What Social Workers Do

Social workers assist people by helping them cope with issues in their everyday lives, deal with their relationships and solve personal and family problems. Some social workers help clients who  face a disabling or a life-threatening disease or a social problem, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, or substance abuse. Social workers also assist families that have serious domestic conflicts, sometimes involving child or spouse abuse. Some social workers conduct research, advocate for improved services, engage in systems design or are involved in planning or policy development. Many social workers specialize in serving a particular population or work in a specific setting.

(Source: BLS)