Child Social Worker Job at Socialworkdegree in Columbia

Social workers are professionally trained individuals who help children, adults, families, and groups cope with and prevent problems in their daily lives. Licensed clinical social workers treat and diagnose behavioral, mental, and emotional issues. While social workers can be beneficial to patients and clients of all ages, children often benefit more from child social workers.

What is a Children’s Social Worker?

A child social worker is a trained professional who works with and provides an important service to children and their families. Although child social workers are typically working in an office, in schools, or in the child’s home, they work in a variety of employment settings. They play a very important part in ensuring a child is safe, healthy, and happy.

Child social workers are often part of one of two types of social workers:

• Child, youth, and family social workers
• Child welfare social workers

Their daily duties can vary depending on the type of work they are performing.

Child welfare workers can typically be found working in child welfare agencies or child protective services with their main duty being to protect children from neglect or abuse. Child welfare workers may also collaborate with schools, courts, and similar agencies to find the best solution for the children.

This may include therapy, financial resources, academic services, and even removing them from the home. Child social workers may also focus on a child suffering from specific issues, such as trauma, illness, ADHD, mental health issues, parents divorcing, death in the family, and more.

Day in the Life

A day in the life of a child social worker can vary in different directions because they have so many duties that can vary from one child to another. Their daily duties typically consist of the following:

• Providing therapeutic support and counseling to children and their family members.
• Responding to investigative reports about child neglect and abuse.
• Participating in investigations regarding child abuse and neglect.
• Creating case plans regarding the child’s future needs, such as reassessment and reunification.
• Providing parents with resources and support to help them meet the needs of their children.
• Documenting and maintaining case files on each child they work with as well as family members.
• Responding to emergency situations involving children and their family members.
• Assessing the child’s psychological and social functions.
• Assisting parents and caregivers in improving their parenting skills and learning new parenting skills.
• Collaborating with parents and caregivers in coordinating educational needs or medical appointments.
• Acting as the child’s advocate to ensure the child receives appropriate and adequate education, health services, and general care.

How to Become a Child Social Worker

1. Get a Bachelor’s Degree: To become a child social worker, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in social work.
2. Gain Experience: Gaining experience working with children can be very beneficial for students pursuing careers as child social workers.
3. Earn an MSW: Child social workers who want to work in clinical settings are required to have a master’s degree in social work or a related field.
4. Get Licensed: Licensure is required for social workers who wish to work in a clinical setting.

Licensure, Certifications, and Continuing Education

Licensed clinical social workers are required to have a license in all states. Licensure is also required for those who want to work in private practice or in healthcare settings.