Counseling

The Pathway to Becoming a Community Social Worker

The Pathway to Becoming a Community Social Worker
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Nedda Gilbert profile
Nedda Gilbert August 6, 2018

Social workers help individuals, institutions, and communities with a wide range of challenges and issues. They may provide one-on-one care, serve in leadership positions in large organizations, or even act as advocates influencing policy decisions.

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Though social workers receive broad training, they often specialize, building expertise in one area or with specific populations. Some of the most common issues around which social workers build expertise include substance abuse, hospice work, and mental health. But there are many roles and duties a social worker can perform that are community-based.

Saving the World, One Community at a Time

A fundamental principle of Master of Social Work (MSW) training is that people and problems exist on a micro, or intimate, scale, within a macro, or wider, context. Community social work and community practice are typically referred to as macro. One-on-one work, on the other hand, is considered more micro.

Macro community work occurs at an organizational or institutional level, where policy and program development drive a social worker’s efforts. However, a community social worker may pivot between two roles, carrying out both macro and micro work. An example of this would be a social worker who helps victims of domestic violence secure new housing, while also running the shelter that provides them with temporary protection.

Community social work has broad applications, and those who perform it must wear many hats. As the name would indicate, these social workers often work directly with individuals in particular communities, helping them to navigate complex bureaucracies and assisting them with a range of other needs. As part of this work, they also provide resources and refer individuals to outside organizations as needed.

Alternatively, community social workers may engage in more global or wide-ranging work. In this function, social workers may be involved in such services as:

  • Grant-writing

  • Fundraising

  • Program development and planning

  • Service delivery

  • Program administration

  • Outreach and event planning

  • Urban planning

  • Developing grassroots opportunities for change

  • Social justice and advocacy

  • General empowerment to local agencies in need of support

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“I Want to Be A Social Worker!”

There are a couple of significant practical considerations:

- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work
- A license to practice or required social work certification

Credentials vary among careers, states, and territories. Licenses include:

- Certified Social Worker (CSW)
- Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA)
- Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker (LAPSW)
- Licensed Advanced Social Worker (LASW)
- Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
- Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP)
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

Most of these licenses require a Master’s or Doctorate, along with additional coursework or clinical internships. (source)

A survey of 2017 social work graduates by the National Social Work Workforce Study found that social workers with Master’s degrees and Doctorates made substantially more than those with no advanced degree. (source)

- People with MSW degrees made $13,000-plus more than those with only BSW degrees
- MSWs make more in large cities or urban clusters
- People with doctorates earned $20,000 to $25,000 more than people with only MSW degrees

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Community Social Work with Immigrants and Abroad

Community social work may also involve helping recent immigrants assimilate and integrate into their new communities. Increasingly, this is a high need area in the United States.

For those looking for more global applications, community social workers also assist abroad, providing help in remote areas and in countries and communities that are vulnerable. War-torn countries and those facing natural and man-made disasters have a great need for social workers.

On-the–Ground Help: Trauma and Disaster Relief

Another area in which community social workers play a vital role is in serving the immediate and long-term needs of individuals, families, and organizations during disasters and other emergencies. Their work can range from providing mental health support to those devastated by trauma, loss, or injury, to helping local communities rebuild or set up relief services that serve affected regions.

Becoming a Community Social Worker with a Bachelor’s or Master’s

Those interested in becoming community social workers require either a Bachelor’s in Social work (BSW) or a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. BSW degree holders can have an impact, but are limited in the positions they can hold and the duties they can perform. By comparison, MSWs with the right training and licensure can become qualified to provide mental health counseling, and can take on greater leadership roles as community social workers.

Questions or feedback? Email editor@noodle.com

About the Author

Ms. Nedda Gilbert is a seasoned clinical social worker, author, and educational consultant with 25 years of experience helping college-bound and graduate students find their ideal schools. She is a prolific author, including The Princeton Review Guide to the Best Business Schools and Essays that Made a Difference. Ms. Gilbert has been a guest writer for Forbes and a sought-after keynote speaker on college admissions. Previously, she played a crucial role at the Princeton Review Test Preparation Company and was Chairman of the Board of Graduate Philadelphia. Ms. Gilbert holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University and is a certified interdisciplinary collaborative family law professional in New Jersey.

About the Editor

Tom Meltzer spent over 20 years writing and teaching for The Princeton Review, where he was lead author of the company's popular guide to colleges, before joining Noodle.

To learn more about our editorial standards, you can click here.


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