Career Details :: Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Description
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist single parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers on how to deal with problem children.
Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks
- Counsels students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical impairment indicates need for assistance.
- Leads group counseling sessions to provide support in such areas as grief, stress, or chemical dependency.
- Counsels parents with child-rearing problems and children and youth with difficulties in social adjustments.
- Interviews individuals to assess social and emotional capabilities, physical and mental impairments, and financial needs.
- Counsels individuals or family members regarding behavior modifications, rehabilitation, social adjustments, financial assistance, vocational training, child care, or medical care.
- Arranges for day care, homemaker service, prenatal care, and child-planning programs for clients in need of such services.
- Refers client to community resources for needed assistance.
- Assists travelers, including runaways, migrants, transients, refugees, repatriated Americans, and problem families.
- Collects supplementary information, such as employment, medical records, or school reports.
- Maintains case history records and prepares reports.
- Evaluates personal characteristics of foster home or adoption applicants.
- Places children in foster or adoptive homes, institutions, or medical treatment centers.
- Reviews service plan and performs follow-up to determine quantity and quality of service provided to client.
- Determines client's eligibility for financial assistance.
- Develops program content and organizes and leads activities planned to enhance social development of individual members and accomplishment of group goals.
- Investigates home conditions to determine suitability of foster or adoptive home or to protect children from harmful environment.
- Serves as liaison between student, home, school, family service agencies, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and clergy members.
- Consults with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems and effect solutions.
- Arranges for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose cause of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.
Related Careers
- Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Establishing & Maintaining Relationships
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Communicating With Persons Outside Organization
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Objective or Subjective Information
- Deal With External Customers
- Provide a Service to Others
- Frustrating Circumstances
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Applied/Clinical Psychology |  [ add ] |
| Child/Family Services | [ add ] |
| Child/Youth Services | [ add ] |
| Clinical Developmental Psychology | [ add ] |
| Clinical Psychology | [ add ] |
| Clinical Social Work | [ add ] |
| Clinical/Community Psychology | [ add ] |
| Clinical/School Psychology | [ add ] |
| Counseling/Clinical Psychology | [ add ] |
| Family Life Services | [ add ] |
| Family/Community Services | [ add ] |
| Human Service Studies | [ add ] |
| Human Services | [ add ] |
| Human Services Administration | [ add ] |
| Law/Social Work | [ add ] |
| Psychology/Human Services | [ add ] |
| Social Planning | [ add ] |
| Social Service | [ add ] |
| Social Services | [ add ] |
| Social Services Administration | [ add ] |
| Social Services Technology | [ add ] |
| Social Services/Attendance | [ add ] |
| Social Welfare | [ add ] |
| Social Work | [ add ] |
| Social Work Planning/Administration/Social Science | [ add ] |
| Sociology/Human Services | [ add ] |
| Sociology/Social Work | [ add ] |
| Youth/Human Services | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.