Social Services Jobs
Social service jobs are some of the most in-demand jobs in the country. Because of the stressful nature of the work, there is a high turn-over of employees. However, one of the benefits of a social service job includes knowing that you have made a difference in a person’s life.
Children and Families
Social service workers who are in direct contact with children and families include child welfare or child protective services case workers, child counselors, therapists and psychologists. These types of social service jobs focus on protecting children from neglect and abuse, providing education and counseling to families and working with children who suffer from mental health or behavioral disorders or have developmental disabilities. Another social service position that works with families is a domestic abuse counselor.
Mental Illness
Social service employees who work with the mentally ill include case workers, clinicians, psychologists and employment assistance counselors. The individuals in this field of social services diagnose and treat individuals with mental health disorders, visit clients to monitor their progress, provide counseling sessions and find employment or living situations to help the client be successful in the general population.
Substance Abuse Treatment
Workers who engage in substance abuse treatment work with individuals who have an addiction to drugs or alcohol that has interrupted a person’s life or has posed a potential health hazard to that person or to others. Theses social service workers include parole officers, counselors and therapists. Many perform an analysis of an individual’s addiction and recommend treatment, provide that treatment, track a client’s progress or work at a rehab facility.
Studies
There are also social service workers who provide services from a sociology standpoint, reviewing statistics and conducting studies to improve practices, initiatives and policies about topics such as disease prevention, public health care and substance abuse prevention.