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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers - 21-1023.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Social Worker
  • Case Manager
  • Clinical Social Worker
  • Clinical Therapist
  • Clinician
  • Mental Health Therapist
  • Psychotherapist
  • Community Support Worker
  • Counselor
  • Probation Agent

SOC Occupation Groups

21-0000 Community and Social Service Occupations
21-1000 Counselors, Social Workers, and Other Community and Social Service Specialists
21-1020 Social Workers
21-1023.00 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.
  • Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
  • Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
  • Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
  • Develop or advise on social policy or assist in community development.
  • Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
  • Increase social work knowledge by reviewing current literature, conducting social research, or attending seminars, training workshops, or classes.
  • Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
  • Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
  • Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
  • Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse, combat social problems, or improve health or counseling services in community.
  • Refer patient, client, or family to community resources for housing or treatment to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness, following through to ensure service efficacy.
  • Supervise or direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.

Detailed Work Activities

  • collect social or personal information
  • compile data related to social service programs
  • conduct patient assessments
  • coordinate social service activities with resource providers
  • counsel individuals with personal problems
  • develop plans for programs or projects
  • 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
  • evaluate client progress against measurable recorded goals
  • evaluate patient response to therapy
  • evaluate patient's skills or capacities
  • follow confidentiality procedures
  • follow institutional care procedures
  • follow patient observation procedures
  • manage detailed case records in a social work setting
  • match clients to community resources
  • monitor client progress
  • recognize physical or emotional abuse
  • record client's personal data
  • refer clients to community services or resources
  • refer patients to community resources
  • relate to clients' socioeconomic conditions
  • 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 psychological assessment tools
  • use scientific research methodology
  • work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Chaplain Assistant (Army - Enlisted)
  • Counseling and Assistance Center Director (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselor (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselor Intern (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Substance Abuse Control Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Substance Abuse Control Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Substance Abuse Control Officer (Marine Corps - Warrant Officer only)
  • Substance Abuse Control Specialist (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Substance Abuse Counselor (Marine Corps - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Case Manager
  • Social Worker, Psychiatric