What is Social Work All About?
Take this online quiz about the social work profession.
Social Work Myths & Facts
The difference between what people think they know about social workers, and what they should know may surprise you.
Myth: Social service employees, caseworkers and volunteers are "social workers".
- Fact: A social worker is a trained professional who has a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in social work.
- Fact: All states license or otherwise regulate social work practice
- Fact: A social service employee, caseworker, or volunteer community worker is not a "social worker" unless he or she has a social work degree.
Myth: For therapy you need to go to a psychologist or a psychiatrist.
- Fact: Professional social workers are America's largest providers of mental health and therapy services.
- Fact: Professional social workers are often the only mental health care providers serving residents of many poor, rural counties.
Myth: Most social workers are employed in public welfare or child welfare.
- Fact: Only about one-quarter of all child welfare cases are handled by professional social workers.
- Fact: Professional social workers practice in many settings: family service agencies, mental health centers, schools, hospitals, corporations, courts, police departments, prisons, public and private agencies, and private practice.
- Fact: More than 200 professional social workers hold elective office, including one U.S. Senator and four representatives.
Myth: Most social workers work for the government.
- Fact: Fewer than 3 percent of all professional social workers work for the federal government.
- Fact: Only about a third of all professional workers are employed by federal, state, or local governments.
