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Career Details : Child, Family, and School Social Workers

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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

    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    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 MyFSA
    Applied/Clinical Psychologyadd Applied/Clinical Psychology to MyFSA
    Child/Family Servicesadd Child/Family Services to MyFSA
    Child/Youth Servicesadd Child/Youth Services to MyFSA
    Clinical Developmental Psychologyadd Clinical Developmental Psychology to MyFSA
    Clinical Psychologyadd Clinical Psychology to MyFSA
    Clinical Social Workadd Clinical Social Work to MyFSA
    Clinical/Community Psychologyadd Clinical/Community Psychology to MyFSA
    Clinical/School Psychologyadd Clinical/School Psychology to MyFSA
    Counseling/Clinical Psychologyadd Counseling/Clinical Psychology to MyFSA
    Family Life Servicesadd Family Life Services to MyFSA
    Family/Community Servicesadd Family/Community Services to MyFSA
    Human Service Studiesadd Human Service Studies to MyFSA
    Human Servicesadd Human Services to MyFSA
    Human Services Administrationadd Human Services Administration to MyFSA
    Law/Social Workadd Law/Social Work to MyFSA
    Psychology/Human Servicesadd Psychology/Human Services to MyFSA
    Social Planningadd Social Planning to MyFSA
    Social Serviceadd Social Service to MyFSA
    Social Servicesadd Social Services to MyFSA
    Social Services Administrationadd Social Services Administration to MyFSA
    Social Services Technologyadd Social Services Technology to MyFSA
    Social Services/Attendanceadd Social Services/Attendance to MyFSA
    Social Welfareadd Social Welfare to MyFSA
    Social Workadd Social Work to MyFSA
    Social Work Planning/Administration/Social Scienceadd Social Work Planning/Administration/Social Science to MyFSA
    Sociology/Human Servicesadd Sociology/Human Services to MyFSA
    Sociology/Social Workadd Sociology/Social Work to MyFSA
    Youth/Human Servicesadd Youth/Human Services to MyFSA
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