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Child, Family, and School Social Workers - 21-1021.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • School Social Worker
  • Family Service Worker
  • Case Manager
  • Foster Care Social Worker
  • Social Worker
  • Family Protection Specialist
  • Youth Services Specialist
  • Case Worker
  • Caseworker
  • Child Protective Services Social Worker (CPS Social Worker)

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.
  • Administer welfare programs.
  • Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.
  • Collect supplementary information needed to assist client, such as employment records, medical records, or school reports.
  • Conduct social research.
  • Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.
  • Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues including mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, child care, or medical care.
  • Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.
  • Counsel students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical impairment indicate a need for assistance, diagnosing students' problems and arranging for needed services.
  • Determine clients' eligibility for financial assistance.
  • Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients, and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
  • Evaluate personal characteristics and home conditions of foster home or adoption applicants.
  • Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems, to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
  • Lead group counseling sessions that provide support in such areas as grief, stress, or chemical dependency.
  • Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
  • Place children in foster or adoptive homes, institutions, or medical treatment centers.
  • Provide, find, or arrange for support services, such as child care, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, or parenting classes, to prevent more serious problems from developing.
  • Recommend temporary foster care and advise foster or adoptive parents.
  • Refer clients to community resources for services such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply.
  • Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts, to help children who face problems such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.
  • Serve on policymaking committees, assist in community development, and assist client groups by lobbying for solutions to problems.
  • Supervise other social workers.
  • Work in child and adolescent residential institutions.

Detailed Work Activities

  • analyze applicant's financial status
  • collect social or personal information
  • compile data related to social service programs
  • compile evidence for court actions
  • conduct parent conferences
  • consult with parents or school personnel to determine student needs
  • coordinate social service activities with resource providers
  • counsel individuals with personal problems
  • determine program eligibility
  • determine social service program status
  • develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
  • direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
  • empathize with others during counseling or related services
  • encourage group participation
  • follow confidentiality procedures
  • follow institutional care procedures
  • gather relevant financial data
  • identify home safety hazards
  • judge quality of facilities or service
  • maintain cooperative working relationships within community service
  • manage detailed case records in a social work setting
  • match clients to community resources
  • monitor children to detect signs of ill health or emotional disturbance
  • obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
  • prepare reports
  • promote objectives of institution to associations, agencies, or community groups
  • recognize interrelationships among individuals or social groups
  • recognize physical or emotional abuse
  • record client's personal data
  • refer clients to community services or resources
  • relate to clients' socioeconomic conditions
  • understand legal terminology
  • use agency mission as a guideline in social services delivery
  • use behavior modification techniques
  • use conflict resolution techniques
  • use counseling techniques
  • use current social research
  • use grief counseling techniques
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use intervention techniques
  • use interviewing procedures
  • use knowledge of legal procedural rules
  • use scientific research methodology

Military Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Casework Supervisor
  • Caseworker
  • Caseworker, Child Welfare
  • Caseworker, Family
  • Community Organization Worker
  • Community Worker
  • Community-Relations-And-Services Advisor, Public Housing
  • Field Representative
  • Group Worker
  • Social Group Worker
  • Social Worker, Delinquency Prevention
  • Social Worker, School