Family / School / General Social Worker
Quick Facts
What They Do
A Family, School, or General Social Worker provides specialized assistance to vulnerable families and children. Intervenes in crisis situations; evaluates individual and family needs, helps clients get access to health care, mental health care or social services such as housing assistance. Advocates for clients and provides follow up visits. May work with teachers, parents and school administrators to help students improve academically and deal with social issues such as bullying.
Core Tasks:
- Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
- Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.
- Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
- Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.
- Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.
- Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.
- Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.
- Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues including mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, child care, or medical care.
- Collect supplementary information needed to assist client, such as employment records, medical records, or school reports.
- Provide, find, or arrange for support services, such as child care, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, or parenting classes to prevent more serious problems from developing.
- Refer clients to community resources for services, such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply.
What to expect as a Family / School / General Social Worker
62% of people achieve this level of education.
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6868 openings for Family / School / General Social Workers
Career Progression
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