Jane Addams, who is considered the mother of social worker said “Civilization is a method of living, an attitude of equal respect for all men”. She is known for being one of the famous social workers of all time, using her training and education to do only good. Being a therapist, while it may not be one of the most high-paying jobs of all time, appeals to many people because it gives them the opportunity to help others and make the world a better place for children to grow up in. There are many different types of social work, including jobs which work directly with kids as well as families, groups and individual adult counseling.
The term is rather broad, and can be applied to many different people who work in various parts of the country’s system that is designed to help people in a variety of ways. Jill Ruckelshaus said “The family is the building block for whatever solidarity there is in society.” She understood the core value that a family has in society. She worked closely with many other counselors to provide children with a safe and loving home environment. Many of the women who have been inspirational have created the building blocks on which we stand today. They walked the walk and were not just arm chair thinkers.
Social work is about many different things, but above it all is helping our fellow man. Those social workers who have been quoted saying things such as the statements above lived up to what they said each and every single day. Being a social worker is perhaps one of the nobler, self-sacrificing jobs out there because of the notoriously low pay and difficult working conditions. Not only do many take on enormous responsibility in terms of sheer case load, but also emotional baggage that can often times have an effect on oneself. Weekend work can be involved as well as phone calls outside of work.
Many times social workers are forced to deal with very emotional issues concerning children who grow up in abusive homes and must suffer through unimaginable things. The inner satisfaction of having helped another person, especially a child, is very gratifying. Throughout history there have been many great social workers, many of which are unknown because of the nature of this work. They are not typically viewed as being inspirational people in society, though they are truly the definition of working class heroes. Burn out is also a problem from this work and the low pay so it’s important to take care of oneself.
Most of the inspirational counselors of our time have been women, though men do occasionally hold such positions. Those who are interested in pursuing social work as a career will want to be aware of both the pay and the kind of work which will be required, depending on which section of social work you want to go into. Social workers perform numerous tasks relating to the health, safety, and well-being of others. It’s also important to find a good school that has classes and mentoring to fit your interests.
Learn more about Social Work Programs and steps to take the Social Work Licensing Exam
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