Social Work is comprised of a wide variety of fields, including marriage and family
therapy, substance abuse counseling, sociology, mental health counseling, and human
services. Entry-level positions for these fields include Case Management Aide, Intake
Specialist, Probation Officer, Victims Advocate Associate, Gerontology Aide, along
with many others. These positions give you a point of entry into social work to gain
experience and an understanding of daily operations.
To represent oneself as a social worker in Nebraska, the minimum requirement is a
bachelor’s degree in social work from a program approved by the Council on Social
Work (CSWE). If you pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW), you can explore
more opportunities by becoming a licensed clinical social worker holding positions,
such as a Medical Social Worker, Child Advocate, Case Manager, Substance Abuse Counselor,
and many others. Social workers are often found working for city, county, state and
federal-run agencies, non-profits, hospitals, nursing homes, hospice facilities, drug
rehabilitation centers, halfway houses, business offices, unions, and tenant associations,
to name a few.
While some positions require you to work with people in an office setting, many positions
require you to go to where the clients are, for example locating those who are homeless
to help them receive services, visiting a child’s home to ensure their living conditions
are safe and nurturing, or attending local union meetings to address employee concerns
on working conditions. These positions come with plenty of responsibilities that require
a lot of empathy and compassion, but with that comes a career where every day you
can be a beneficial part of someone’s well-being.
For more information on any of these career options, contact Career Pathways & Advising.
