going too far here?’”