Students are to review chapter 5 and gain some degree of understanding of the role of the human services worker as it pertains to working with children and families. As part of this exercise, each student must conduct and interview with a social worker (BSW, MSW or PhD) that currently works in child and family services, preferably Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Department of Mental and Behavioral Health (DHDBB). Due to confidentiality, no names of the social workers in which you interview are to be provided as part of this class exercise. Due to COVID-19 protocols, this interview should last 20 to 30 minutes and can be conducted by phone, zoom, or in person. As part of this career exploration exercise, the following questions should serve as a guide to your interview with the social worker as part of the class assignment. Feel free to add or change the following questions.
What is your title as a social worker?
How long have you been a social worker?
As a social worker, what role do you play the life of children and families?
What type of training have you received to be effective on your job?
What are the direct services that you provide to children and families and how does these services foster positive outcomes to children and families?
What are the pros and cons of your job and how do you address the pros and cons of your work with children and families?
What is the primary role of a social worker in your work setting and do you find your work overwhelming at times? If so, what do you do to manage stress and burnout.
As a social worker, how do you know that your work effects change in children and families.
What advice to you have for an entry level social worker about working in the current employment setting.
Is there anything else you might want to tell me about social work that I didn’t ask
