Who are social workers and what do they do?

Social workers are people who have sought undergraduate (BSW) or graduate (MSW, PhD, DSW) education in an accredited social work program. Programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). In CSWE accredited programs, students are trained in values, ethics, and a variety of intervention techniques to work with individuals, families, small groups, communities, and organizations to solve problems and create change. Social workers provide direct services to individuals, families, and small groups; conduct research into social problems and their solutions, engage in policy analysis and legislative advocacy, administer programs and organize people to fight for social change. The social work profession understands that to truly address problems, we must help individuals and families function better, and at the same time work to change the societal conditions that limit individual and family functioning.

Few careers rival social work for the diversity of opportunities offered to practitioners. Social workers work in a variety of settings, including public and private mental health centers, community centers, courts, prisons, schools, public welfare offices, hospitals, nursing homes, businesses, and child welfare offices. Social workers address a wide range of problems including drug and alcohol abuse, mental and physical illness, poverty, violence, lack of community power, family conflicts, workplace tensions, discrimination, oppression, and inadequate housing.

What is the advantage of having an MSW degree rather than a master's degree in counseling, psychology, or marriage and family therapy?

A degree in social work is much more flexible than a degree in other helping professions. With the MSW degree you can work in any setting (e.g., hospital, school, public health clinic, prison, etc) with any population (e.g., elderly, juveniles, families, children, etc.). Social work has a long tradition of advocacy for those living in poverty and members of oppressed populations. The other helping professions do not have this tradition and focus the majority of their services on the middle-class population or those who have private insurance.

State certification and licensing requirements often require agencies to hire certified social workers in certain positions. Hence, there are more job openings and possibilities in the field of social work. Finally, the terminal practice degree for Social Work is the MSW. The terminal practice degree for psychology and MFT is the Ph.D.

What is certification? How do I get certified?

Certification provides necessary proof that qualified professionals are engaged to deliver competent and effective services to consumers. Just as critical medical procedures should be performed by licensed and certified surgeons, so should mental health, substance abuse, and other social work-related services be delivered by those who have met professional standards of practice.

There are three levels of certification in the state of Arizona:

• Certified Baccalaureate Social Worker (CBSW) - requires a bachelor's degree
• Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) - requires a master's degree
• Certified Independent Social Worker - requires a master's degree and experience
  

Each level requires the applicant to pass an examination. To obtain the eligibility requirements and instructions for completing an application for certification, please contact:

State of Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners
1400 West Washington, Suite 350
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Telephone: (602) 542-1882
Email: behavioral_health@pop.state.az.us
Website: http://aspin.asu.edu

What is accreditation or re-accreditation? Is the ASU School of Social Work Accredited?

Schools of social work must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). They must be re-accredited every 8 years. ASU's MSW program was first accredited in 1965. The BSW program was originally accredited in 1978. The school recently went through a successful re-accreditation process. We will not be required to go through the process until 2008.