Careers in Social Work | Grace Abbott School of Social Work

Advocacy and Policy | Education | Health and Medical | Legal | Mental Health | Specific Populations | Substance Use

Explore the many career paths available with a degree in social work—from clinical practice and mental health counseling to school social work, nonprofit leadership, healthcare, advocacy, and community outreach.

Hand holding a pencil and writing in a notebook. — Advocacy and Policy Careers

Social workers integrate the systems perspective into policy work and have a sole focus on how policies impact vulnerable individuals in our society. It is like being a lobbyist for the people who need it the most, working with colleagues from law, business, economics, public health, and more.

Advocacy Group Worker

Author

Community Organizer

Director of Social Services

Grant Writer

Lobbyist

Nonprofit Administrator

Policey Issue Think Tanks

Policy Advisor

Policy Analyst

Politician

Program Evaluator

Social Policy Researcher

**Want to know more about these careers?**

Faculty expert: Yiwei Zhang, PhD, Assistant Professor

Empty classroom with desks and a chalkboard. — Education Careers

School Social Workers create supportive, inclusive, and effective learning environments for students, families, and schools. They help students cope during times of crisis, access mental health services, build resilience, and develop the personal and social skills they need to thrive. Through collaboration with educators, administrators, and community organizations, they promote prevention programs and policies that address key issues like attendance, mental health, school safety, and more.

Mental Health Liaison

Professor

School Behavioral Interventionist

School Social Worker

Student Support Specialist

**Want to know more about these careers?**

Faculty expert: Michelle Manning, LICSW, LISW

Stethoscope next to a heart sticker. — Health and Medical Careers

Meaningful careers can be found in hospital settings, hospice, or community-based health programs. Social workers contribute to the medical field by ensuring patients' basic needs (socialdeterminatess of health) are met so that they can focus on their health and wellbeing. Social workers connect client to resources, provide an empathetic listening ear, and advocate for a holistic approach to healthcare for all patients.

Child Life Specialist

Dialysis Social Worker

Emergency Room Social Worker

End of Life Social Worker

Hospice & Palliative Care Worker

Integrated Health Worker

Medical Social Worker

Pediatric Social Worker

Prevention Specialist

Public Health Social Worker

**Want to know more about these careers?**

Faculty expert: Christina Chesters, MSW, LCSW, Adjunct Instructor

Laptop sitting on a desk with a mini scale and a gavel. — Legal Careers

Social workers contribute by contextualizing cases with insight into human behavior, family systems, and community supports. They help ensure that vulnerable individuals are treated fairly, bringing a person-centered perspective into systems often dominated by rules and procedures. Social Workers advocate for the person in their environment and even within the structure of the courts remind the system that this is about people, not just protocols.

Correctional Case Worker

Court Liaison

Day Reporting Staff

Law Firm Social Worker

Parole Officer

Probation Officer

Re-Entry Specialist

**Want to know more about these careers?**

Faculty expert: Dr. Heidi Adams Rueda, Associate Professor

Five wooden blocks each with a different emotion painted on it. — Mental Health Careers

The mental health field within social work is focused on providing therapy and support to a wide variety of people, from children to older adults, in diverse settings. Social workers help clients navigate challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and life stressors by offering evidence-based interventions and compassionate care. This career area is deeply relational and holistic, aiming to promote healing, resilience, and empowerment while considering the broader social and systemic factors that influence mental well-being.

Behavioral Health Specialist

Clinical Supervisor

Community Mental Health Social Worker

Community Outreach Worker

Eating Disorder Specialist

Family Therapist

Grief Therapist

Group Facilitator

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Program Coordinator

Psychiatric Social Worker

**Want to know more about these careers?**

Faculty expert: Anvar Vakkayil, PhD, Associate Professor

Four images, one of sports equipment, one military boots and uniform, one natural disaster, and one of paper dolls. — Specific Populations Careers

BSW social workers assist specific populations by working for programs and organizations that serve these populations. BSW social workers provide guidance, advocacy, develop care plans, and connect individuals with resources. They advocate for the needs of a population, providing expertise and resources specific for the population.

Adoption Specialist

Behavioral Health Tech

Child Welfare Specialist

Child/Adult Protection Social Worker

Disability Services Worker

Disaster Relief Worker

Expert Witness

Forensic Social Worker

Gerontology Case Worker

Homeless Outreach Coordinator

Military Social Worker

Sports Social Worker

Tribal Social Worker

**Want to know more about these careers?**

Faculty expert: Lequisha Turner, PhD, LP, LCSW, Assistant Professor

Fist pushing over wooden blocks. — Substance Use Careers

Social work skills are effective in addiction treatment given our person-in-environment perspective. People with addictions need to make a complete lifestyle change and social workers are well-equipped to support that multi-faceted change.

Addiction Therapist

Crisis Therapist

Dual Diagnosis Therapist

Substance Use Evaluator

Treatment Social Worker

**Want to know more about these careers?**

Faculty expert: Kersten Borer, MSW, LIMHP, CMSW, LADC, Instructor

Looking for more information on a social work career?

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) offers resources, career insights, and information about the growing impact of social workers across industries and communities. Learn more by visiting the NASW Homepage.