The profession of social work is dedicated to improving the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Throughout this century, social workers have been at the forefront in championing policies and programs to achieve these objectives. This has meant supporting progressive legislation, defending the rights of those who are oppressed, and providing services for those in need. Analysis of labor market trends project social work to be one of the fastest growing professions in the next 20 years. Given the recent important debates on welfare reform and managed care, the need for social workers is greater than ever before.
Social work is a richly diverse profession, diverse in perspective and career opportunities.
Social workers are active in fields such as child welfare, mental health, family services, gerontology, health, criminal justice, income maintenance, and in emerging areas such as employee assistance programs, substance abuse, and homelessness. Social work is a profession with a longstanding tradition of welcoming both men and women, ethnic and racial minorities, and those with special needs into it ranks. Regardless of the professional roles social workers assume, they need a well-rounded and rigorous education. The problems they encounter are complex, seldom yielding to simple solutions. The rewards of a career in social work are as great as the challenges.