People Who Make A Difference
Jenny Thomas, a 17-year old mother, doesn’t know how to apply for financial aid so today she began selling crack to make ends meet. Yesterday, Randy Coonan the bandleader in his junior high, was too ashamed to go to school because his father gave him another black eye. And Doris Feister, 82, hasn’t eaten in two days because no one has time to take her to the supermarket, and she can’t make it there on her own.*
Would you like to help these people? Social workers don’t just dream about helping to make the world a better place. They show up every day and make something happen-one person, one family, one solution at a time.
The homeless…AIDS…the growing population of elders. In today’s complex world, the demand for social workers is high. Social workers are needed in many different areas. Where they work dictates the type of people they help and the kind of problems they battle.
Silence First-Solution Later
Before social workers do anything, they do nothing-but listen. The right solution hinges on the right definition of the problem and an accurate diagnosis demands close attention. The social worker doesn’t analyze a problem in isolation, but looks at the problem “in context.” “When I see a depressed patient,” says Melvin Grusing, a clinical social worker in private practice, “I look at what’s going on in the rest of the family. Social workers look at the individual’s total environment, not just the individual.”
Once the social worker has “heard” the problem, then it’s time to help the client find the solution. Social workers focus on direct help and concrete steps rather than theories and long term analysis. THey set up needed services, put people together, locate information, initiate training and support groups-whatever it takes to get results.
Highs and Lows
The social worker sees possibilities where everyone else sees problems. Hard work and a hard-headed belief in the results that can be achieved bring big rewards in porfession. “The power of a relationship is incredible,” says Celeste Grynberg, a social worker who leads groups for people who have been severly injured while at their jobs. “It is so rewarding to help someone find a potential that may have been very buried or hidden.”
Grusing agrees, “I’ve seen families that couldn’t relate to each other before carrying on a good life together now. I’ve seen individuals work through difficult emotions problems, and lead a creative and energized life. It’s very satisfying.”
Despite thse emotional highs, burnout is a common problem in the field. “There are always more people to see than you have time to see and the work is very intense and very interpersonal,” explains Grusing. “It’s emotionally exhausting.”
The best social workers cope by making sure they do not bring their work home. “You have to learn how to detach. You have to get away from it, exercise, or get out of town occasionally,” advises Grusing.
Without a steady belief in what they can do, these professionals would drown in the frustration of what they can’t do. “You have to be aware of what your limits are,” explains Grusing. “You can only do so much.” These professionals know that while they can never change the world, they will change the world of certain individuals.
Rising to the Task
Social work requires infinite patinence, genuine concern, and a backbone made of steel. People in pain often lose their temper or whithdraw into themselves. To find new solutions, Grynberg suggests, “You must have a belief in yourself and a belief in other people and their ability to change.”
Helping someone doesn’t mean telling them what to do. “If your’re into control, you won’t make it in this job,” insists Grusing. “You can’t tell people how to run their world, and you can’t impose your values on them. You must allow people to be different. There are many different ways to work out a problem.”
Hitting the Books
To become a social worker, you need a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW). While earning a BSW, in addition to coursework, you’ll get practical experience through a field placement (similar to an internship). With a BSW, you can begin in an entry level position with an agency.
Most social workers continue their education and obtain a master’s degree in social work (MSW). To work in the health and mental health fields, in private practice, or in a supervisory or administrative position, you’ll need an MSW.
Get the ball rolling now. Take sociology and psychologhy classes to prepare for courses in college. Volunteer at a local social service agency to test the waters.
The article goes on with out of date data. I decided to end it here.
*While these are real-life cases, the names are fictional
By: Tama J. Kieves CAREER WORLD magazine, published by Weekly Readr Corporation Copyright 1999
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