They serve as a liaison between family and school and often between school and community. School social workers also provide a number of services to students in special education programs. To work in schools as a school social worker, an MSW degree and a Type 73 Certificate is required. Special Education Centers Counseling Centers Return to top of page Corrections and Justice Social workers in criminal justice make recommendations to courts, serve as expert witnesses, do pre-sentencing assessments and provide services for prison inmates and their families. They focus on rehabilitation by providing therapy, drug and alcohol addiction treatment and basic life skills training.
Many social workers become probation or parole officers.
They help ex-offenders access supportive services upon release from prison. Social workers may arrange for a halfway house, job training, employement, remedial classes, counseling, child care and transportation. Social workers may also work in victim services programs, courts and police departments. There are numerous opportunities for social workers in community development programs and projects that are designed to provide community professional and volunteer services. This is an area of employment that is expanding as greater responsibility for human service programs is assumed by cities, towns, communities, neighborhoods, and local organizations.