It is important to find out if your online classes and degree will give you both a good education as well as job opportunities. If you get an online degree, is it through a valid and accredited school or university? Is the online school accredited and well known? Is the institution recognized through important boards? Will they help place or direct qualified graduates in full or part-time capacity employment? Accredited schools and universities can also be found online and will appear on the list provided by the US Department of Education.

An online accredited bachelor degree in social work is for individuals who wants to provide support services to individuals, families or groups or to go into administration positions. Individuals are prepared for the professional practice of counseling and administration, and programs usually includes seven core and three elective subjects. Fewer courses may be required, depending if the student has transferable credits or life credits available. Courses cover areas such as social welfare policy, case work planning, counsellng and intervention strategies, administration procedures and regulations. You'll learn about child and family services, probation issues, disability counseling and dealing with termination.

Most accredited and well established educational institutions already have excellent interactive student websites. These websites also includes availability to student forums, access to past exam papers, online questions and feedback from lecturers when you require specific advice. Online degrees have altered the traditional method of study, enabling people to work from home. This works well for students with full-time jobs and family obligations.

There are different programs such as Brescia University in Kentucky that is online. This school has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or CSWE. This is an important council with an excellent reputation. The Canyon College also offers an online social work degree where you can attain the BSW. It has acreditation by the American Council on Private School Accreditation. Another option is Bellevue University. Bellevue is accredited by the North Central School Association of Colleges and Schools. You'd be getting the BS in Human and Social Service Administation through this program. It is important to learn about what the licensing requirements are in your area and how it views these online programs. Call them to find out if you may need an additional internship or more course work completed.

If you enjoy helping people, and you believe you can make a difference, then an online accredited bachelor degree in social work or BSW is right for you and can head your career in a fulfilling direction.

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Many people hesitate about getting a career working with people due to fears that the pay will be very low. You may be surprised that some social workers can earn a good living. There are some entry level positions that don't pay much and require a great deal of family work as well as paper work. Nonetheless, the job can be very fulfilling because there can so much satisfaction in watching someone achieve true change. People who really want to make a difference in society often overlook the low pay. Their greatest reward is improving the lives of the people in the community. However, over time, people can burn out or become dissatisfied with the pay not providing sufficient funds for one's lifestyle. There are ways to move up within an agency, add on a private practice, become a supervisor for students and other ways to increase one's income.

With time and experience, the pay rate will continually climb. The starting salaries often are determined by the amount of education you received before starting to work. You will even have to factor in the region in which you want to work. Also, there are many different types of social work, and each factor in the amount of money you can make. Some types of counseling can be in high security settings such as prisons and the pay often reflects this type of situation. In the educational areas of this career, starting salary is between thirty and thirty six thousand dollars a year.

You'll want to apply to many networks for insurance as this will also increase the types of counseling centers you can work in. If you wish to get into private practice, this is important as well because you'll need to be able to take a variety of insurances unless you wish to use only cash pay methods. You will not only reap the rewards of the awesome and inspiring work you do, but you can also make a decent living. The great thing about this type of work is that it is always needed, so it is practically recession proof. Also, the longer you work the higher your pay becomes. This career path is never static. You may want to be a hospice social worker, go into forensics, work with the elderly or do family counseling. You will never get bored with this type of work as you are constantly faced with new challenges and problems to solve.

Learn more about Social Work Careers and Hospice Social Worker opportunities.

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In the field of social work, continuing education cannot be understated as an important component of professional growth and development. Whether you are working in a legal capacity or with the homeless or with the mentally ill, research and thoughts on therapy are changing all the time. What you learned in the classroom may be obsolete in ten years. If not obsolete, certainly outdated and improved upon. Those therapists who fail to keep up with these changes will find their clients are not getting the help they could be getting.

In social work, continuing education means taking classes of all types, geared towards a deeper understanding of the many problems a typical professional may encounter. These problems will vary according to the direct employment of the social worker, such as whether they work for the government, a legal institution, or elsewhere. Problems that classes may address could include drug abuse, child abuse and neglect, alcoholism, poverty, and much more. These classes and materials are designed to help the worker find and implement new and effective ways to communicate and counsel their charges.

In all forms of therapy, including social work, continuing education is important as the science of psychotherapy is constantly evolving and changing. What was common knowledge in one decade may be considered obsolete bunk in the next. This is, of course, true even of the hard sciences. While there are some basic tenants that any therapist can cling to, there is a wide diversity of opinion beyond that point. Studies and anecdotal evidence argue for various forms of treatment and counseling. This is why it is so vital for a therapist to further their learning at any opportunity. To do otherwise is to allow the more modern interpretations and theories to pass by unnoticed and unexamined.

For most people involved in social work, continuing education is about more than personal growth, however. Many states require this education as a matter of remaining certified to work in the field. Some classes and materials may be outlined by the state to cover specific problems facing the community. For instance, if the unemployment rate is particularly high, there may be an interest in having the state's social workers concentrate on how to help the unemployed and job-seeking. The material one can use for re-certification purposes can be found not only at the state's colleges and universities, but through online classes, books, and DVD courses as well, giving therapists and social workers a trove of possibilities from which to choose.

In the field of social work continuing education credits are often required in order to remain certified. For more information, please visit http://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/social-work-continuing-education.

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Social work can be loosely defined, but is mostly centered around the bettering of society. From there, one of the world's most noble professions can take on any number of forms. It is up to the individual to decide which one is right for him or her. Social work continuing education is important for proper training and education for this career path.

Whether it's through counseling, rehabilitation, advocacy or any number of related roles within the spectrum of the field, students who pursue a career in the discipline often have an idea of the direction they hope to take in their professional life. Choosing the right path heading in that direction may be the difficult part. It is also largely dependent on the course of study the student chooses to pursue going forward.

As an interdisciplinary field, students who pursue such a career study a vast array of subjects, theories and fields to create a well-rounded program that will prepare them for the challenges they will face as a professional. From there, it is up to them to pursue a more focused track that will aid them in their quest to identify what, specifically, they hope to do.

A student who earns a bachelor's degree is considered to be "generally" qualified in the discipline and is typically able to secure entry-level employment. In order to advance into a more specialized, and oftentimes more desirable, career, an individual can become a "specialist" in a specific area or earn a doctorate degree through social work continuing education. Both paths set the student up to be highly successful, effective and qualified in their professional careers.

A master's degree through social work continuing education opens many doors in the field and aids in the process of becoming professionally certified by a state or regional board. It also facilitates entry into a specific career path that allows the individual to utilize his or her skill set as it relates to potential jobs.

A doctorate degree allows the individual to become a teacher or mentor in the field or a highly-qualified researcher. These types of jobs are often those that serve to define the course of study and its spectrum for future generations.

Social work continuing education does not stop even with a doctorate degree, which is typically the highest level of education attainable. As a field that is constantly evolving with the times and through society's own evolution, the need to consistently remain on the cutting edge educationally is paramount to maintaining the highest possible levels of professional qualifications.
Going back to school can be a daunting proposition, but when one considers what is necessary to become highly successful and effective in this endeavor, taking such a step is often the best possible move.

When looking for quality social work continuing education programs, there are a number of resources that can help. Click here for more information: http://www.psychotherapynetworker.org

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This is an era where life is on the side of fast track. People have become intensely business minded, and now merely everything is being measured in terms of money, or monetary value. However, at the same time, we have seen an increase in the intensity of the social work being carried out by various groups, organizations, and individuals. Organizations have started to allocate special funds for the social work in order to make their surroundings better whereas the number of pressure groups has also increased, which do not let any group to indulge into unethical activities, which might harm the humanity directly or indirectly.

Many individuals might think that what benefit they get from working for others by spending their own money, time, and other resources. The answer is simple; they get eternal satisfaction. How do most of you feel when you are living in peace and luxury inside your houses whereas there is plight, and hunger, and war outside? Most of us would say that they are insecure, which is true to some extent. The satisfaction, which you get from helping others, is never ending, and you live your life with no regrets.

Social work helps in creating balance in the society, which leads to equality even in capitalist societies. Welfare services are provided to everyone on equality basis, and the social disputes and pressure are reduced, which often halt businesses for days, as citizens are in continuous clash with the government. Social work helps in providing all the merit goods and necessities to the citizens, which helps in maintaining peace and satisfaction amongst the individuals.

The number of social workers has increased over the last decade. The true spirit of helping others voluntarily has been revived, which has removed the differences among social classes largely. We all know that individuals from various backgrounds and experiences stand together to make their communities better by carrying out various tasks such as teaching underprivileged children, cleaning local parks, providing services at hospitals, and old age centers, etc.

Summing up, the significance of social work cannot be measured in any circumstances. This trend of helping others in your local community is increasing, and now our borders are becoming meaningless as the time is passing. Whether there is a national disaster in one country or another, the whole world unites in the grievance of those who have suffered and tries its best to help them in all possible ways, and there we see the role of social work.

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Medical social work deals with the psychosocial aspect of people's lives. These types of workers work in a hospital, clinic, or a hospice and help patients with different types of medical conditions, and problems.

There are many areas of medical social work. A medical social worker works with patients who have a chronic illness such as cancer, AIDS, or Alzheimer's, and helps them deal with the illness in their daily lives. They can assist them in getting medical help, and at home care, or any medical equipment they may need for survival. In many hospitals, medical social workers are appointed with such patients as soon as they are discharged, so they can be helped.

Medical social workers can also work for grief counseling with patients who have been in a traumatic accident, or have been diagnosed with a debilitating illness. They can help the patient face the problem, and arrange for the required help. A professional may refer the patient to a professional psychiatrist if needed. They also work with the families of such patients to help them adjust to the situation. In many cases, medical social workers also work with patients who have substance abuse problems. They can get these people the help they need and can refer them to counseling and group therapy. In many cases, they are called upon by families to have an intervention with the patient to convince him or her to get treatment.

In some cases, these types of workers are called upon to evaluate a patient who seems to be the victim of abuse. This can be domestic violence, or child abuse. If a doctor or nurse suspects any patient to be suffering from abuse, a medical social worker is called upon who will determine what steps to take from there. Medical social workers also work in hospices, and are responsible for many things. They can help patients with documenting their last wishes and wills, and can assist with DNR (do not resuscitate) orders. They can also help the families of such people prepare for the situation, and help them with the after death paperwork.

In this way, these types of workers have a lot of responsibility, and they work in many different fields. This vast profession has many dimensions, and many people specialize in one or more fields.

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Social work education and training has rarely been under so much scrutiny and the quality of practice learning is now very much in the spotlight.

The current scrutiny of the social work degree has led to an increased interest in the idea of a curriculum for social work practice learning. The GSCC recently called for an agreed National Curriculum for the social work degree, arguing that a National curriculum will improve quality in the degree and will mean that employers can be clearer about what to expect of newly qualified social workers.

Only a small number of Universities actually require practice educators to devise a practice learning curriculum, although most do encourage their use in recognition of the many benefits of a curriculum for practice learning.

In our experience, once they have found a framework, most practice educators are keen to develop a practice learning curriculum. There are various reasons for this:

* The curriculum will give some focus to the placement. It should also structure the learning process (although there will still be flexibility). This is important since placements can seem very short considering the amount of work there is to do.

* The use of a learning curriculum and the regular review process will ensure that nothing is "missed out" or taken over by other issues.

* A learning curriculum is particularly useful in off site practice learning situations. It ensures that the practice educator and on site supervisor are each aware of their own particular role in facilitating the student's learning.

* A learning curriculum is particularly helpful if a practice educator finds themselves working with a failing or marginal student. They will be able to use the curriculum to reflect on whether the student has had sufficient learning opportunities. They can also revisit and amend the curriculum to support the student and supplement any action planning.

* Whilst the production of a learning curriculum is time consuming in itself, in the longer term it saves time.

* The development of a learning curriculum assists in improving placement planning and generally means that the practice educator and team will be better prepared to support the student.

* Curriculum development is in itself a useful learning experience for students and practice educators.

* A well designed curriculum which makes clear links to the National Occupational Standards assists practice educators when they come to completing the final assessment report on the student.

To develop a practice learning curriculum for a social work placement we would suggest that practice educators work through the following process:

Set the learning agenda
Think about:
* What does the student need to learn?
* What will the student be assessed on?

Select appropriate learning opportunities
Bear in mind:
* Any specific University requirements
* What can be provided in the setting
* Any specific learning needs the student has
* Theories of adult learning
* Student preferences about learning opportunities

Plan delivery of the opportunities
Think about:
* Who is best placed to provide the opportunities/support the student in accessing the opportunities?
* When is the best time to provide the opportunities?

Plan for review and evaluation
Ensure there are plans in place to review the effectiveness of the opportunities, to evaluate the curriculum etc. This will involve agreeing:
* Review dates
* Evaluation methods

Make links with assessment
Think about:
* How will the learning curriculum be linked into the assessment process?
* How will the student's learning be assessed?
* What outcomes/evidence might be generated from the learning activities?

What the actual document looks like isn't important. Some Universities provide a set format for practice teachers to use but most don't. There is a huge variety in how a curriculum is recorded and documented and as long as it is accessible to both the practice educator and the student a practice educator has significant freedom in developing their own style.

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Social workers have to renew their licenses and work hard to achieve the highest level of professionalism. It is a tough job and the continuing education courses also help people to connect to other colleagues and learn skills for dealing with burnout.. Social workers can work in many different areas such as case management, medical intervention, psychotherapy, welfare and community organizing. This requires the social work CEUs. CEUs is an abbreviation for continuing education.

Updating one's education is an important part of this field and new trends can be emphasized in social work theory as well as current issues for client treatment. This helps clinicians to stay abreast of developments in the field so they can treat areas such as drug and alcohol addiction with the latest tools and methods. Social workers are often unappreciated but our society relies heavily on them. Removal of children from abusive situations and counseling juvenile delinquents is one of their key roles in our society. We often times forget about their jobs we see a case on television where orphaned children abused or neglected.

Imagine how our society would be if no one was giving counseling to these young people and working to change negative situations to positive ones. One recent statistic is that over forty million people are currently in jail in the United States. Imagine how many more people would be in jail if it wasn't for people getting counseling and perspective that provides alternatives to violence and drug abuse behaviors.

Professional credit hours are a key to developing new ways to handle difficult situations with clients. Course credit hours include case management, community development, relationship education, professional practice modeling and other courses. These are all tools for dealing with those with mental illnesses, difficult childhood backgrounds and challenging situations. Classes are given on weekends and evenings in many towns as well as online towards meeting the CEU requirements. All states have different requirements for maintaining the msw license. In Florida, every two years thirty credits are required. There are usually five specific credits listed and the rest are elective credits. Certain states in the US do not require courses to maintain their license but many are implementing this requirement.

Recently I taught a class on the how to use meditation and yoga for depression and there was a strong interest in this area. You can find a number of interesting courses that will both fulfill the requirements for license renewal as well as help you gain new tools for working with clients.

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UK Social work processes

There are a number of excellent schools for getting your Master's in Social Work (MSW) degree. You may feel that you don't have the grades or credentials to qualify for the top 5 which include Washington University in St. Louis, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of Chicago in Illinois, Columbia University in NYC and University of Washington in Seattle. But there are other schools with top ratings that you may be a good match for.

Here are the some highly ranked social work programs around the United States:
University of California in Berkley - students can earn an MSW or PhD. They also offer dual programs social welfare and public health, social welfare and law degree.
University of Texas, Austin - This school offers a MSSW degree. This is another alternative to the MSW and is recognized as such.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill - offers MSW, dual Master's in law, public administration, public health, and divinity, and a doctorate degree.

University of Southern California, Los Angeles - has MSW and PhD program and a nurse social work options. This is a dual degree for those who want to study health and social work.
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Oh - This degree is a Master's of Science in Social Administration. Students can also participate in several dual degree programs.

Please be aware that you don't have to go to a top ten school to get an excellent job in the field or on the insurance panels. Most employers will focus on your degree and internship as well as enthusiasm. The main thing is to find a program that resonates with your own interests as well as has staff that you can help you have a good learning experience.

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Stop by Social Work Programs and find out about various programs, roles social workers play in society, mental health issues and Scholarships for Single Mothers as well as continuing ed programs.

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Private or public sector, qualified social workers are much in demand and have ample job opportunities whether they have a fresh degree or some experience at hand. It is believed that majority of workers are employed by public sector agencies if the recruitment is done via direct hiring or through a private placement organization. A benefit that qualified social work professionals have while working in the public sector is that, they are able to work in different areas and are able to interact with variety of people likewise.

Today, it does not come as a surprise to see people suffering from health problems, isolation, unemployment and similar issues. Only a qualified, social welfare employee is able to eliminate such negative forces in one's life as they are fully-aware of the limitations that people face with their disabilities, dearth of various facilities and hence are able to pave, one facilitating way or the other to improve their standard of living.

Qualified social welfare employees are also hired by the NHS and are able to work in a proper clinical environment. They are able to assess health administration and monitor the facilities provided to the patient, be it an elderly person, an adult or a child. Thus, the social service employee is has the most appropriate approach toward health management in any environment.

There are multiple private employment agencies that hire qualified human welfare professionals. There are dedicated departments in various social development organizations working for the betterment of fields like education, poverty, physical and mental stability and the like. Getting recruited in such fields is not a challenge for individuals seeking a career in the betterment and well-being of the common man. In fact, job prospects of this degree have been quite popular in the long run. This is why foreign universities have started offering online social work so that individuals are able to secure their professional career.

There is in-house recruitment of such professionals as well. The role of a counselor is usually performed by an individual motivated to improve the standard of living. Counseling can help stimulate one's aspirations to achieve one's goals and live his/her dream.

Conclusively, in the present world there is a demand for social welfare employees, and the job prospects are many, particularly for qualified individuals looking to make a difference. Further, as far as more experts predictions are concerned, this graph is going to increase with the passage of time.

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