
A wise proverb states that progress is better than perfection. Despite technological and government advances, social problems still persist. Our civilization is plagued by poverty, addiction and limited access to healthcare. You don’t have to be overwhelmed by it. Social service workers are fighting the good fight every day. Social services is a great career choice if you are looking to make small changes that can lead to major change.
Social service can be described as a broad umbrella term that covers many careers. Social service is a broad term that encompasses many careers. It aims to help people in need, whether it be financial or legal. – To those who are in greatest need. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2007 saw over 1.7 million community and social service workers. This included a range of occupations, including probation officers and correctional treatment specialist as well as social workers, school counsellors and even marriage and family therapy therapists.
Growing Opportunity
The rapid growth of employment opportunities is one of the best incentives to get into a career in social services. Employment in many social service jobs is expected to rise over the next ten year. For example, social workers should see their employment rise 22 percent between 2006-2016. In the same time frame, employment should increase by 30 percent for marriage and family therapists as well as substance abuse counselors.
Geriatric care is one social service field that is experiencing rapid growth. Geriatric care could offer many career opportunities in near future. Larry Minnix CEO of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging says that “geriatric care managers” will play a key role in the delivery of health services in the next ten-years.
According to data, America’s rapidly growing senior population seems to be in agreement. The number of Americans over 65 years old is expected to rise to 71 million by 2030. According to the Freedonia Group, which is a research company, revenue from elder care services should increase by 6.6 percent per year through 2011.
Education for Social Service Careers
Education is a crucial first step in your pursuit of a career as a social worker. Many social service jobs require some postsecondary education. Some require state licensure and advanced degrees. Social workers, for example, typically require a bachelor’s in social work (BSW), to be eligible for entry-level jobs. You can still pursue a degree in psychology, sociology or another related field to lay the foundation for your future career. According to the BLS, five out of ten social workers work in healthcare and clinical settings. They typically require master’s degrees. A master’s degree is also required if you want to become a counselor. State licensure is required if you want to work in the public sector.
Social work, regardless of the position, can be rewarding and challenging. Beverly Bernstein Joie (co-founder of Elder Connections, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides home care to the elderly) said that “This work fulfills two parts of me: the part I love to take care people and the part I want to be a businesswoman.”