Substance Abuse: A Career As A Social Worker

I chose social working as my career because many other people go through tough situations and have a difficult time talking to relatives or friends to help them through a tough situation. I thought of becoming a social worker so I can have the ability to change the lives of others. Social work is one of those careers you can truly make a difference in people’s lives. I want to become a social worker because life isn’t about just helping yourself it’s about helping others as well, which is what social workers do for a living. Child and family social workers protect children and families in need of assistance. Many families and children don’t feel comfortable talking to just anyone about obstacles they have faced in their lives which is why

Social work professions need to understand the importance of how individuals interact both with other people and their environment, to have an understanding how individuals are affected by these interactions (Rogers, p. 2). According to Rogers (2016), “Social workers are knowledgeable about human behavior across the life course; the range of social systems in which people live; and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Social workers apply theories and knowledge from the liberal arts to understand biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development (p. 2). Their work with clients begins with assessments to evaluations of intervention and is based in and supports of the core value system of the profession.

Social workers form relationships with people and assist them to live more successfully within their local communities by helping them find solutions to their problems. Social work involves engaging not only with clients themselves but their families and friends as well as working closely with other organisations including the police, local authority departments, schools and the probation service.

Social services within the outpatient and inpatient programs are facilitated by the social workers. The social workers host group therapy sessions, complete treatment plan, facilitates the aftercare planning meetings between the patient and their family members or friend, locate housing centers for homeless patients as well as those that are in unsafe living conditions, determine patient eligibility for program services, conduct biopsychosocial assessments, conduct CDC with patients, evaluate patients support systems, physical and emotional functioning of the patient’s, financial stability, safety, suicidal/homicidal ideation, implement treatment and discharge plans that coincide with the patient’s medical treatment, and offer referrals to residential housing and community resources.

The role of the social worker in this setting is to perform duties as an informed clinician based on evidence based practice to provide individualized case management to all clients. The social worker will complete a comprehensive intake assessment which includes demographics of the client, address presenting problem, and a risk assessment. Client’s also receive mental health screenings and individual and group counseling to gain new coping skills and address any triggers to prevent relapse utilizing interventions as CBT and Motivational Interviewing. The social worker will discuss limits of confidentiality and a signed informed consent from the client to receive services.

When thinking about social work, there are different avenues that a worker can explore in this vast field. Because a social workers job is multifaceted, workers can not only integrate themselves in an already created avenue, but can also tailor a field, specifically for a need in the community. Looking at the many different fields in the area of social work, the area of Social Workers in Mental Health facilities and outpatient clinics stands out as an area of depth and interest.

In order to become a licensed social worker in the United States, one must hold at least a Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) from an accredited program. With a BSW or a degree in a related field, the individual is able to provide the most basic of services to their clients such as casework or being a mental health assistant (U.S. Bureau Labor Statistics, 2016). However, in order to provide clinical mental and behavioral health services, a Master’s in

One issue that has made me passionate about social work is substance abuse, an issue that has made a deep impact for communities everywhere. Not only does it affect the mental and physical health of the individual, but it also burdens the friends, family, and community as a whole. This concern is a personal interest because of my mother and grandfather’s past struggle with alcoholism, as well as because of a childhood friend who was killed by a drunk underage driver on her second offense. While my mother won her fight against her addiction during the time that she was in therapy for depression, I know the tragic effects of addiction firsthand from my grandfather’s death from the consequences of alcoholism and my friend’s death at the wheels of a drunk driver. I wish to address and understand this social issue in detail during and after graduate school.

To be a social worker you must complete 4 year post secondary undergraduate program are expected to complete 120 semester credits or 40 college courses. Must take 3 science semesters,2 foreign language,3 math credits,4 english,3 history to be a social worker.You must have good social skills around people.They can make the road a little better and help.They try to help you cope with different solutions for your problems in life.

Social work may not be the most respected profession but it’s a recognizable one. Social workers help people or groups identify their problems, determine their skills and capacities, what they are doing well, and how that was accomplished, and then analyze ways that those strengths might be applied to the identified problems. Social workers are helping professionals.

Entering into the social work practice provides the basic but detailed three phases of initiating treatment. The helping process starts its phases off at one which as stated follows exploration, engagement, assessment, and planning. These beginning phases follow the start of the clients treatment with identifying the basic problems and necessities that need/should be met by the end of treatment. An identification of trust must be established between the client and the social worker. A basic assessment is drawn up on the client and mutual goals agreed between both parties are included within the assessment. Lastly any and all referrals are made to further treatment that will benefit the client. A prime example of the movement

To be in this field of work, a proper education is required. The Child Care Career Book says “a masters degree in social work is needed if this person would like to go into the mental health, research, or supervisory positions”. It also states that, “A doctorate id required for teaching and desirable for some research and administrative jobs”. Also a social worker at my school said

The NASW states that, “Many states require alcohol and drug certification in order to work in concentrated dependence treatment settings” (nasw.org). The NASW provides a general overview on how social workers practice in the field of substance abuse and their goals. The National Association of Social Workers states that, “By developing and pertaining evidence-informed methods that include proven interventions and evolving procedures based on developing research findings, social workers can evidently improve treatment amenities for clients and their families. This methodology to service delivery demands that

Social Work is a field of interest to me because of the positive effort it contributes to society. Within the social work profession individuals are striving to improve the welfare of those in need of assistance. Social Workers assist a variety of individuals; from children, young adolescents, older adults, mentally ill, substance abuse individuals, and many other minorities; as in LGBT members, veterans, homeless people, and low socioeconomic status individuals. The broad mix population fascinates me because within this field one will always be able to work in a flexible environment. Social Work is used in multiple settings as in hospitals, nursing skilled homes, mental health and substance abuse clinics, schools, correctional facilities, community centers, child welfare agencies, employee assistance programs, and private practices.

Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy development and application, education, research and evaluation. Social workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs. They also seek to promote the