Aging Social workers assist the elderly and their families, helping them to make decisions about their future, to maintain their independence, and to arrange for services. Some social workers take on the challenge of intervening when children are physically or sexually abused or neglected, when a family is in trouble, or when parents have problems. Often the social worker's intervention makes a critical difference at a key moment in a child's life. Public Welfare Social workers are primarily the administrators, supervisors, program planners and evaluators of the public welfare system. Some supervise intake and case managers who provide direct services.
Employers are government and private social service agencies.
Working with other school personnel, social workers help children with physical, emotional, or learning disabilities. They assist children who face child abuse, neglect, family violence, poverty, and divorce, and they work with teenagers on issues of sexuality, suicide, violence, and career planning. When social workers are involved early in a child's life, they can often prevent more serious problems from developing. Employers include schools, special education programs, Head Start centers, family guidance clinics, and early intervention programs. Justice-Corrections Social workers are found in the courts, rape crisis centers, police departments, and correctional facilities.