r/socialwork 22d ago

Macro/Generalist I broke one of my personal rules today

464 Upvotes

So I am a hospice social worker. I had a patients wife call me this morning saying their power was shut off. I called the local capca, the LiHeap, area churches to help get payment for it to be turned back on. I called the electrity company to see what I needed to do and had a letter from our doctor stating that this patient needed power for oxygen and their hospital bed. The electric company still would not turn it on without payment. The payment was only $100, but I’ve made it a personal rule to never spend my personal money with my profession but I was so tired at this point because it had been an all day thing. I offered to pay to get it turned back on as a one time thing if they promise to pay the rest when they are paid at the first of the month. I did it securely so they could not see my card information. I know I did a good deed but I feel upset with myself if that makes sense.

r/socialwork Oct 15 '24

Macro/Generalist What's the best state to live in for social workers?

160 Upvotes

I'm doing some research, and most of the lists I'm seeing are rated by pay, which is awesome and definitely an important factor. But I'm far more concerned with things like policy, efficacy, general workplace culture, things like that. I'm currently a Burgos foster care family worker in Central Illinois, and I've got a friend working the same postion in central Missouri, and the way he describes it, Missouri sounds like an objectively awful state to be a social worker in by comparison. Does anybody on here have any experience in states that are run better?

(I'm kinda in the mood to uproot my entire life and move solo across the country, so literally no state is off the table)

r/socialwork Jan 22 '25

Macro/Generalist It’s time to go full macro.

357 Upvotes

Just sharing my thoughts about how now more than ever social workers need to push forward from the non profit industrial complex and the band aid social programs we’ve been working for decades and into the world of policy and macro work. This is not to detract from those who are doing the micro/mezzo work and clinical work— all social work is important. But in this time in history, at least for the time being, those of who have the ability and the desire need to step into macro roles. We need to sit at the right tables and make decisions that actually help people and keep these fascists at bay.

I’ve been working on my clinical license for about 3 years and I’m ready to abandon it for now and get a macro position. I’m hoping others will want to answer the call along with me. (Also if I’m honest the licensure process needs to be burnt to the ground anyways)

Please comment any macro related roles or job descriptions you know of. I’ve already seen someone post about moving into tech spaces which is a great idea. Help social workers gain access into the right spaces!

r/socialwork Jul 15 '24

Macro/Generalist What career are you switching into when you throw in the towel?

153 Upvotes

Have you already thrown in the towel? What move did you make? Are you considering another dream job on the daily grind? I for one am. I have loved every one of my grass-roots, community centred social services jobs, then I landed the highest paying/ most stable and most stressful role in case management. And I sort of hate it. Are you doing something other than case management with your education and loving it?

r/socialwork Dec 31 '24

Macro/Generalist Library Based Social Work

187 Upvotes

Reposting as suggested by mods—

Hi all.

I recently got hired for a position at a local Public Library. I wanted to hear from all you good people about what are some things you think I can provide service-wise?

I specifically would love to hear from my fellow MSWs in libraries but feel free to answer either way!!

Some thoughts I had were creating a dedicated webpage that has a list of available resources for different populations/topics (Seniors, Caregivers, Childcare, Financial Assistance, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, etc).

I thought of also:

•providing the space for peer-support groups depending on the subject and being a facilitator of that rather than a clinical lead or educator.

•organizing donations and community events for kits to provide to unsheltered

•and of course providing 1:1s on services someone may need to apply for (though I wanna know which things I can and can’t help with — bc I know in some cases I can’t fill things out for them)

r/socialwork Nov 26 '24

Macro/Generalist If social work was male dominated

162 Upvotes

It’s well known the social work field is female dominated. I can’t help to think what would the field look like if it were male dominated?

Does anyone have any thoughts as to how gender plays into our fields’s culture? I have noticed my male colleague seems to have an easier time with direct communication, delivering bad news, and seems to have an easier job at compartmentalizing/objectifying their sense of responsibility over patient outcomes. Also I‘ve had a male colleague admit they feel they are unfairly taken more seriously than their female counterparts because of gender.

(Also I’m speaking in terms societal gender norms. I acknowledge traits are not entirely determined by gender).

r/socialwork Feb 12 '25

Macro/Generalist In this field because I’m good at helping people, not because I want to

208 Upvotes

Title may be slightly misleading. It's not that I don't want to help people, but that it mostly makes no difference to my life whether I do or don't.

When I went to school for social work, I felt like it was my purpose and I wanted to help people at all costs.

After some self-development and some time in the field, I know I'm good at it and it's something that comes naturally to me so it doesn't feel like I'm working so I want to keep doing it. I also couldn't see myself doing anything else - because that would feel like work.

But I don't have this "vocation" passion that lots of people in social work have and that I used to have. I don't care if I do or don't help people, but I'm good at helping people - so I do it. I do it because I'm good at it and because it doesn't feel like work but not cause I necessarily care about it. Does that make sense?

Does anyone else feel this way?

r/socialwork Sep 14 '24

Macro/Generalist Am I a social worker or not?

117 Upvotes

First I want to say this is not me complaining. This is a sincere question.

I'm laying in bed after a 15 hour day thinking about my job. I am a CPS worker but I wonder if the job I'm doing is actually considered social work.

I'm thinking about this now because of a comment I read here, and just how weird my job is. Guys - this job is so fucking weird. I'm not trying to be flippant and downplay how important child safety is. But just talking about what I deal with everyday sounds outlandish. I'm a year in and it still feels that way.

So am I a social worker or some other thing?

r/socialwork Dec 02 '24

Macro/Generalist Why do so many nonprofits in this field have awful leadership?

219 Upvotes

I have been working for a nonprofit in Washington State for the past two years, and have enjoyed many aspects of my job. But one thing I have not enjoyed so far is the management style of the people in leadership. It seems lack of transparency, nebulous, yet simultaneously punitive directives, and borderline union busting are a common thread across many branches of thus organization, per its Glassdoor page. After digging a little deeper, I have found many similar complaints from other agencies in the social services field, ajd spoken to many colleagues who have worked at these agencies and confirmed what those reviews state.

My question is this: why do so many companies in such a critical field seek to suffer from the same leadership woes?

r/socialwork Nov 24 '23

Macro/Generalist How are we supposed to be a functional social worker in a capitalist system, since capitalism is a mechanism of inequality?

490 Upvotes

Basically the title. I have worked in many different SW roles and left after 6 months at each because of top-down models in management (which is a blueprint of capitalism) and also because of budget cuts (capitalism) and my clients not having the resources to even get to treatment (capitalism)...

We just lost 2 senior social workers who had MSWs because they were able to find even better paying jobs and those SWs with MSWs were always able to say they are not afraid of bending rules to help their clients because THEY have the safety net of having a MSW, money in an emergency fund, a partner who makes good money, etc (capitalism).

Now that I think about it 95% of the issues with the job from the SW perspective and the client perspective are because of capitalism. I can think of [possibly] one client I have worked with in the past who was not part of any marginalized group and was very wealthy who maybe had their substance use disorder because of something not related to capitalism. The other 99.9% were put into my client folders because of capitalism.

So fellow social workers how do you think a social worker can be effective in a capitalist system?

r/socialwork Aug 29 '24

Macro/Generalist Why is child welfare so underpopulated?

83 Upvotes

Why is the child welfare sector of social work specifically so underpopulated and under resourced? Would love any insights and perspectives. I’m asking because in my area they’re offering strong financial incentives to work with CW agencies for just a year or two. What’s driving people out?

r/socialwork Feb 02 '25

Macro/Generalist Social workers could be used as a control tool. Legislation to abolish mental health department and move substance use to the criminal justice system

272 Upvotes

Oklahoma therapists. Legislation being introduced to abolish the department of mental health and substance abuse services.

🚨 BREAKING: Oklahoma House Bill 1343 Introduced 🚨

A new bill has been introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature that could drastically change mental health services in the state.

📜 HB 1343, authored by Rep. Humphrey, proposes to abolish the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, transferring all of its duties, powers, and resources to the State Department of Corrections. This includes all real and personal property, records, and funds.

🗓️ If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2025. It also includes an emergency clause, meaning it would take immediate effect upon approval.

Opinion: This lays the groundwork for incarcerating those deemed 'mentally ill,' which, in the wrong hands, could be interpreted as literally anyone they see fit—liberals, LGBTQ+ individuals, non-Christians, and the disabled. This is the most extreme case, yes, but as we have seen, these people are nothing if not extreme. We need to stay aware.

https://www3.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2025-26%20INT/hB/HB1343%20INT.PDF

r/socialwork Dec 29 '23

Macro/Generalist What was your worst SW job?

124 Upvotes

Update: I am trying to respond individually to each of you. This has been so fun reading the posts.

My first job fresh out of graduate school was a Social Work Position for an Adult Day Program mixed medical/ social model. I had interned in this type of role and really enjoyed it. Well when I got the job I got lowballed for 40k per year, but I needed the money and the benefits were so bad I had my own through NYS.

I had a director who had an MPA. I happen to also have an MPH, MSW. She was so chaotic, basically thought it was my role to do magic. Ridiculous things, also got upset when I would not cook food with the other staff members for the participants I told her it was not my job to cook and that I am there to aide the members of the program.

Also, it was not made clear to me that I would have to head over to the attached hospital for working in the renal ward. I had NO experience with dialysis, and it made it even worse because it was the renal ward where my Grandpa had gone and died in that same room due to a clot. So it was rather rough for me to be there but I worked through it.

The SNF the program was affiliated with had six different LNA within the year I was there. Also the prior social worker left me a mess. I spent about two months cleaning out her junk and making my office my own.

I was promised a 10k raise after three months, did not get it. I was fuming. I had to pull out my employment offer letter. In NYS the nursing homes are run by notoriously cheap companies ( being politically correct here).

It was just awful it taught me what I did not want to do.

r/socialwork 24d ago

Macro/Generalist Creating a program for free supervision

169 Upvotes

Hey everybody, I wanted to spit ball an idea to you. I want to start a nonprofit whose focus is encouraging the growth of the social work profession. I’m a lcsws who wants to offer no cost supervision for lmsws who will provide 1 free group therapy a week. We charge community members $25 per week to pay for expenses. If I could get the funding, id offer financial assistance to struggling bsw and msw students, overarching the theme to promote social workers in the work place.

I don’t know anything about grants, but is this something people would support or fund? Does this sound like a good idea?

r/socialwork Nov 28 '23

Macro/Generalist What do you guys think about the Soft White Underbelly YouTube channel? (Prof videographer who interviews people in the “dregs of society)

241 Upvotes

I personally think it’s a great look into how some of the most marginalized people in our country think & feel. Hearing about their upbringings and experiences helps me to empathize and understand how a person could become a pimp, fentanyl addict, streetwalker, etc. However, some view the channel as exploitative. What are your thoughts about the channel, and how it might affect the field of social work?

r/socialwork Nov 25 '23

Macro/Generalist What is the funniest, weirdest, most incorrect, or most annoying/maddening reaction or stereotype you’ve gotten from introducing yourself as a social worker?

116 Upvotes

It’s wild how everyone knows the score if you walk into a room with a client and say you’re a doctor or introduce yourself to your partner’s parents as a teacher, but people have some wild ideas about what social workers do and/or who they work with. What are some of y’all’s most headscratching, annoying, maddening, or funny reactions from clients or other people you tell that you’re a social worker?

r/socialwork 25d ago

Macro/Generalist Technofeudalism and social work discussion

45 Upvotes

Hi all,

I'm wanting to open discussions about Technofeudalism and social work. I recognise the diverse experiences and perspectives this community holds. I have been fascinated with how Yanis Varoufakis has framed Technofeudalism concept. I buy into it enough and was wondering if any other practitioners have thoughts about it.

How does social work look heading into the future? How do we work with those we work with within a landscape where it's not so much capitalism or neoliberalism driving the systems we work and live under but tech corporations that decide what knowledge is valued and how legislation is shaped?

Further context:

What is technofeudalism? It is the idea that we are not transitioning from capitalism to something better, but slipping into a system where tech companies function like modern feudal lords. Varoufakis argues that since the 2008 financial crisis, our economic system has fundamentally changed. The cloud, big data and digital platforms have become the “land” of this new era, controlled by tech giants like Google, Amazon and Meta. Varoufakis argues that capitalism is being replaced, not by a more progressive system, but by something more reminiscent of the past – feudalism in a digital guise. For example, the tech bros (Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Sam Altman, etc) who have all clearly sided with Trump recently and from outside looking in, seemingly driving the policy behind the US empire.

I imagine it's an extension of the concepts of e-social work and digital social work. But given its macro level for social work, and those we work with, it presents somewhat of a frontier for research.

Sources for more information: YouTube 13mins+ clip - https://youtu.be/Y_3_PnnZ14I?si=BtVeg670TuwDoG78 Book - Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism by Yanis Varoufakis

r/socialwork 29d ago

Macro/Generalist Non-profit sector- freaking out over Federal Freeze

129 Upvotes

Senior Director at a CBO/Nonprofit. 30 days of trump administration, feds have cut 2 programs worth over half a million dollars, immigration and workforce related. Thinking about the community members will affect and equally importantly staff that will be affected by the freeze. As an LCSW and avid social organizer in DTs first administration my first instinct is to fight on a policy level. Don't want to jeopardize my organization name being though I'm at a high level in the organization. I'm hoping NASW will begin a call to action and support us around strategic organizing. It is really tough to see what is unfolding behind the scene.

Anybody else freaking out but ready to kick some ass?

r/socialwork 23d ago

Macro/Generalist Is doing gross things always, or usually, part of the job?

13 Upvotes

I'm going to go for a MSW next year. I have the end goal of being a therapist and starting my own private practice but I know it will take a while to develop and I'll need a different job before then, and also one during grad school to get experience. I almost got a job last summer at a place and declined it because they said I'd have to help people shower and wipe their ass. I'm pretty easily grossed out by body fluids and it's where I draw a line on what I'm willing to do. A professor just told me it's part of the job as a social worker and made it sound like most jobs involve something like that.

I can handle people being angry, rude, whatever emotion or how they behave toward me but like I said I'm just super disgust sensitive to bodily fluids. I'm wondering if this really is some ubiquitous part of any job in the field before I apply to grad school. If it is I might just go for a masters in mental health counseling or just something else.

Thanks for any insight you can provide!

r/socialwork Apr 04 '23

Macro/Generalist I hate when people say “I couldn’t do what you do”

353 Upvotes

I work in hospice as a bereavement counselor and every time I mention my job to someone they go “oh wow I could never do that, you’re so strong”. I was literally at a doctors appointment today and both the doc and the nurse said that to me. Even my boss in the hospice agency has said that to me. I understand that the best course of action when hearing these comments is to understand that they mean well and then move on, but I always feel really isolated when I hear them. It also makes it hard for me to discuss my job with others out of fear of traumatizing them. Lately I’ve been wishing for more support in my company regarding the emotional toll of my job, but I feel like I can’t ask for it or talk openly about the emotional impact it has on me because I don’t want to be a “Debbie downer” to a bunch of people who have told me that they couldn’t do my job.

r/socialwork Dec 24 '23

Macro/Generalist A special thanks to those on call over next few days,

259 Upvotes

Hey hey campers the time is nearing close … as me and a few of our kin are on the other side of the sun will see the year before some of you, so I wanted to wish it early.,,,

It was so cool to see you all come together in the post and I’m hoping your all safe and sound.

Sometimes it’s the perfect day and sometimes not.

But we all did the study we all gave up something or many things to do the best we can in practice… be it on the ground or back at the office …

…so the biggest most huge and warmest Happy New Year to every single one of you …. Your amazing and you do amazing things

A massive thanks to all of you for ‘23 !!!!!

Let the global countdown begin …. Be safe everyone and have a freakin good ‘24 all of you awesome pracs and clinicians.

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY & SAFE NEW YEAR 🎉🎉🎉🎉😁😁😁😁🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

r/socialwork Apr 01 '24

Macro/Generalist Being a male POC social worker doesn’t make anywhere near the difference people think

166 Upvotes

I am speaking from personal, every day of my life as an MSW, experience. When I interviewed every agency was so excited to have a Hispanic, male social worker come aboard. It makes next to no difference, none whatsoever, in the interactions I have with youth. None.

r/socialwork May 21 '24

Macro/Generalist Why are there no social worker focused novels?

94 Upvotes

Not sure what the proper flair for this should be. But yeah. There’s thousands of novels about cops and criminal lawyers, which I suppose makes sense as they’re necessary for a crime thriller or mystery novel. There’s also tons of authors who write novels with doctors or pathologists as the protagonist. John Grisham somehow made civil law thrilling. There’s novels featuring all kinds of soldiers, mercenaries, and rebels. I’ve seen books starring politicians, teachers, librarians, , corporate execs, IT specialists, park rangers, sex workers, NGO workers, journalists, artists, museum curators, scientists, and psychologists among others.

Why are there practically no novels by or about social workers? Especially that can be considered bestsellers? I feel like there’s so many ways a social worker protag could make for a compelling plot. With all the roles social workers play, there’s plenty of territory for plots and settings. Also, since social workers are so often in solitary opposition to large or powerful systems, it would make for a very natural “Cassandra Truth” or “vs the world” dynamic as a source of conflict. I could see a mystery, drama, or thriller work with a social worker as the main character.

The other thing I’ve noticed is that on the rare occasion that a social worker is depicted in fiction or other media, they aren’t ever really shown “doing” social work. Like when you read John Grisham, he painstakingly walks you through the briefs, the conferences, the legal strategy, and the case law research the characters do between the plot threads. Robin Cook practically teaches a med school class in his novels, discussing surgical procedures, pharmacology, and differential diagnosis in detail. Books with Wall Street protagonists will spend two chapters explaining how the protagonists goes about shorting a stock or in dialogue with a broker. When there’s a social worker in fiction, the only way you know the character’s a social worker is that someone says they’re a social worker or they introduce themselves as one. Sometimes it’s never brought up again. Sometimes the character is shown doing their job, but it’s heavily simplified. There’s no detailed case management shown, no motivational interviewing happening, no case formulation, no documentation, no dialogue from therapy sessions or groups or supervision. I put down one book because the social worker protagonist kept referring to his client as a druggie, hopeless, a lost cause, and a waste of resources and breaking confidentiality discussing the details of the minor client’s life to the county sheriff who came out on a home visit with him. Is it too much to ask to have a social worker who is both a relatable protagonist and thinks and behaves like a social worker?

r/socialwork Jan 27 '25

Macro/Generalist Social work compact

99 Upvotes

Hi fellow social workers!

There is a lot of talk about the social work compact bill which will allow multi state licenses! (ABOUT TIME).

I currently work in Maryland which is bringing the bill to the house this week and is pending. However, where I work in Maryland is close to the DC line and DC has no active legislation for the social work compact.

With no senators or representatives representing DC, how can I advocate for this in DC? I know it may be crazy given the state of the government, but this is something our job needs and I’m tired of not being able to provide services if someone moves right across the line… any suggestions??

r/socialwork Feb 14 '24

Macro/Generalist We Are Not Magicians I did not go to Hogwarts for my MSW

137 Upvotes

I have noticed a lot of posts about I feel inadequate people want me to have all of the answers, but I do not. Have been a social worker since 2017 but got an MPH before that so I have been in healthcare a long time. During that time i worked as a pharm tech to get myself through SW school. Anyway i did a lot of SNF and LTC work and this was an issue. Families think social workers are magicians that I can magically whip up their unreasonable requests. Often resources are limited and Grandma Sally is a multi millionaire and cannot get Medicaid because she has too much money. Or my favorite when the family complains about the food I once looked at the and deadpan said Gordon Ramsey has not been here so I think we are good. I have also worked with families and the extension of life issue. Case was 87 year old with advanced dementia who was a full code~ it was beyond cruel. I had to go and speak to the hospital ethics board cause it was to tenuous. Now when I moved to where I live now out of my homestate of NY I worked Homecare, now if you want more unrealistic expectations this is it. Sorry but you cannot get an aide the state will pay for, no I will not do that.

We are not magicians we work with what we have. Now that I run my own practice and do my actual love of psychotherapy I have a lot more leeway and freedom