An Overview Students interested in a health career should consider the many opportunities afforded by a social work degree. Social workers address human need at the individual, fmaily, group, organizational and community levels. The profession helps people function optimally in their environment while advocating for policies that assure social and economic justice.
Social workers engage in a wide range of activities in diverse fields of practice.
They function as therapists, counselors, case managers, group leaders, administrators, planners, and researchers. Social workers are employed by social agencies, businessess, schools, private practices, the criminal justice system, and so on. In these settings social workers may work directly with patients, or more indirectly, through planning programs, conducting research, developing policy, or serving in administration or supervision capacities. Social workers may also lead groups and function as members of interdisciplinary treatment teams to help caregivers understand the impact of illness of individuals and families. Social work in the health fields has undergone considerable change since the rise of managed care.