Job Skills
To be a family social worker, you’ll need to be trustworthy, stable, and mature to deal calmly and responsibly with people and families in crisis. You should be able to work independently or as a team member, and to get along with a variety of people.

Income
In 2008, the median annual salary for child, family, and school workers was $39,530. The median earnings of the lowest 10 percent of workers were $25,870, and the top 10 percent’s median earnings were $66,430. The highest numbers of child, school, and family social workers were employed by elementary and secondary schools (mean annual salary $56,570) and local government agencies (mean annual salary $48,440).

Training and Education
There are three levels of social work training and education: the bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW), the master’s degree (MSW), and the doctorate (DSW or PhD).
• BSW. To be a family social worker, you’ll need at least a BSW, which requires at least 400 hours of supervised fieldwork in addition to 4 years of classroom courses.
• MSW. You’ll need an MSW to work in health settings or to do clinical or private work. An MSW takes about 2 years of classes beyond your BSW and requires at least 900 hours of supervised internship.
• DSW or PhD. To teach social work in a college or university, you’ll need a DSW or PhD in social work. A DSW of PhD also allows you conduct research into problems or questions relating to family social work.
All states have license, certificate, or registration requirements, although requirements vary from state to state. As of 2006, there were 458 BSW and 181 MSW programs in the U.S. accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. There were also 74 doctoral programs accredited by the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education.

Employment
Child, school, and family social workers held about 282,000 jobs in 2006.

Job Outlook
Between 2006 and 2016, the number of jobs for child, school, and family social workers is predicted to increase by 19 percent, which is higher than the average growth for all jobs. Your opportunities will be greatest in rural areas, where it’s often difficult to attract and retain qualified social workers. Social workers who specialize in helping those with disabilities or want to work in public schools may have the best employment opportunities.
With the right education and certification, you can become a supervisor, manage a program, or direct a family social work agency or department.

Many kids are able to pick up social skills and their nuances easily through everyday interactions. But other kids, especially those struggling with developmental disorders such as Asperger’s Syndrome and other forms of autism, must be taught these skills directly and individually, and the skills must be practiced and reinforced many times over. Even then, using these skills may feel stilted and unnatural to these children.

The Importance of Social Skills
A lack of understanding about the subtleties and reciprocity of social skills can keep kids from fitting in with other kids. It can cause them to feel left out of peer groups and important activities, limiting their experiences and damaging their self esteem. Because other kids can be impatient and egocentric, they don’t always empathize with other kids’ limitations. Instead, they may choose to shut them out, or worse, make fun of them for being different.

Tips for Youth Workers
It’s important for youth workers to remember that what may seems obvious or “common sense” to adults is not always so for kids. It may be necessary to explain to students why something is inappropriate or offensive. They may need help learning how to take another person’s perspective. They may require adults to role play situations with them to get the feel for how social interaction works. Patience is required to help students make the transition from learning skills to applying them in social situations.

Some of the more important social skills, and some ways adults can help foster their development in kids, are listed below:

Making Friends
This skill involves many other subskills that can be role played with kids, such as like starting conversations, keeping confidences, compromising, and sharing. Additionally, concepts like understanding how others feel and recognizing how one’s actions impact others should be processed with kids on a regular basis to help them begin to consider another’s point of view, another critical component of developing relationships.

Managing Conflicts
Kids with social skills issues may also have trouble managing emotions, which tend to run high during interpersonal conflicts. Teach kids how to verbalize their feelings using “I statements” and also to read other’s feelings based not only on words but also using body language and other nonverbal cues. Teach kids how to state problems clearly, how to think through a problem solving model, and how to listen closely when other’s are sharing their perspective.

Working Together
Kids are asked to cooperate together in groups often, but many lack the needed skills to do so. Kids who are weak in social skills may also be impulsive and self-focused, and may require much supervision in the early stages of group work to ensure that problems can be addressed appropriately. Adults can also help model skills like sharing, taking turns, listening to other’s opinions, being supportive, and dividing responsibilities fairly, all important for successful group work.

Though positive social interaction may come relatively easily to most kids, there are those that will require training and modeling to become adept at these skills. Though it may be challenging at times, the results are well worth it.

There are a number of federal financial aid programs available through the U.S. Department of Education, including federal student loans, federal grants, and federal work study programs.

This article reviews some of the grant options available for social work education students, and details how to apply for federal grant money.

How to Apply for Social Work Education & Social Work Online Degree Grants
This article details in the following sections a number of federal student grants available to social work students, including online students enrolled at participating schools.

To apply for any of the federal grants detailed below, students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form measures a student’s finances (as well as those of a dependent’s parents or guardians) in order to calculate a student’s need for financial aid. Students should be aware that the FAFSA requires tax information for both dependent students and their parents, as the federal government only awards student grants to those who show a definite financial need.

Once the FAFSA has been turned in, students will receive in the mail a Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR lets a student know if he/she is eligible to receive federal student aid, and details exactly to which programs a student has been granted access.

The FASFA is required for any student seeking federal student grants, federal student loans, or a federal work study program, and the form can be accessed via the U.S. Department of Education’s website (or through affiliate links).

Pell Grants for Social Work Education & Social Work Online Degrees
Pell Grants, which are the bedrock of the federal student grant program, are available to social work undergraduate students who are able to demonstrate to the federal government a legitimate financial need on their FAFSA application; award amounts are determined by this level of need.

While award amounts can be as high as $5,000, the money awarded typically ranges between $1,000 and $4,000 per year.

FSEOG Grants for Social Work Education & Social Work Online Degrees
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is specifically designed for those students who have an extreme financial need which exceeds the requirements for Pell Grant eligibility.

Social work students who meet the criteria are eligible, and award amounts are typically between $500 and $4,000, depending on a student’s cost of attendance. Those who receive an FSEOG Grant are also eligible to for Pell Grant funding.

ACG Grants for Social Work Education & Social Work Online Degrees
The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is specifically designed for students who went through a very rigorous high school program of study. (The U.S. Department of Education determines which schools qualify as being rigorous.)

This grant is available for those students who are either in their first or second year at an eligible undergraduate program, and social work students who meet the above criteria qualify as well. Those awarded an ACG Grant can also have Pell Grant eligibility.

Benefits of Social Work Education & Social Work Online Degree Federal Grants
Students who receive a federal student grant never have to repay any of the awarded money, so long as they are not in default on a federal loan and maintain acceptable grades at their host school.

Social work students who receive federal student grant money are able to defray the costs of admission, and hold down the burdensome student debts that many students accumulate.

They assist patients, families and caregivers with short term and long term planning. They can also provide counseling services to assist with such issues as loss and grief or coping with lifestyle changes and other issues involving health status.

The MSW (Master’s in Social Work) assesses for the social, physical, financial and psychological needs of the patients and assist them in attaining these. For instance, they can assist the elderly to find care in their own homes or an appropriate level of care in assisted living or total care environments. They can assist parents with their needs and issues in caring for infants and children with birth defects and chronic illnesses.

MSWs also help patients and families to cope with the challenges of hospice care and the bereavement issues after the death.

Education and Training
For social workers, the minimum level of education is a bachelor of science in social work (BSW). However, for reimbursement purposes, a master’s degree is usually required (MSW). For those who wish to teach social work, a PhD in social work is most often required.

Course work beyond general education requirements includes classes in behavioral sciences, human growth and development, social sciences, basic psychology, social environment studies, social welfare policies and methods of social work.

License/Certification
All states in the U.S require that social workers be either licensed, certified or registered. Certification is offered to MSWs with two years of experience who are members of the National Association of Social workers and pass a written examination. Most states require 3,000 hours/2 years of supervision to become a licensed social worker (LCSW).

There are a variety of other credentials which can be earned through specific areas of study for social workers to advance in their particular career path.

Work Environment and Salary
Many social workers are employed by hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or the public health department. They also work for home health agencies and hospices, crisis centers, mental health facilities, schools, and substance abuse facilities. Some work in private practice.

Median salaries vary depending upon the nature of the work, but ranged between $35,000 to $43,000 in May, 2006 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall salaries ranged from $24,480 to slightly over $68,000 per year according to these statistics.

Job Outlook
The job outlook for social workers is expected to grow faster than most other occupations well into the next decade. The health workforce is growing due to the demands of an aging and growing population which will continue to require sophisticated care. Social workers provide a necessary dimension to this field.

March is designated as National Professional Social Work month to honor social workers and the contributions they make in improving the quality of life for patients and their families.