Who are Social Workers?

In Alabama, there are different kinds of Social Workers depending upon the amount of education that they have and the type of work that they do. Social Workers are regulated by Alabama law and required to maintain standards of professional conduct.

Social Workers work with children, families, elderly, and physically and/or mentally handicapped adults who have needs. Many Social Workers are employed with social service agencies, schools, hospitals, and mental health facilities. They often intervene on behalf of children and adults when they are in dangerous situations and unable to protect themselves.

Social Workers go into homes and out into the community in order to reach the people that they are trying to help. They work closely with other professionals, such as doctors, therapists, and teachers. Social Workers are advocates for the people that they serve.

Social Workers know a lot about their communities and how to connect people with services that can improve their lives. Although the social worker’s job is to help people, their goal is for people to be able to take care of themselves and become a contributing member of society.

Social Workers can help families who are experiencing a loss or separation through counseling and referral to community resources. They can also provide both financial and emotional support to families and adults who are experiencing a crisis.

Social Workers are often needed when agencies such as law enforcement and child protective services intervene on behalf of children and adults who are being harmed. They assist in the placement of children in foster homes when it is unsafe for them to remain in their own homes or their parents are not able to care for them because of special needs. Social Workers can arrange mentoring for children who may not have an adult role model in their lives.

Social Workers can be found in hospitals where they are available to assist with discharge planning for elderly persons. They also work in nursing homes where they assist families with admissions and help aid the elderly or handicapped person’s move into the facility. They often work with families to arrange at-home care for persons recently discharged from hospitals or mental health facilities.

Social Workers also can be found in schools where they help children with problems getting the education that they need. They provide counseling and support to parents to help them understand how to work with teachers and counselors so that their child’s educational needs are met. Social Workers may become licensed as private practitioners and provide individual and group counseling.

Social Workers are also employed in state agencies, such as Education, Department of Human Resources, Mental Health, and Public Health as well as local organizations.

Social Workers can be found in the yellow pages in your telephone book under Social Service Organizations or Mental Health Services.

Contact the Juvenile Court, Mental Health Center, Department of Human Resources, or Health Department where you live to find a social worker that can address your particular needs. Your local school system will be able to help you find a Social Worker if there is a problem relating to your child’s education. Your local Council on Aging can direct you to services for elderly adults. The Chamber of Commerce in your town can provide you with a listing of social service providers in your area. The local United Way in your area can direct you to non-profit agencies that employ Social Workers that can help you with a number of issues.

You may also contact the Board of Social Work Examiners by calling 1-334-242-5860 or 1-888-879-3672 or you can go to our website at www.socialwork.alabama.gov for a list of licensed social workers in Alabama.

ABOUT THE BOARD

The Board of Social Work Examiners was created to maintain the integrity of the social work profession and to protect the public. The Board is an independent agency of the State of Alabama and composed of seven members appointed by the Governor from each of the United States Congressional Districts.

If you have complaint concerning the practice of a Social Worker, you may contact the Board of Social Work Examiners.