Social Work As A Profession

Social work has been recognized as one of the professions that is expected to expand greatly in the next few years. One reason for this is the growing number of social problems around the world and in this country and the increasing recognition that professional social workers are well prepared to address these problems. Social workers with BSW degrees from CSWE-accredited programs are prepared to work in a wide variety of settings. Our graduates are now working in a broad range of private and public social agencies, and we find that we often have more requests from prospective employers than we can fill. Areas within social work that are growing especially rapidly include: child welfare, family-based services, and work with older adults. Other good opportunities exist in medical social work, community centers, school social work, domestic violence shelters, probation settings, community mental health centers, residential treatment centers for children and youth, and numerous other fields of practice. The senior practicum experiences are particularly helpful for students in making decisions about the setting where they wish to begin their professional work.

Most of our graduates decide to work in the profession after graduation to gain valuable experience, while some go on to graduate school immediately. Some graduate schools of social work suggest working at least a year or two before graduate study, and many graduates continue their education by obtaining the MSW degree after a few years of work.

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Typical BSW Positions

Graduates of the Dana Social Work Program are working in a wide variety of positions around the country. Here are examples of the agencies in which our graduates are employed in the surrounding area:

Campfire USA Omaha, NE
Catholic Charities Omaha, NE
Cedar Youth Services Lincoln, NE
Child Protection and Safety Omaha, NE
Children’s Square, USA Council Bluffs, IA
Community Alliance, Inc. Omaha, NE
Creighton University Medical Center Omaha, NE
Crisis Center Fremont, NE
Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging Blair, NE
Friendship Program Omaha, NE
Good Samaritan Center Millard, NE
Hospice Family Care Phoenix, AZ
Immanuel Fontenelle Home Omaha, NE
Immanuel Medical Center Omaha, NE
Iowa Department of Human Services Logan, IA
Lutheran Family Service Omaha, NE
Merrick Manor Social Services Fremont, NE
Methodist Hospital Omaha, NE
Nebraska Health & Human Services Systems Omaha, NE, Blair, NE
& Fremont, NE
Nebraska AIDS Project Omaha, NE
NDHS Developmental Disabilities Services Fremont, NE
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Omaha, NE
Uta Halle Girls’ Village Omaha, NE
YMCA Blair, NE

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HOW DO YOU KNOW IF SOCIAL WORK IS FOR YOU?

Many people have tried to define the qualities that make a good social worker—it is tough! However, there is general agreement that there are certain characteristics which tend to indicate that a person would probably do well as a professional social worker. We have observed, however, that many of these qualities are developed over time, and that almost no one has all of them when they start a social work program. (Part of the job of the advisor and the professor is to work with the student to identify those qualities which the student already has as well as those which need to be developed. Much of the course work in the major is related to developing some of these qualities and utilizing them in professional knowledge and skill building.) Here are some of the basic qualities:

• Belief in the capacity of human beings to grow and change
• Sincere interest in and liking for people of all kinds,
regardless of their backgrounds
• Ability to get along with people
• Desire to make the world a better place
• Ability to keep going when the going is tough
• A good sense of humor
• Ability to see problems from many different points of view
• Deep respect for all human beings
• Ability to listen to people without judging them
• Desire for an interesting, varied, perhaps adventurous job
• Curiosity about why things happen as they do
• Ability to think analytically and to integrate knowledge

Obviously, there are many more characteristics of a good social worker. Most qualities can be learned, although some seem to be rather fundamental to one’s personality. But if you notice that people tell you that you have some of these qualities, chances are that you would make a good social worker.

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THE SOCIAL WORK CODE OF ETHICS

Because social workers fill such important roles in the lives of their clients, it is important to have a well-defined code of ethics as a foundation for our work. The NASW (National Association of Social Workers) Code of Ethics is the standard for the entire profession. Please see the Appendix for the current Code of Ethics.

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