5 Types of Social Workers and the Communities They Serve

Social work is a profession built on the belief that every person deserves dignity, support and the opportunity to thrive. Social workers serve as vital bridges between individuals and communities in need and the resources that can help them flourish. In the words of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), "social workers seek to improve the lives of others."¹

There are many pathways within the profession, some requiring specialized focus or training in order to serve particular communities effectively. In our increasingly diverse communities and societies, needs often overlap, so even specialized social workers understand how their work connects to broader social goals.

Ultimately, social workers connect marginalized and vulnerable people to the resources they need to thrive—strengthening both individual lives and community cohesion.² This wide-ranging mission requires diverse expertise, which is why the profession encompasses so many specialized roles.

Social work is often defined in terms of the groups served, the issues addressed or the methods used to find solutions. How many types of social workers are there? The NASW lists 16 types of social work, ranging from advocacy to public welfare.³ The British Association of Social Workers offers a list of six characteristics of social workers, such as "activist" or "intuitive," as an alternative way of looking at the various subcategories and types of social workers.⁴

This post will explore five types of social workers—five distinct paths within the profession—each offering its own way to create meaningful change.

Child and Family Social Workers

Child and family social workers protect children and support families in crisis. They identify resources to address unmet needs, provide intervention when required and safeguard children against neglect or abuse.⁵ These specialists often work in schools or for family agencies or targeted government programs, serving households experiencing financial stress, at-risk youth and foster families.

School Social Workers

While child and family social workers might work in schools, they are fundamentally focused on children’s relationships with their families and wider community. School social workers are more focused on children and young people as students, looking at their emotional, social and academic needs in the context of classroom behavior and learning progress.⁶ Working in close collaboration with teachers, counselors and parents, school social workers serve K-12 students and school systems.

Healthcare Social Workers

Healthcare social workers advocate for patients in hospitals and clinical settings, helping them navigate diagnosis, treatment and recovery. They also assist families with making lifestyle changes or accessing the resources they need to care for a loved one.⁷

Working in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers and other medical facilities, these social workers serve as part of broader healthcare teams, coordinating resources for patient care during and after hospitalization.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Typically employed in mental health clinics or rehabilitation programs, mental health and substance abuse social workers provide counseling, crisis intervention and recovery support to people living with severe mental illness or addiction. They help vulnerable individuals manage essential elements of their lives—such as finances, housing, medical care and ongoing counseling.⁸

Community and Policy Social Workers

Community and policy social workers advocate for change at a broader, more systemic level. They may work to build strong community organizations or foster partnerships between different interests within society. Their focus is on advancing causes such as social justice and equity through policy changes and community action. By addressing root causes rather than immediate needs, these experts work toward long-term solutions that benefit entire populations.

Serving marginalized or underserved populations, community social workers are often attached to nonprofits and advocacy groups or represent community interests within government agencies.

Skills and Traits of Effective Social Workers

Whatever pathway you choose to follow in the profession, you’ll rely on certain essential skills to be effective in your work. A great deal of social work, for example, is based on problem-solving: taking the time to understand complex issues and find the resources required to resolve them.⁹ To do this, you’ll need empathy to connect with clients and enable them to share the problems they face. You’ll also need strong communication skills for engaging with clients and successfully advocating for their needs within systems and institutions.

Further, your work with diverse populations will require cultural competence—the ability to understand why specific individuals or communities may have particular needs or face distinct challenges. You’ll often be called on to navigate emotionally challenging situations. This requires that you adhere to a strong ethical decision-making framework, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity regardless of any pressure to compromise.

Career Outlook and Opportunities

The five types of social workers described in this post are by no means the only roles within the profession. A Master of Social Work degree qualifies you for a wide variety of career options, all of which contribute to strong projected growth in the field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of social workers is projected to grow 6% through between 2024 and 2034—faster than the average for all occupations.¹⁰

From 2022 to 2032, the outlook is even stronger for certain specializations:¹¹

• Healthcare social workers: 9.6% projected growth 
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers: 18.4% projected growth

These projections reflect factors such as an aging population with increased healthcare needs and the continuing impact of the opioid epidemic.

Turn Your Commitment Into Professional Expertise

Whether it's by working directly with at-risk youth, helping families navigate unexpected healthcare crises or driving changes to social policy, social workers play a vital role in strengthening communities.

To be effective in this area of work, however, students need specialized training and supervised experience. The online Master of Social Work program from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University will prepare you for an exceptional career. With over 60 years of leadership in social work education, Wurzweiler has built a reputation for training social workers who navigate complex systems with expertise and ethical clarity.

Our engaging curriculum emphasizes cultural responsiveness, social justice and human transformation—the very competencies that effective social workers rely on daily. The program includes 1,200 hours of supervised practicum experience, ensuring that you're prepared for real-world practice. Through The Heights, Wurzweiler's interactive online platform, you'll practice decision-making in realistic community settings with authentic case scenarios.

If you’re drawn to mental health and substance abuse social work, Wurzweiler offers preparation for Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) credentialing. Interested in healthcare social work with aging populations? Our Gerontology and Palliative Care embedded certification prepares you for this rapidly growing field.

Explore the online MSW program, including course details, admission requirements and tuition information. When you're ready to start a conversation about your future in social work and what Wurzweiler's online MSW can do for you, schedule a call with one of our admissions outreach advisors.