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What is Social Work?
Social work is a practice-based profession that promotes social change, development, cohesion, and the empowerment of people and communities. Social work practice involves the understanding of human development, behavior, and social, economic, and cultural institutions and interactions. Social work professionals working with families and institutions have helped to provide and advance the following social impacts:
- Civil Rights
- Unemployment Insurance
- Disability Pay
- Workers’ Compensation
- Reduced Mental Health Stigma
- Medicaid and Medicare
- Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
What Do Social Workers Do?
Social workers have a variety of responsibilities depending on the environment in which they work. There are a number of specialties on which social workers can focus, including family services, addiction, or health. All social workers have similar goals: to help people solve and cope with the challenges in their lives through advocacy, counseling, and referrals to other agencies and professionals.
While all social workers help to assess clients’ needs and help them access available resources, licensed clinical social workers can also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues. In order to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, you’ll need to earn at least a master’s degree, pass a licensure exam, and complete three years of supervised experience.
A social worker is responsible for improving their patient's lives by helping them cope with and manage the stress they may be facing. Social workers will meet with patients, listen to their concerns and create a plan to better help their patients manage the problems in their lives. It's important for social workers to use active listening when evaluating their patients, as well as observing their actions and overall body language. There are various types of social workers that specialize in different fields including children, family, school, public health, and drug addiction patients.
Where Do Social Workers Work?
Social workers work in a variety of settings, depending on what type of social work they practice. Some common places that employ social workers are:
- Governmental organizations
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Private practices
- Community centers
- Nursing homes
Which Describes the Role of a Social Worker?
While there is a diverse array of settings in which social workers practice, together social workers share the commitment to:
- Promote social welfare
- Help people from all backgrounds overcome the individual challenges they are facing
- Advocate for social and economic justice for members of diverse communities
- Embody the social work code of ethics
What is the Difference Between a Counselor and a Social Worker?
A counselor is a professional who helps clients obtain optimum mental health and wellness, and achieve educational and career goals. A social worker is a professional who provides clients or helps clients gain access to social services. A counselor undergoes training through a Master in Counseling degree. A social worker has at least a Bachelor of Social Work to practice generalist or entry-level social work, and a Master of Social Work degree to practice advanced and specialized social work. The main objective of a counselor is to achieve their clients’ mental health and life goals. A social worker’s main goal is to help clients become socially functional as well as to effect social change.
Is a Social Worker a Therapist?
Social workers can be considered a type of therapist. “Therapist” is a title for a few different professionals who attempt to understand a person’s thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behavior. Psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, pastoral counselors, and psychiatric nurse practitioners are also professionals who are trained to offer psychotherapy. They support individuals (and sometimes communities) to live more fulfilling lives. However, there are some differences between therapy provided by social workers vs. therapists of other kinds. Social workers focus on helping people deal with challenging situations while other therapists treat mental or physical disorders or diseases.
Psychologists may conduct studies or experiments to understand how people work. Psychiatrists have medical training. They hold a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree. After earning their degree in medicine, psychiatrists specialize in psychiatry. Psychiatrists mainly focus on the biological aspects of mental illness and are able to prescribe medication to rectify chemical imbalances that sometimes cause mental illness.
Social workers, on the other hand, work with people to address problems and work through difficult experiences. They may provide support during a divorce, illness, or unemployment. Social workers do not have a medical background, though some social workers can also diagnose and treat behavioral, emotional, and mental issues or disorders. These social workers are called clinical social workers or licensed clinical social workers. Clinical social workers need to complete additional training and meet specific licensure requirements.
What is the Difference Between a Social Worker and a Psychologist?
Both social workers and psychologists are in the business of helping people who can no longer effectively help themselves. In some cases, they might even be the same people, with the same kind of issues… anxiety, depression, addiction—all are mental health issues that can be treated by either a licensed clinical psychologist or a licensed clinical social worker.
The biggest difference is in the ways a clinical social worker vs a psychologist will try to treat those issues.
Social workers - Perceive problems as stemming from larger societal issues, and help deal with those issues in a holistic way.
Psychologists - Look primarily internally for sources of mental health problems and uses individual therapy to build coping mechanisms.
Psychologists expect to resolve problems from within the mind of their patients. Social workers specialize in dealing with issues that come from the environment and outside circumstances.
Both a social worker and a psychologist might see someone experiencing depression as a result of homelessness. The psychologist will focus on treating the depression itself, working with the patient to find acceptance and to work on issues within their own control to resolve the mental issue. The social worker, while still offering empathy and therapy, will also pursue strategies to try to get the person into permanent housing, dealing with the root cause of the problem.
What is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker?
A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is a mental health professional who provides counseling, evaluation, intervention, and case management services to those who are suffering from mental, social, familial, and/or medical issues. In addition to taking their client’s psychological and emotional states into account, part of what makes social work unique is that LCSWs also examine the social and environmental factors impacting the client’s life. In doing so, they are able to provide resources within the community that can make a positive impact on their lives. An LCSW can work in mental health facilities, social service agencies, hospitals, and school systems, or even open their own private practice.
How to Find a Social Worker For the Elderly?
In most cities and towns around the country, there are organizations that exist specifically to help older adults. What the organization is called might vary based on where you live, but they are typically referred to as “older adult centers”, “agencies on aging”, or “senior centers”.
It is possible that you have a senior center or older adult center in your area that serves as both a social gathering place for seniors and a place to connect with resources with the help of a social worker. Many senior centers have social workers on staff who can help older adults and their families apply for resources, or to find affordable senior housing.
It is also likely that you can connect with a social worker or caseworker online or over the phone through your local agency on aging. It is possible that your locality’s agency is called something else, like an “office for the aging”. You should be able to find your local agency by searching online for “agency on aging + your state”.
When an older adult requires help navigating the medical system, a social worker can be tremendously helpful. Most hospitals and some other medical facilities like dialysis centers offer the help of social workers to their patients.
Medical social workers can offer emotional support for seniors and their families during hospitalizations or an illness. Medical social workers are also there to help when there are obstacles in the way of a senior patient’s medical care, such as access to food, housing, or health insurance. Medical social workers are knowledgeable about the public benefits available to patients, as well as the services offered by the medical facility or hospital.
Most of us have heard of Child Protective Services, but there is a lesser-known agency called Adult Protective Services which exists to protect adults who are physically or mentally impaired.
Unfortunately, sometimes elderly adults are subject to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. When this occurs, social workers and/or caseworkers may be able to intervene. Adult Protective Services is also there to help adults who have a physical or mental disability.
If you know an older adult who you believe is experiencing abuse, neglect, or exploitation, you can contact your local Adult Protective Services agency, and a social worker will investigate the situation to determine whether harm is being done. If they determine that the adult is in danger of harm, then they will help find a way to get the adult to a safe place and protect their financial interests.
Why is Social Work Important?
Social Workers help individuals overcome obstacles and improve their quality of life. A career in Social Work can be challenging at times. But, Social Workers have a direct influence on shaping people’s lives for the better.
Workers in this field interact with people from all walks of life, be it the homeless, sick, troubled, or even students. They connect individuals with the resources they need. For instance, if a student has trouble, their School Social Worker will help them find a tutor and learning disability expert. Many of these people, if not most, would not be able to obtain these vital resources on their own.
What is a Social Worker?
Social workers are professionals who aim to enhance overall well-being and help meet the basic and complex needs of communities and people. Social workers work with many different populations and types of people, particularly focusing on those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.
Depending on their specialty, job title, and place of employment, a social workers may be required to participate in legislative processes that often result in the formation of social policies. They lean on social work values and principles, as well as academic research to carry out their work.
Social workers are educated and trained to address social injustices and barriers to their client’s overall well-being. Some of these include poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and lack of housing. They also support clients and communities who are living with disabilities, substance abuse problems or experience domestic conflicts.
Social workers often fine-tune their practice with a focus on the level of interventions and types of communities they wish to serve. A clinical social worker, for example, focuses on diagnoses, treatments, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. On the other hand, a social worker may focus on research and development for small or large-scale programs to help the community.
8 Characteristics of a Good Social Worker
Characteristics are the distinguishing features or qualities of something or someone — the qualities that make a person or thing different from others. While there’s no specific kind of person who makes a better social worker than others, here are some of the characteristics of a good social worker to look for.
1. Ethical
Frequently, social workers handle cases involving an ethical or legal component. A strong ethical compass is one of the most important strengths to have as a social worker, and it speaks to the core values of social work. It is important that these professionals take the time to follow the proper protocols and ensure that they do their due diligence in order to best serve their clients.
2. Organized
Social workers fill out paperwork for each client they see and maintain a file of their interactions, observations, notes, and each plan of action they develop. Social workers must be organized in order to stay on top of all their work and the numerous cases they are juggling at any given time. These essential characteristics of social work professionals help them to be fully present with each client they serve and to provide them with the best and most attentive care possible.
3. Empathetic
What makes a good social worker is their ability to understand and share the feelings of others — also known as empathy. When social workers respond with empathy, it helps their clients to feel validated and not judged. Social workers who have a strong ability to empathize will be able to form strong connections because their clients feel they understand them and can relate to the things that are difficult for them. Similar to compassion, empathy is at the very heart of social work and is essential for any effective professional.
4. Respectful
Social workers deal with complicated and sensitive cases every day. An attitude of respect is one of the most essential personal qualities of social workers. Respect is required in order to maintain proper professional boundaries, and adhere to a code of ethics. Respect for their client’s culture, ethnicity, religion, and beliefs are key components of a successful relationship. If a client does not feel that they are respected, they will likely seek the help they need elsewhere.
5. Patient
Social work professionals also need to have heroic patience when dealing with clients. Particularly when clients are working through difficult situations, they might not always be forthcoming with the information you need to do your job. Patience will help you to maintain your calm and sense of control, allowing you to serve your clients with a collected, mindful, and level-headed approach. Even when the situations are difficult, patience reassures your clients that you are in their corner fighting for them.
6. Trustworthy and Dependable
Social work is entirely based on relationships. If those you work for and those you work with do not perceive you to be trustworthy or dependable, it can be difficult to do your job effectively. Social workers can demonstrate to their clients that they possess these qualities by listening to their needs, assuring them that they will work to find an effective solution, taking initiative in getting things done, and walking with them each step of the way. Social work professionals who have these characteristics will find it easier to build and maintain strong reciprocal relationships with those they serve.
7. Passionate
Passion is necessary to do any job well, but it is particularly important in the field of social work. Passion for the work that they do and the difference they make in the lives of the individuals they help drives social workers to give their best to each client and case. Passion for your profession inspires hope in those you help and motivates those you work with to do their job to the best of their ability as well. It is important to build up your fellow social work professionals, and passion for your craft can help them desire to work to their fullest potential.
8. Educated and Professionally Trained
To be an effective social worker requires professional training and a solid education in the principles and techniques used to manage cases. To begin your career as a social worker, you will need to hold a minimum of a bachelor’s of social work degree. If you want to have more responsibility and advance further in your career, you will need a Master of Social Work degree. While bachelor’s degrees provide a fundamental understanding of the field and how to interact with clients, a master’s degree allows you to dive deeper into the profession and work with clients on a more personal level to address their needs.
Types of Social Workers
Conducting research on different social work specialties could help you determine which type of social worker you want to consult with.
A macro social worker is a social worker who identifies unmet needs in communities or other large units of people. These social workers are tasked with conducting assessments, referring residents to community resources, and organizing the community.
Child and Family Social Workers
A child and family social worker works with children and their parents and guardians to address challenges or other issues that are impacting the quality of their lives. They work with families experiencing illness, offer resources for parents who need support in caring for their children, and help children who are experiencing stress or other issues that make it difficult for them to maintain a healthy quality of life.
Health Care Social Workers
A healthcare social worker helps people transition from the hospital back into their homes by offering resources and information to help them better understand their diagnosis and how to best move forward. Healthcare social workers help these patients make lifestyle changes, learn how to manage their illnesses, and make necessary accommodations in their homes that help them live independently.
Clinical Social Workers
Licensed Clinical Social Workers provide counseling and therapy to individuals and families who experience illness, substance abuse, or other trauma. Licensed Clinical Social Workers, who hold the most advanced social work credentials, can clinically evaluate, assess and diagnose mental illness. A master’s degree and a state license are required to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Social Workers
Social workers who specialize in substance abuse and behavioral disorders evaluate clients’ health and assess their readiness for treatment. Together with their clients, they develop goals and plans for treatment, recommend resources for clients and their families, and help them develop new coping mechanisms.
These types of social workers primarily serve patients suffering from mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. They assess clients' health, coordinate care plans and provide counseling to help these individuals manage their conditions and succeed in their personal and professional lives.
Military and Veterans Social Workers
These social workers focus closely on helping clients successfully transition from the military to civilian life. They ensure veterans have enough financial and mental support and stability to complete everyday tasks. Military social workers may also closely assist families with counseling services or other resources to help them cope with deployment or the loss of a loved one while in service. If these social workers receive their master's degree in social work, they can diagnose any post-traumatic stress disorder and offer psychotherapy treatments to help patients overcome these mental health issues.
Hospice and Palliative Care Social Workers
Patients suffering from chronic illnesses or conditions can receive support from hospice and palliative social workers. These professionals provide assistance to patients and their families by helping them prepare for the end of the patient's life. They may perform psychosocial assessments, counsel these individuals and their families, and communicate with their doctors to ensure they're receiving comfort and care.
Disability Social Worker
These social workers assist people with disabilities and parents of children living with disabilities. They teach the individuals or the children's parents what their legal rights are and connect them with resources that help the individual meet their needs. They may help these individuals find comfortable housing, succeed academically and professionally and develop communication and care skills to support themselves effectively. The duties these social workers perform may vary from client to client, as they adjust their care plans according to the disability of the clients and the unique needs they face.
Gerontological Social Workers
Those who work in this type of social work provide the elderly with resources and community services to help them function in everyday life. These social workers typically advocate for their elderly clients and connect them with the resources and opportunities they need to maintain a healthy and stable lifestyle. Aging and gerontological social workers may sign the elderly up for affordable health care, find proper mental health support for those who need it and locate proper housing and facilities that offer the support and care they need.
Who Do Social Workers Help?
Social workers work directly with, and on behalf of, a wide variety of populations. Some examples are:
- Children and adolescents.
- Individuals with disabilities.
- Individuals who are experiencing poverty or homelessness.
- Medical patients.
- LGBTQ individuals.
- Individuals suffering from addiction.
- Students.
- Individuals with mental health concerns.
- Refugees and immigrants.
- Aging individuals.
- Couples and families.
- Victims of violence or trauma.
- Individuals who are incarcerated or in the criminal justice system.
- Veterans.
Social workers are uniquely positioned to help our fellow members of society who are vulnerable, oppressed, or marginalized.
Seven Principles of Social Work
There are seven key principles of social work developed by professor Felix Biestek who died in 1994. The principles that Biestek identified address common questions of ethics in social work.
1. Acceptance: This is a core principle of social work because it requires that a social worker accepts their client as is. Acceptance does not mean approval. The object of acceptance is not the good but the real. Once a client feels this acceptance, it will be easier to open up to the social worker.
2. Individualization: This principle that every person is unique keeps social workers from generalizing and making assumptions based on past clients or groups of people.
3. Self-determination: Clients have the right to make their own decisions. The social worker should not impose their choices on a client or pressure them to come to a certain decision.
4. Non-judgmental attitude: A social worker is to remain unbiased, and recognize that each human being has dignity and worth and is neither good nor bad. Blame and praise may have the same effect on a client: to hide a part of himself so as not to be judged.
5. Confidentiality: You’ve probably heard of doctor-patient confidentiality. Social workers also protect their clients by ensuring information shared remains confidential. This is crucial to develop trust and encourage the client to speak freely.
6. Controlled emotional involvement: While social workers should be dedicated to their clients, they must maintain an objective emotional involvement. This way, they can respond appropriately to the emotions shared by the client.
7. Purposeful expression of feelings: Being a social worker requires a great deal of emotional intelligence, recognizing the client’s need to freely express their feelings.
Levels of Social Work
Because of the complex, interdisciplinary nature of social work, social workers are often required to work in increasingly diverse contexts and settings. A consequence of this is that social workers are sometimes required to engage in social work practice that takes place at different 'levels.' Currently, there are three widely recognized levels of social work practice: micro, mezzo (meso), and macro social work. Although these levels are often spoken of as if they are distinct, it is important to recognize that these 'different levels' occur in tandem and constantly influence the other levels.
MICRO SOCIAL WORK
Micro social work is among the most common type of social work practice (and is often how most people imagine social workers providing services). In micro social work, the social worker engages with individuals and families in order to solve intrapersonal and interpersonal problems. Common examples of micro social work practice settings include counseling centers, hospitals, and social service agencies, where social workers help individuals to find appropriate housing and access mental, health, and social services. Family therapy and individual counseling services also fall under the auspices of micro practice, as does the treatment of people suffering from a mental health condition or substance abuse problem.
MEZZO (MESO) SOCIAL WORK
Mezzo social work practice deals with small-to-medium-sized groups, such as neighborhoods, schools or other local organizations. Examples of mezzo social work include community organizing, management of a social work organization, and practice that focuses on institutional or cultural change (rather than individual clients). Social workers engaged in mezzo practice are often also engaged in micro and/or macro social work (as this ensures the needs and challenges of individual clients are understood and addressed in tandem with larger social issues).
MACRO SOCIAL WORK
Macro social work involves intervening in large, high-level societal systems. Examples of macro social work include lobbying to change a health care law, organizing a state-wide activist group, or advocating for large-scale social policy change. Macro practice is often touted as being one of the key distinctions between social work and other helping professions (such as psychiatry or medicine). Macro social work also generally addresses issues experienced in mezzo or micro social work practice, as well as issues in social work research. Effective macro practice can empower clients by involving them in systemic change.
What Social Workers Can And Can't Do
The scope of what social workers can do includes a range of actions, as the examples below demonstrate.
1. Protect Client Confidentiality
Protecting a client’s confidentiality is a cornerstone of developing a trusting relationship. However, social workers can disclose confidential information in some cases when it’s necessary to prevent harm. If a court orders a social worker to disclose confidential information, the social worker should request that the court withdraw or limit the order, or keep the information under seal.
2. Offer Services They’re Qualified to Provide
Clients must receive services from social workers who have the training and expertise to provide those specific services. Social workers should provide services only within the limits of their professional experience, training, licensure, education, or certification. For example, only social workers who are properly trained and licensed can provide counseling and therapy services to clients.
3. Terminate Services Under Certain Circumstances
Social workers should treat termination of services carefully because it can affect a client’s confidence in the social work process. However, social workers can terminate services when they are no longer required or aren’t serving the clients’ interests. Social workers should take reasonable steps not to abandon clients who still need support, and they should help arrange for continued services if they’re no longer able to provide those services.
4. Practice Self-Care
Practicing self-care — including seeking out professional mental health services — is critical in helping social workers manage the demands of their careers, the challenges they face, and the trauma to which they may be exposed.
5. Engage in Political Action
Social workers can participate in political action to ensure that individuals’ basic human needs are met and to promote social justice. Social workers can also facilitate public participation in the development of social policy.
What Social Workers Can’t Do
The extent of what social workers can’t do includes various impermissible actions, as the examples below demonstrate.
1. Make Certain Physical Contact
Social workers can’t have physical contact with clients if the contact could cause the clients psychological harm. If social workers have permissible physical contact, they must set boundaries on what is appropriate, culturally sensitive, and clear.
2. Use Derogatory Language
In their communications with or about their clients (including oral, electronic, or written communications), social workers shouldn’t use derogatory language. Their language must be respectful and accurate.
3. Provide Services in Certain Cases Involving Conflict of Interest
Social workers should avoid conflicts of interest that could interfere with their impartial judgment and professional discretion. They need to inform clients regarding conflicts of interest and develop a resolution that protects clients’ interests. Some instances of conflict of interest may require the social worker to refer a client to another professional.
4. Permit Personal Issues to Impair Their Work
Social workers shouldn’t allow their issues (such as mental health concerns or misuse of substances) to jeopardize their client’s best interests or impair their performance or judgment.
5. Engage in Discrimination
Social workers shouldn’t facilitate or condone any discrimination based on age, color, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, immigration status, marital status, mental or physical ability, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
Duties of a Social Worker
The duties of Social Workers vary, depending on whether they work in a statutory or non-statutory setting. Many Social Workers specialize in a field, such as child protection services or working with adults with mental health problems. In general, however, the duties of these professionals include the following:
1. Assessing the need for care and protection of individuals or families.
2. Ensuring that individuals or families receive the necessary support and protection.
3. Assisting in the implementation of policies that aim to safeguard the vulnerable and uplift communities.
4. Making recommendations or referrals to other services or agencies.
5. Creating and maintaining accurate case files and records.
6. Regularly meeting with supervisors.
7. Developing accurate assessments, which may entail collaborating with other professionals.
8. Working in multidisciplinary teams, which may include health professionals, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, and teachers.
Different Types Of Interventions Used By Social Workers
Problem-free talk: This type of intervention can be used at any time, but it is very helpful at the beginning of an intervention. The social worker encourages their clients to discuss different aspects of their lives in which they are not having issues to give them a level of positivity while they focus on their obstacles and challenges.
Miracle Questions: miracle questions are designed to encourage clients to visualize their world without the issues they are facing. This helps clients to imagine a better future for themselves by thinking positively and being motivated to change.
Vision Statement: Vision statements are often used to help clients use their imagination to explore what it would be like to have a better future. An example of this would be to ask a parent what they would like their children to be able to say about them a decade from now.
Circular Questioning: Circular questioning allows social workers to help their clients put themselves in someone else’s shoes. This can be very powerful for clients so that they can learn new information and ideas while being encouraged to have a greater awareness and getting control over their situation.
Life-Story Book: A life story book can be very beneficial for children who have been in foster care or who have experienced trauma. For example, a story or book can be written for the child to be able to help them understand why they were adopted by new parents or why they were put into foster care.
Other types of intervention include later life letters, exception sinking, competent seeking, and several others.
How to Find a Social Worker Near Me
- Public Mental Health or Behavioral Health Agencies are often the best places to get a case worker or social worker. These programs serve people with a history of mental illness, substance abuse, or developmental disabilities.
- If you are not currently a client, you may be able to become a client and ask to get assigned a caseworker. Even if you do not have a previous history of mental illness diagnosis, you may be eligible if you are struggling with mental health issues.
- If your doctor works as part of a hospital or university network, you can request that your doctor gives you a referral to an appointment with a Social Worker in their system.
- Area Agency on Aging (Call them even if you are young! They also serve younger people with disabilities.)
- Also check this Eldercare Locator (Again, any age)
- You can try your local community action agency. Ask if they provide case workers or if they can tell you where to call to find one.
- Centers for Independent Living are run by people with disabilities and may have case workers on staff, or be able to help connect you to other disability resources in your area.
- If you are in a Home Care program through Medicaid or Medicare they may be able to send a Social Worker or Case Worker to come to your house. In many cases, these Social Workers can only help you with issues directly related to the home care program, but it is still worth asking.
- State home care programs will allow you to select your own aide. It can be a friend, family member, or neighbor, or you can advertise for someone to hire (the state pays the salary.) Some of our readers specifically looked for aides who are helpful with scheduling appointments, making phone calls, organizing medical paperwork, driving to doctor appointments, etc.
- Legal aid programs may be able to assist if you are having a problem with housing, food stamps, or other benefits programs.
- If you are dealing with a serious illness, see if there are any Palliative Care Programs in your area. These programs can provide caseworkers and other services. You can also look at Hospice and Palliative Care (some hospice programs are for end-of-life only, but some will serve other populations)
- Don’t be afraid to reach out to local organizations and ask for help. The worst they can say is no, and if they can't help you, they may know someone who can! Try the Veterans Administration, Health Clinics, Homeless Agencies, and your local Department of Social Services or Family Services.
- Your local department of Social Services may have Social Workers on staff. Many of our readers report they were not able to get a great deal of help this way, but it is worth trying. These agencies may be called “family services” “social services” “health and human services” or something else in your state.
- If you have health insurance, you can contact your insurance company and ask if they have any kind of nurse coordinator or case manager who can help you coordinate your healthcare needs. (Warning: Mixed responses from readers. Some report these positions are very helpful. Others say they look for ways to cut services to help the insurance company save money.)
- If you are homeless and have a mental illness diagnosis, you can look into Supportive Housing programs. Some of these programs provide safe, affordable housing as well as on-site case workers. Google “supportive housing” and the name of your state.
- Some insurance programs have social workers available for appointments. You can contact your insurance to see if they offer this.
- Finally, if you are ever in the hospital, you can request to meet with the hospital Social Worker. They can assist you while you are in the hospital. You can also ask them how you can continue to get help after you leave the hospital.
Sources:
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.
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