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To
be a successful Social Worker you should:
- want your work to make a difference
- believe in the worth and dignity of all people
- have acceptance and appreciation of individual differences
and contributions
- have a clear understanding of the values, ethics,
knowledge, and skills of a helping professional
- have excellent oral and written communication skills
- have the ability to work in isolation and make independent
judgments
- understand the value of team work
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| What
type of education and/or training do I need?
To be a social worker, one must have a degree in social
work from a college or university program accredited by
the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The undergraduate
degree is the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Graduate
degrees include the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the
Doctorate in Social Work (DSW or PhD). The bachelor's
degree prepares graduates for generalist entry-level work,
whereas the master's degree is for more advanced practice.
A DSW or PhD is useful for doing research or teaching
at the university level. |
| Do
I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is required in the State of Connecticut to
provide clinical social work (therapy). Prerequisite:
To be a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), one needs
a master's degree in social work, 3000 hours post-graduate
clinical social work experience, 100 hours of approved
supervision by an LCSW and passage of the clinical exam
of the American Association of State Social Work Boards. |
| Where
can I get more information? National Association
of Social Workers
750 First St, NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002
(800) 638-8799 www.naswdc.org
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What
is the salary for this career?
$33,280-$62,400
(Source: National Health Council's Health
Careers Book) |
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| What
will my job be like? Social workers help
individuals, families, and groups to function within their
environments by providing direct services, i.e., counseling,
securing resources, or by advocating for a change in the
environment (systems change).
Social Workers may specialize in:
- Child Welfare
- Community Organizing
- Gerontology
- Marriage and Family
- Health Care
- Mental Health
- Social Policy and Administration
- Substance Misuse and Addictions
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| Where
could I work? Social workers are employed
in schools, corporations, courts of law, and private practice.
Other workplace settings:
- Community Mental Health Centers
- Governmental Agencies
- HIV/AIDs Clinics
- Home Health Agencies
- Hospitals
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers
- Nursing Homes
- Prisons
- Social Service Agencies
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| What
is the future of this career? Employment of
social workers is expected to grow faster than the average
through the year 2008. |
| Where
can I get the education and/or training? BSW
Programs
- Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
- Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic
- Sacred Heart University, Fairfield
- St. Joseph College, West Hartford
- Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
- Western Connecticut State University, Danbury
MSW Programs
- Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
- University of Connecticut, West Hartford
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