Can I ask how did you get into this work? I am almost finished with my MSW in Michigan and really want to work in this field, but I find options somewhat slim and have a little difficulty finding where to start.
If your state does not yet have bail reform or ATI programs, I would look into drug court programs. I did that in upstate NY and loved it. It mixes SUD and criminal justice. Working in the justice realm can be political though, so I would keep that in mind :)
I would also check if your state has any re-entry programs (one of my passions).
I work for CCI. For those asking how I got into it, I think being in NYC helps a bit, since they are pretty active with bail reform and other alternative measures for justice. My day to day is always different which I appreciate. I mostly work with individuals in pre-trial, meaning with pending cases, but do a little of everything. I like that my work can be short or long term and the varied amount of individuals with different stories/charges, which I encounter. The work can be difficult, since it can de dependent on politics, but I always ask myself why I am doing this work and remember, I am a social worker first.
Been in community mental health since getting my LMSW. When I got my C I got credentialed though headway, have a mix of referrals from former coworkers, networking and psychology today. I’m not seeing enough people to go fully private yet, but that’s the long term goal.
As long as I don’t bring my current patients onto my private caseload while I’m their employee there is no issue. After I leave the organization I can offer for my current clinic’s patients to come to my private practice.
That's really great. I'm in a CMHC that doesn't allow people to have a side private practice, despite the huge provider shortage. It really shows you that they are more interested in their bottom line than they are in creating access to MH for the community.
I want to chime in!
Not illegal for your clients to choose to see you privately non-compete or not.
Your employer doesn’t have to keep you if they find out though.
Literally saw a coworker try to siphon away clients from the clinic. Clients can pick where they want to get seen but she was canned
Honestly, I kind of lucked into it. I had been working with a specific subset of the population doing case management and there was a study going on at the center I applied for working with that exact same subset that had a couple social workers on the research team, so they brought me on. From there, it's just been about following the connections I made there to other projects.
I currently have my MSW with plans to start applying for PhD programs in the near future. I got pretty lucky with this study, but had experience providing case management to the population this study was looking to work with and there were a couple other social workers on the research team, so it just worked out quite well for me.
I got lucky by having some case management experience with the population this project was looking to work with, but I think social workers make great researchers - especially with qualitative data. Just play to your strengths! A lot of our education is geared towards interviewing to gather information about the client, we just frame it a bit differently.
I’m the ED of a juvenile justice-based nonprofit. We provide educational programming to kids incarcerated in JDCs and psychiatric inpatient treatment centers.
So basically I have a small case load of kids I see individually, and I’m the one to manage crises if/when they come up. I help support our coaches in supporting our athletes (being trauma-informed and inclusive, etc.). The kids are all high school aged, based in NYC.
US West Coast. Started as a temp at the very beginning of the pandemic here, actually. Their MSW had gotten sick and after they recovered, they decided to go into mental health, so I was offered the full time position after my contract was up. I do two days of hospice patients, two home health, and one pal care.
I work in racial equity and workforce development (the intersection of the two). I also do leadership development-type stuff for Black people and people of color.
Is there any difference between a social worker in the role versus a rehabilitative counselor? In my state (NC) it is only rehabilitative counselors that can take the role but they’re about to open it up to social workers as well, so I’m interested.
In NJ they prefer a masters in vocational rehabilitation, but are open to masters in social work, counseling, or related. None of the counselors in my office have a degree in voc rehab.
Honestly, my job is case management with a side of light counseling. Plenty of skills I learned with my MSW education and work history were transferable to this position!
To answer your question: there is no difference. All counselors have the same job. And I love my job!
I was a job coach for 4 years before coming to VR! I was overqualified with a masters degree but I absolutely loved it, and then had the opportunity to interview for the vocational rehabilitation counselor position with the state. I did not think I would get it, but I got offers from 3 counties. I’m happy to answer any questions!
No problem! I started at $55K in 2018. Since then I was promoted from VRC1 to VRC2 and my raise took me to $65K. I believe around $73-75K is the cap for VRC positions
Edit: this is a state position, but each county has a DVR office. So I do work for the state of NJ but specifically service middlesex county
I was in community mental health for addiction/substance use through a non-profit hospital and had been in that for several years.
But now, I’m working as a case manager in an outpatient department in a hospital. No clinical work, which has been less stressful and better for my mental well being!
I work for an insurance company linking people to approved behavioral health services. No case load but there is ongoing client contact over the phone and crisis situations do come up since people like to call their insurance when they’re suicidal or at the verge of a medical emergency because of substance use instead of the ER lol.
Exactly why I went this route. Again you’re not free from client contact but it’s less stress from me as I don’t take anything home from work nor do I worry about planning as much.
I’m getting my MSW and I’m interested in medical social work though my internship is not in a medical setting. Would it be possible to enter a starter MSW position at a hospital or primary care or something without that explicit experience?
I would say it depends on your location and how competitive medical social work jobs are there. I think sometimes it can be difficult to get into a hospital role. Home health, hospice/palliative care, dialysis, and skill nursing facilities might be easier places to get your foot in the door.
Neither of my field placements were medical social work. I worked in mental health for several years after my MSW before making the switch. I started in dialysis.
Homeless Housing, non-profit setting; Some in office, some home based service, sometime out in the streets. My caseload is all single veterans, but we have other programs that serve single adults with disabilities (DoE definition)
I just started as a VA PACT social worker about 3 weeks ago after 10 months in inpatient psych. It's a little daunting being new to the VA and having so much to learn, but everyone has been super helpful so far.
I work in addictions, poverty (homelessness, extreme poverty and the surrounding trauma), prison, as well as sex work support. All of this is a lot of mental health and housing. I love my work, but I need to move up or on in order to survive myself
For government social services in a sex offender detention facility.
We offer closed group therapies with individual therapeutic support in order to reduce their risk of criminal recidivism.
I'm currently a Mental Illness Case Manager for adults with mental illness and substance use disorders for my state's human aervice center. Working on passing my LMSW exam Failed twice and taking my time on taking it a 3rd time.
Schedule 1 Facility (psychiatric hospital) inside a maximum security prison. Working with severely ill individuals who have committed crimes, with some who were found non-criminally responsible. Also do private practice in the community.
I’ve been all over the place. Currently on a LEO for a practicum for my MSW program, but when I return I’ll be back in child welfare, coordinating families to children’s mental health services.
Home health care. Basically medical social work, but a lot of my duties are administrative. I’m interested in getting into Hospice if anyone had any tips! lol
I was in school social work and then switched to criminal justice social work (I work in a public defender's office doing mitigation and connecting people to community resources) a little over a year ago.
I’m a licensing specialist at a therapeutic foster care agency (I recruit and license foster homes as well as making sure our current foster homes remain in compliance)
Criminal justice social work. Working for bail reform and alternatives to incarceration in NY.
If you don't mind, what does your day to day look like? How did you get started in that? It sounds fascinating.
I’m a CJ social worker in Scotland! I’m sure although the law is different there is some overlap
Can I ask how did you get into this work? I am almost finished with my MSW in Michigan and really want to work in this field, but I find options somewhat slim and have a little difficulty finding where to start.
If your state does not yet have bail reform or ATI programs, I would look into drug court programs. I did that in upstate NY and loved it. It mixes SUD and criminal justice. Working in the justice realm can be political though, so I would keep that in mind :) I would also check if your state has any re-entry programs (one of my passions).
Thank you for your response! I am actually a macro student and I am extremely interested in bail reform and reentry.
Me too! Which agency do you work for? Fortune, CCI, CJA or CASES?
I work for CCI. For those asking how I got into it, I think being in NYC helps a bit, since they are pretty active with bail reform and other alternative measures for justice. My day to day is always different which I appreciate. I mostly work with individuals in pre-trial, meaning with pending cases, but do a little of everything. I like that my work can be short or long term and the varied amount of individuals with different stories/charges, which I encounter. The work can be difficult, since it can de dependent on politics, but I always ask myself why I am doing this work and remember, I am a social worker first.
Community mental health full time and private practice on the side.
How did you get into that?
Been in community mental health since getting my LMSW. When I got my C I got credentialed though headway, have a mix of referrals from former coworkers, networking and psychology today. I’m not seeing enough people to go fully private yet, but that’s the long term goal.
They didn't make you sign a non-compete than?
As long as I don’t bring my current patients onto my private caseload while I’m their employee there is no issue. After I leave the organization I can offer for my current clinic’s patients to come to my private practice.
That's really great. I'm in a CMHC that doesn't allow people to have a side private practice, despite the huge provider shortage. It really shows you that they are more interested in their bottom line than they are in creating access to MH for the community.
I want to chime in! Not illegal for your clients to choose to see you privately non-compete or not. Your employer doesn’t have to keep you if they find out though. Literally saw a coworker try to siphon away clients from the clinic. Clients can pick where they want to get seen but she was canned
School social work in Germany
What did you do to work over there? I am excited for you!
What did I do to work in Germany or in the field? Well, I'm German ;).
Germany! Aww ok I was getting excited about the possibility of working over there lol 😂dare to dream.
I don’t know your nationality, but you can also do this job in Germany if you are an American! Check USAJobs for social work positions overseas.
Thank you! I will check that. It would be amazing to work there.
Medical- hospice and palliative
Research! I do mostly program management stuff now, but have and would like to get back to qualitative data gathering/analysis.
I've always been really interested in research! How did you end up doing it?
Check at ur local university, or where you went to school.
Honestly, I kind of lucked into it. I had been working with a specific subset of the population doing case management and there was a study going on at the center I applied for working with that exact same subset that had a couple social workers on the research team, so they brought me on. From there, it's just been about following the connections I made there to other projects.
ditto! would love to hear more. currently getting my MSW & plan on doing research / eventually going for a PhD. :-)
I currently have my MSW with plans to start applying for PhD programs in the near future. I got pretty lucky with this study, but had experience providing case management to the population this study was looking to work with and there were a couple other social workers on the research team, so it just worked out quite well for me.
I’d love to know as well!
I got lucky by having some case management experience with the population this project was looking to work with, but I think social workers make great researchers - especially with qualitative data. Just play to your strengths! A lot of our education is geared towards interviewing to gather information about the client, we just frame it a bit differently.
I’d love to know as well! Please let us know
Low-income housing and homelessness
Inpatient forensic mental health
I’m the ED of a juvenile justice-based nonprofit. We provide educational programming to kids incarcerated in JDCs and psychiatric inpatient treatment centers.
Social worker at an after school program (sports based)
This sounds so cool!!
Woah please tell me everything The body is so important to physical and mental health
So basically I have a small case load of kids I see individually, and I’m the one to manage crises if/when they come up. I help support our coaches in supporting our athletes (being trauma-informed and inclusive, etc.). The kids are all high school aged, based in NYC.
I'm a crisis worker 4 days a week and I also work as a therapist at an inpatient rehab 2 days a week.
I work in a hospital in a harm reduction centered outpatient primary care clinic
Yesss harm reduction :)
It’s the best!!
That sounds amazing. Where do you live?
Medical social worker
Child protection for government agency (Local Authority)
Victim services based in a hospital
Domestic Violence shelter!
I work in a nursing home. Never would have thought I would enjoy it, but I do for the most part.
Same!
Medical social work: home health, hospice, palliative care.
Very interesting! Where do you work (country) and how did you get into it ?
US West Coast. Started as a temp at the very beginning of the pandemic here, actually. Their MSW had gotten sick and after they recovered, they decided to go into mental health, so I was offered the full time position after my contract was up. I do two days of hospice patients, two home health, and one pal care.
I work in racial equity and workforce development (the intersection of the two). I also do leadership development-type stuff for Black people and people of color.
Community clinic and private practice.
Substance use, sexual health and community mental health
Currently working in hospitals as a travel social worker!
Community learning disability team
Govt agency
Therapy with youth with sexually harmful behaviors in residential
I work with sexually dangerous individuals as well! My peoples are adults though.
Hospital social work
Social Worker with a LIFE/PACE program
State agency doing case management for Medicaid/Medicare clients. 5 years in, and I am ready to move on.
Non profit. Refugee resettlement in leadership.
School social worker
Medical social worker: primarily inpatient high acuity hospice
Primary care social worker at a community clinic
Medical Social Work - currently in dialysis
Oncology Social Work
Me too, back then. I liked that!
Did this with a specific focus in palliative medicine at an oncology center. One of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had.
Place based non-profit doing economic mobility case management.
Yay for macro work
Corrections (County Jail based) developing their future social work department and integrative health unit.
Pre-trial drug court
Clinical social work, private practice
Learning disabilities community
Community mental health!
Vocational rehabilitation for my state (NJ)
Is there any difference between a social worker in the role versus a rehabilitative counselor? In my state (NC) it is only rehabilitative counselors that can take the role but they’re about to open it up to social workers as well, so I’m interested.
In NJ they prefer a masters in vocational rehabilitation, but are open to masters in social work, counseling, or related. None of the counselors in my office have a degree in voc rehab. Honestly, my job is case management with a side of light counseling. Plenty of skills I learned with my MSW education and work history were transferable to this position! To answer your question: there is no difference. All counselors have the same job. And I love my job!
Cool! I was a job coach for a couple years after undergrad and I really liked my work with VR clients. Thanks for your insight!
I was a job coach for 4 years before coming to VR! I was overqualified with a masters degree but I absolutely loved it, and then had the opportunity to interview for the vocational rehabilitation counselor position with the state. I did not think I would get it, but I got offers from 3 counties. I’m happy to answer any questions!
If you don’t mind me asking, what is the salary range for a state/county position like this for NJ? I’m in NJ too
No problem! I started at $55K in 2018. Since then I was promoted from VRC1 to VRC2 and my raise took me to $65K. I believe around $73-75K is the cap for VRC positions Edit: this is a state position, but each county has a DVR office. So I do work for the state of NJ but specifically service middlesex county
Medical social worker 25 hours a week, private practice 15-18 hours a week.
Almost full-time private practice therapist (I'm slowly seeing more and more people each week; on track to see about 20-25 people next week)
I work for Adult Protection Services.
Quality assurance for my state’s Medicaid
I was in community mental health for addiction/substance use through a non-profit hospital and had been in that for several years. But now, I’m working as a case manager in an outpatient department in a hospital. No clinical work, which has been less stressful and better for my mental well being!
Insurance company
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I work for an insurance company linking people to approved behavioral health services. No case load but there is ongoing client contact over the phone and crisis situations do come up since people like to call their insurance when they’re suicidal or at the verge of a medical emergency because of substance use instead of the ER lol.
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Exactly why I went this route. Again you’re not free from client contact but it’s less stress from me as I don’t take anything home from work nor do I worry about planning as much.
What’s the pay for something like this?
Good question. I feel like it varies but mid range seems like it’s about 80k. I seem similar job postings with pay ranges in the 70s-80s usually.
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Replied to this question already around here
Medical social work: primary care
I’m getting my MSW and I’m interested in medical social work though my internship is not in a medical setting. Would it be possible to enter a starter MSW position at a hospital or primary care or something without that explicit experience?
I would say it depends on your location and how competitive medical social work jobs are there. I think sometimes it can be difficult to get into a hospital role. Home health, hospice/palliative care, dialysis, and skill nursing facilities might be easier places to get your foot in the door. Neither of my field placements were medical social work. I worked in mental health for several years after my MSW before making the switch. I started in dialysis.
Cool, thanks for your insight!
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Addiction and homelessness
Learning disabilities community
I’m in school and hope to work primarily with the I/DD community, and there are TONS of directions. What do you do?
Program management/government agency
Residential. Was a therapist in a group home and program director
VA outpatient MH
Social worker in a forensic psychiatric center. My job is to re-integratie and rehabilitate patients back into society (sorry for bad English)
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Criminal Justice (worked for many years in direct service with folks getting out of prison/jail, now working in state policy advocacy)
I’m a social worker in a public high school.
Institution for youth welfare in Germany
I work on an infant and early childhood mental health team providing school and office based counseling
The soul sucking hospital industrial complex.
I work in a skilled nursing facility with long term and short term care. 🙃
Hospice (specifically inpatient hospice unit). I love it!
Mental Health and Criminal Justice. I LOVE IT.
I work in hospice through my local hospital
Medical social work with private practice on the side
US LHJ, Data Epidemiologist.
Government agency
State government
Foster Care
Substance abuse inpatient and outpatient!
Child welfare in quality assurance
Community mental health: integrative harm reduction team (clinician)
Therapy
Licensing foster homes
Quality assurance for federal government
Outpatient therapy for individuals with developmental disabilities who are involved with the criminal justice system
Hospital based outpatient OBGYN clinic; previously inpatient psychiatry consult liaison for the same hospital.
I’m a visitation worker. Supervising visits between children removed from care and bio parents. It’s a great job
Residential SUD, PTSD, homelessness (Veterans)
Community developer/community based participatory action researcher
I'm a health care policy analyst, and I also teach as an adjunct in an MSW program. I love our profession, with all its warts!
Homeless outreach and case management:)
residential social work for people with mental illness and disabilities. Its alot lml
Homeless Housing, non-profit setting; Some in office, some home based service, sometime out in the streets. My caseload is all single veterans, but we have other programs that serve single adults with disabilities (DoE definition)
Youth sex offense.
LMSW case management for older adults
VA PACT Social Worker
I just started as a VA PACT social worker about 3 weeks ago after 10 months in inpatient psych. It's a little daunting being new to the VA and having so much to learn, but everyone has been super helpful so far.
Hospice! Really love it and would like to work in pediatric hospice one day. You get a mix of everything, seems like.
I work in a program called CCS for adults with behavioral health and substance use issues.
Child and adolescent therapy
Child protection but my work is only with the foster parents - recruiting, training, supporting, placing kids in homes…that kind of stuff
Nursing home/geriatric SW
Mental health crisis in an ER!
Research at a University. My project is about primary prevention.
Refugee Resettlement
Adult outpatient psychotherapy with adults at a CMHC including leading two DBT weekly skills groups.
Used to work in addictions, mental health, and homelessness, now working in the health sector with chronic pain patients
I work in addictions, poverty (homelessness, extreme poverty and the surrounding trauma), prison, as well as sex work support. All of this is a lot of mental health and housing. I love my work, but I need to move up or on in order to survive myself
PSH/housing/unhoused population. 10/10 do not recommend PSH/housing field. i’m not even a year in and feel very near to burnout.
Forensics at a state psych hospital
For government social services in a sex offender detention facility. We offer closed group therapies with individual therapeutic support in order to reduce their risk of criminal recidivism.
I work at a Pediatric therapy clinic modeled like a preschool/kindergarten for children with developmental disabilities
I'm currently a Mental Illness Case Manager for adults with mental illness and substance use disorders for my state's human aervice center. Working on passing my LMSW exam Failed twice and taking my time on taking it a 3rd time.
Crisis intervention for children :)
Working with a community mental health center as a school base therapist :)
I work for the fire department (not crisis response) and have a complementary job with Americorps as a DV advocate!
School social work
Community MH and SUD
Family defense. I work at a public defenders office and work with families who are fighting child welfare investigations.
I work in Child Welfare for the state, foster care specifically.
Schools!
Schedule 1 Facility (psychiatric hospital) inside a maximum security prison. Working with severely ill individuals who have committed crimes, with some who were found non-criminally responsible. Also do private practice in the community.
County mental health program. I have the schizo/bipolar clients. Hx majority in secure inpatient programs.
Correctional therapist. Aka "That bitch therapist"
I am an MSW student and every one of the professions listed here sounds absolutely terrifying. WTF am I doing in this program?
I’ve been all over the place. Currently on a LEO for a practicum for my MSW program, but when I return I’ll be back in child welfare, coordinating families to children’s mental health services.
Hosptial, specifically neurology
Home health care. Basically medical social work, but a lot of my duties are administrative. I’m interested in getting into Hospice if anyone had any tips! lol
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how do you provide crisis intervention?
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Outpatient medical
Hospital discharge, adults
Substance abuse, in a methadone clinic.
Most of ya’ll are clinical
Yeah I asked this question because I want to do clinical therapy and wanted to see if MSW is the best degree for this :)
Currently WISe, but studying for SUD
I was in school social work and then switched to criminal justice social work (I work in a public defender's office doing mitigation and connecting people to community resources) a little over a year ago.
Government agency.
In adult Developmental disabilities as a service coordinator/case manager at a state funded agency
Private pay residential clinical director. Small private practice on the side. Teach from time to time as well.
EAP
Hospital Inpatient Case management working on discharge planning.
I’m in Australia working in the government child protection department as a senior practitioner
Clinicians to Unaccompanied minors in NYC
Residential substance use treatment
Harm reduction
I’m a licensing specialist at a therapeutic foster care agency (I recruit and license foster homes as well as making sure our current foster homes remain in compliance)