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Kimberly Newell
Mrs. DeBock
English 4 Honors
12 November 2015
Social Work
Social work is a much needed but not undesired job worldwide. Social workers face
several challenges such as separating children from their families even though the child is safer
afterwards. Social workers need a strong moral compass and to know that however hard the job
may be it changes lives for the better in the end. To become a social worker there are several
requirements needed in this career. Social workers have a slightly broad job field for example
their career could pertain to sexual assault, help after natural disasters, or social work in schools.
Social work is a stressful job with many challenges, however it is a needed career worldwide.
The requirements needed to be a social worker range depending on which specific career.
Although a bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement needed, many social worker jobs
require two additional years of school, earning their masters. Certification is needed, people
interested in this field must receive a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited
social work degree (Darnell). Social workers not only endure years of schooling but must also
undergo the hardships that come with the job. The job has several downsides like the heartache
of separating families or hearing the horror stories of victims pasts. Social workers are needed
more now today than ever before however due to the high stress job not many are willing to join
this career. This career is needed not only in the united states, but worldwide because these issues

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are affecting people on a global scale. In Israel, social work has achieved a considerable
professional position granting it a marked influence on the construction of various dimensions of
social workers practice (Levin and Weiss-Gal). Social work is a well accredited profession
around the world due to the challenges the worker's face and the tolerance of how many tragic
stories a person can handle.
Social workers endure plenty of issues and heartache in their career. Countless kids
worldwide suffer from abuse and are too weak, scared, or young to stop it. It is a social worker's
job to save children from their abusers and give them an opportunity for a better life. Some cases
involve forced separation of families, however it is a necessary evil to ensure a childs safety
(Alon, Band-Winterstein, Tova, and Goldblatt). Social work in school is different than social
work in general yet these workers still face several hard decisions and challenges in their career.
Social workers are at schools to protect the rights of children and act as a security blanket to
shelter and care for the kids in the school (Fram). Many children need an adult figure to confide
in and feel safe, it is a social worker's job to provide that stability in the child's life.
In the broad range of careers in this field, sexual abuse workers have one of the most
difficult and horrific jobs. Sadly sexual assault is a common monstrosity in the world and affects
the lives of thousands. This is a tragic topic that social workers aim to stop. In the Western Cape
of South Africa social workers help console the victims that suffered that heartache. South
African child sexual abuse workers active in low-income communities bear witness to stories of
abuse and neglect, pervasive poverty, violence, hunger, and deprivation (Capri, Lou-Marie,
Kruger, and Tomlinson). These unfortunate children faced not only the sexual assault, but the
horrors and issues that they will have to bear for the rest of their lives. Sexual assault can cause

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mental illnesses, stress, depression, and in extreme cases suicide (McKelvie). Social work is a
difficult career especially pertaining to sexual assault.
Although this profession tears plenty of families apart, it can also bring people and
communities together. On May 12, 2008 China suffered a 5.12 earthquake that caused
monumental damage. After the earthquake the town was in ruins and people were in panic.
Social workers stepped up to pick up the pieces and console the people of the town (Huang, Fu,
Wong). Most social workers receive a negative connotation with the job due to the fact in many
cases the workers forcibly separate families, however that does not happen in all cases. Some
social workers bring groups of people together and act as a safety blanket (Fram). Due to the
struggles social workers face and difficulty to get into the career not many are willing to join the
profession. Social work is an undesired job but incredibly needed throughout the world.
Social workers endure a monumental amount of heartache in their career however it is for
the better. All the challenges and issues these incredible people face help better the community or
individual people in the end. Although this high stress profession is desperately needed
throughout the world not many people are willing to make it their career. This career has a broad
range of individual jobs for example the career could pertain to sexual assault, help after natural
disasters, or social work in schools. Social workers require skills and compassion for the victims
in need. Social work is a difficult profession but is needed worldwide.

Works Cited

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Alon, Sara, Band-Winterstein, Tova, and Hadass Goldblatt. "Giving Voice To 'Age At The Edge'
- A Challenge For Social Workers Intervening With Elder Abuse And Neglect."Journal
Of Family Violence 29.7 (2014): 797-807. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Oct.
2015.
Capri, Charlotte, Lou-Marie, Kruger, and Mark, Tomlinson. "Child Sexual Abuse Workers'
Emotional Experiences Of Working Therapeutically In The Western Cape, South
Africa." Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal 30.5 (2013): 365-382. Education Full
Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
Darnell, Julie S.1. "Navigators And Assisters: Two Case Management Roles For Social Workers
In The Affordable Care Act." Health & Social Work 38.2 (2013): 123-126.Education
Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
Fram, Maryah. "Roles For Schools And School Social Workers In Improving Child Food
Security." Children & Schools 36.4 (2014): 231-239.Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson).
Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
Huang, Yunong, Yao Fu, and Hung Wong. "Challenges Of Social Workers' Involvement In The
Recovery Of The 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake In China." International Journal Of Social
Welfare 23.2 (2014): 139-149. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
Levin, Lia, and Idit Weiss-Gal. "Are Social Workers Required To Engage In Participatory
Practices? An Analysis Of Job Descriptions." Health & Social Care In The
Community17.2 (2009): 194-201. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.

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McKelvie, Stuart J. "Effects Of Offender Remorse On Sentencing And Parole
Recommendations For Sexual Assault In A Mock Crime Scenario." Psychology Journal
10.1 (2013): 2. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.