The field of social work ensures that people have equal access to resources, services and opportunities. As a social worker, you will help to improve the lives of individuals, families and groups who have disabilities or are emotionally troubled, homeless, poor or unemployed. Social workers are employed in virtually every area of society in which people are in need. They work for child welfare and family service agencies in cities where they investigate reports of abuse and neglect of children.
Some social workers have jobs in group homes for abused or troubled children and teenagers.
Others are employed by public school districts to help students with emotional and behavioral problems and physical disabilities. As a social worker, you also may provide services and counseling to people with developmental disabilities, such as Down's syndrome, or psychological problems as you work in a community mental health center, a state mental hospital, a psychiatric clinic or a substance abuse treatment center. You may work with seriously ill people to help them receive home nursing services after they leave the hospital, or you may work in a criminal justice agency to help juvenile delinquents or adult offenders who are in prison or on probation. Nursing homes and retirement centers employ some social workers to provide services to and counsel older people. Others work in state agencies that help people on welfare find jobs or in employee assistance programs in large businesses.