The term “social work” refers to both a practice-based profession and an academic subject. Social work aims to foster social change and development, social cohesiveness and emancipation of people by utilizing a wide variety of ideas, practices, and principles. As a result of their firm conviction that even people in need of assistance can find solutions to the challenges they face on their own, social workers collaborate with those in need to strengthen and reawaken their problem-solving skills. School social workers are defined by the School Social Work Association of America as trained mental health specialists who can assist with matters pertaining to mental health, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral assistance, and academic and classroom support. The essay will analyze the role of school social workers, jobs in the field of social work, and how the federal government funds social work positions.
Students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social work have the chance to apply for jobs in a variety of fields. They are qualified for positions such as community outreach workers in community-based organizations, case management assistants in court settings, and behavioral management assistants in schools. Those with a degree can work in various fields, including eligibility workers, human services specialists, juvenile court liaisons, probation officers, and rehabilitation case workers.
Behavioral management aide, the aid assists in determining what the purpose or intent of the problematic action was. The behavioral assistant will be able to assist in creating a program to assist the child in expressing their needs healthily if they first establish what the child is seeking to accomplish. Case management aide, case management assistants are accountable for monitoring many clients simultaneously, confirming that the information is correct, preparing and updating case files, and keeping complete records of the community services that are now available (Finigan-Carr & Shaia, 2018). community outreach worker, the community outreach worker assists human beings by assisting their organization in promoting public education, volunteer recruitment and coordination, media campaigns, and fundraising objectives. Eligibility worker, an eligibility worker’s principal duty is to assist individuals in participating in social programs and maintaining their participation.
Human services specialist, clients can receive assistance from human services specialists in determining whether or not they are qualified to participate in various social programs. They conduct interviews to acquire information on their customers’ medical history and employment history, as well as information regarding whether or not their clients have access to child care and transportation, as well as information regarding their professional abilities. Juvenile court liaison, a juvenile court liaison is a person responsible for coordinating actions that take place within the juvenile justice system (Germain & Knight, 2020). They might go over documentation, review personal records, or discuss information regarding a case or trial with the necessary parties. Probation officer, when an offender is ordered or licensed to execute their sentence in the community, a probation officer will undertake a secondary evaluation of the risks and needs of the offender (Winter et al., 2018). Rehabilitation case worker, A rehabilitation case manager is a qualified professional who assists with planning, organizing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating services and resources for a patient undergoing rehabilitation.
There is a direct correlation between the level of education necessary for a specific position and the corresponding income range. Social workers with a bachelor’s degree can make an average annual salary of more than $60,000 (Editor, 2022). In addition, the salary range for most professions is between $53,000 and $67,000 (Writers, 2019). There are a variety of certifications, educational levels, and other skill sets that are needed for social worker roles. Location is another critical element, with employment in large urban regions often paying more for the same work than jobs in more rural areas of the country.
From 2020 to 2030, it is anticipated that the number of people employed as social workers will increase by 12 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Over the next ten years, it is estimated that there will be a total of approximately 78,300 available positions for social workers (Editor, 2022). It is projected that a significant number of these openings will be caused by the requirement to replace workers who move into alternative occupations or leave the labor force for reasons such as retirement.
The federal government provides state and local governments with financial aid through grants for various purposes. In certain circumstances, the federal government may devolve or share responsibility for a particular service or function because state and local governments have more information about local preferences and costs (Dzigbede et al., 2020). In some instances, the federal government may provide financial incentives to states and local governments to encourage them to increase expenditures that benefit other adjacent jurisdictions or the nation as a whole. The use of categorical funding is restricted to a certain purpose, such as fulfilling the nutritional needs of mothers, babies, and children per WIC. Even more challenging to get are grants that can only be used for certain projects, such as highway construction. As part of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, block grants give grantees greater flexibility in achieving program objectives, such as aiding needy families and encouraging work. The federal government distributes grants.
In conclusion, the profession of social work is practice-based and attempts to promote social change, development, community cohesion, and the empowerment of individuals and communities. Social work needs an understanding of human development and behavior and the interrelationships between social, economic, and cultural organizations. Social workers are trained professionals who aim to promote people’s overall well-being and contribute to the fulfillment of both the most basic and most complex human needs.
References
Dzigbede, K. D., Gehl, S. B., & Willoughby, K. (2020). Disaster resiliency of U.S. Local Governments: Insights to strengthen local response and recovery from the covid ‐19 pandemic. Public Administration Review, 80(4), 634–643.
Editor, C. (2022). What are a Social Workers Bachelors degree salary range? Social Work Degree Center. Web.
Finigan-Carr, N. M., & Shaia, W. E. (2018). School social workers as partners in the School Mission. Phi Delta Kappan, 99(7), 26–30.
Germain, C., & Knight, C. (2020). The life model of social work practice.
Winter, K., Morrison, F., Cree, V., Ruch, G., Hadfield, M., & Hallett, S. (2018). Emotional labour in social workers’ encounters with children and their families. The British Journal of Social Work, 49(1), 217–233.
Writers, S. (2019). Social Work Careers and salaries. SocialWorkLicensure.org. Web.