For example, hospice care is a growing field that employs social workers to cope with terminal illnesses, stages of death and dying, and ways in which survivors may be comforted and assisted to continue their lives when a loved one dies. Some social workers specialize in administrative areas, helping groups or government agencies to determine policy and recommendations for such areas as adoptions, providing services for prison inmates or juveniles in detention facilities, deciding rehabilitation plans for people leaving hospitals or mental health clinics, and establishing affordable housing and medical care access for poor families. Social workers often specialize in an area, and some have their own private practices. Others are employed by community organizations and, besides providing direct client counseling, may work in administrative and research areas. Lynne is able to introduce you to other social workers, too.
Some social workers identify social problems and suggest legislative and community-level solutions.
Others provide leadership to educate a community about problems, to conduct research and surveys or interviews to better define needs and problems, and to write grant proposals and raise funds to support needed programs.