6 Ways Social Workers Can Make a Lasting Impact

Are you considering becoming a social worker by completing an online LCSW program or other relevant qualifications? It’s definitely a noble calling to assist some of the most vulnerable and needy people in society. Social work is rewarding, challenging, and ultimately fulfilling work because you can tell that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. Not all professions offer this level of fulfilment and satisfaction. If you want to make a difference in society, then social work is the role for you. 

There are several ways that social workers can make a lasting impact in their roles, and in this informative article, we’ll discuss six of them. So, if you’re interested in just how social workers can make a difference in people’s lives and contribute to a better society, continue reading to learn more about this.

1. Advocating for Policy Change

Social workers have a key role to play, alongside politicians, lobbyists, and community initiatives and groups, to advocate for lasting policy and legislation change. They can push for laws that protect vulnerable populations, reduce harm to them, and benefit society as a whole. For instance, social workers might advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, drug testing trials, needle and syringe outreach programs, and better healthcare laws. In collaboration with policymakers, social workers can fight for positive change in the community.

2. Providing Mental Health Support 

Social workers can offer counseling and crisis intervention for those experiencing mental health issues and mental instability. For example, social workers can work with those experiencing a range of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, major mood or personality disorders, or psychotic episodes. 

By undertaking further qualifications in mental health interventions and counseling, a social worker can upskill to work closely with those who need the most mental health support. They can help people navigate these dark periods in their lives and come through the other side to live a full, productive, and healthy life. A social worker might work in an inpatient setting in a psychiatric ward, supporting patients, or in an outpatient capacity, supporting people to reintegrate into their communities following a mental health episode. 

3. Supporting Families and Children 

Social workers can work closely with vulnerable families and children, including working with relevant state government departments and child protection services. They can ensure child welfare, help to support families who have children whose immediate needs aren’t being met, and help parents access critical services and support to help them prevent their children from being taken by the state. In some cases, they might work on the other side of this fence and may need to remove vulnerable children from their families to ensure their safety and well-being. 

Social workers can also support parents to give their baby up for adoption, help vulnerable women access reproductive health services, and work closely with families to promote family stability. They can also work in the family reunification space, helping parents regain custody of their children after a period of kin or state care and supporting families to reconnect after time apart. 

4. Empowering Marginalized Communities

Another role that social workers can achieve is empowering marginalized communities. They can connect people to housing, jobs, and social services. They might work with communities with a high number of immigrants or those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Social workers who speak another language are especially valuable in this setting, as they can closely connect with communities such as Latin American or Jamaican. They might support people to access low or no-interest loans to obtain vital household goods or even launch a micro-business. Social workers can connect vulnerable communities to employment services or other essential services. 

5. Addressing Substance Abuse 

Social workers can work with people who are abusing substances to help individuals recover from addiction and rebuild their lives. They might support people to achieve abstinence, facilitate admission into a substance rehabilitation centre, or help people access 12-step and other peer support recovery groups. Social workers can help people reduce the impact of their substance use, practice harm minimisation and reduction, and link them to relevant support services. They can work with people to set goals for their recovery and help them regain employment and reintegrate into society after a period of substance abuse. 

6. Assisting in Crisis Relief 

Finally, social workers can support communities affected by crises or natural disasters. They can work in the aftermath of a tornado, hurricane, mass shooting, or other humanitarian disaster. They can provide emergency aid and support during disasters, helping communities to access shelter, food relief, essential services, and helping them recover from disasters. Social workers have a large role to play in this setting and are invaluable in the wake of a major disaster. They can also advocate to policymakers for better post-disaster relief, including pushing for social, financial, and other government aid packages to be made available to impacted communities.