What is Social Work?

The U.S. Department of Labor defines social work as "a profession for individuals with a strong desire to help improve people's lives." Social workers help people live to their optimum within their set of circumstances. They identify needs and help devise solutions on both individuals and communities. Social workers play a pivotal role in society.

If you want to make a difference in people's lives, if this type of work appeals to you, explore our site further. Or, if you'd like, you can ask a question or schedule a visit online. We think you'll agree that a BSW from Barry University in multicultural South Florida is a great choice!

Services. Social workers are the people who:

• work to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being.
• run support groups for family caregivers or for the adult children of aging parents.
• help workers cope with job-related pressures or with personal problems that affect the quality of their work.
• provide persons with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses.
• assess and treat individuals with mental illness or substance abuse problems.
• develop programs to address such issues as child abuse, homelessness, poverty, and violence.
• conduct research in order to identify social problems and suggest legislative and other solutions; and,
• help to raise funds or write grants to support necessary social programs.

Social Work Goals. The four major goals of the social work profession include:

• enhancing the lives of individuals, groups, families, and communities;
• preventing, resolving, or minimizing human problems;
• planning, formulating, and implementing social policies, services, resources, and programs needed to meet basic human needs and support the development of human capacities; and
• identifying and eliminating social and economic injustices.

Social Work Settings . Social workers have the knowledge and skills to work in a number of different arenas, including:

• schools
• medical facilities
• child welfare agencies
• addiction rehabilitation facilities
• elder day care programs
• YMCAs

Social Work with People. Social workers work with people in various social configurations:

• Individuals
• Groups
• Families
• Communities
• Organizations

Social Work Issues. They work with different issues confronting people such as:

• domestic violence
• substance abuse
• mental and health challenges (such as schizophrenia, depression, cancer and diabetes)
• adjustments to life transitions (such as divorce and unemployment)
• experiences with traumatic events (such as rape, child sexual abuse, and the aftermath of natural or manmade disasters)

All of this is only the tip of the iceberg! If this sounds like the career for you, you can get started on your BSW degree by completing your Barry University admission application online now! You can also request information online or schedule a visit. We look forward to hearing from you!