A degree in social work from a college or university program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is necessary to become a social worker. Albany State University's Social Work program is CSWE accredited.

Listed below are various fields in Social Work as well as a brief description of the job duties for that particular field. Also listed below are job search engines specific to Social Work.

 Gerontology 

There is a tremendous need for social work with older persons and their families. Social workers help older adults maintain independence. The social worker arranges income assistance, organizes recreational groups and support groups. A social worker in this field would improve the quality of life for elders.

 Child Welfare

Child welfare workers advocate for children. A social worker in this field helps to ensure the well being of children. She/he primarily supports and strengthens families by investigating cases of alleged abuse and neglect.

Child welfare workers may advise foster care in cases where parents cannot or will not protect and/or provide for their children. Social Workers will then work with the courts to find adoptive homes for children.

Child welfare workers are found in adoption agencies, child day care, and public and private child welfare organizations.

 School Social Worker

School systems hire social workers to aid children with emotional, developmental or educational needs. School social workers are often part of a team that helps children with physical or learning disabilities. They also help children who face child abuse, domestic violence, poverty or other problems.

School social workers work with teachers, staff, and families to offer services useful in prevention of the development of more serious problems.

School social workers are found in elementary and secondary schools, special education placement offices, counseling centers, and early intervention programs.

 Justice/Corrections

A social worker in the field of justice/corrections would work in courts, rape crisis centers, police departments and correctional facilities.

A social worker’s activities in corrections and justice are diverse, providing the chance to use a range of skills. They may plan and provide substance abuse treatment, assist with domestic disputes, provide trauma or critical incident services to enforcement officers, or work with victim assistance programs.

 Health Care

Social workers provide medical and emotional treatment in hospitals, clinics, and other medical and health care settings. Social workers who work in health care assess patients needs, set up an after care program, educate patients and their families, and help them deal with emotional problems associated with the illness.

Health care social workers find employment in health maintenance organizations, nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, hospices, and group homes.

 Mental Health/Clinical Social Work

In the common instances when people need mental health services to cope with life’s stressors; clinical social workers are utilized. Clinical social workers are the largest group of professionally trained mental health providers in the nation. Social workers in this field supply more than half of counseling and therapy services.

All clinical social workers must have an MSW. They must be licensed or certified in the state in which they practice.

Mental health social workers gain employment in community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, employee assistance programs, schools, and family service agencies.

 Developmental Disabilities

A social worker in this area will provide assistance to individuals with developmental disabilities, which can include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy and other conditions. The social worker would help improve social adjustments for the individual and teach him/her to be as independent as possible.

Social workers encourage and assist parents of children with developmental disabilities to be advocates for their children, understand their legal rights, and find special services.
State and local agencies, medical facilities and schools hire social workers to work with the developmentally disabled.

 Employment/Occupational Social Work

Occupational social workers assist corporations reengineer their organization and processes to improve effectiveness, creativity, productivity, and morale.

Many social workers in this field of interest are hired by employee assistance programs (EAPs). The social worker may be the owner of the EAP or be employed by a business or union. They help employees deal with with a range of problems including work stress, substance abuse, domestic violence, single parenting and vocational rehabilitation in a healthy manner.

 Public Welfare

A social worker in the field of public welfare social work will plan, administer, and develop finance programs. They also train and supervise staff while setting and evaluating standards and criteria for service delivery.

Employers include public and private social welfare agencies.

 Communities’

These social workers work with communities to coordinate and facilitate activities to improve social conditions, improve the quality of life, and bring people into the political process.

 Administration and Management

Administration and management are areas in which social workers utilize their training. Social workers help formulate policy, evaluate and design programs, develop budgets, direct personnel, determine resource allocation, develop public relations plans, and set goals.

 Public Interest Groups

Social workers are hired by public interest groups to help develop policy. This work entails analyzing legislation, drafting position papers, testifying at hearings, working with the media, and lobbying elected and appointed officials. In this capacity, they usually write grants or conduct demonstration work.