Where Do Social Workers Work?

Social work has evolved significantly since its early roots in charity and community service.¹ Today, social workers are trained professionals who study human development and behavior–and the social, economic, and cultural forces that shape them––to address a community’s basic and complex needs.²

As the world's needs grow, so does the call for social workers to help improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities in diverse settings. Social workers provide direct services to support families and strengthen communities in settings ranging from healthcare facilities and mental health clinics to schools and child welfare agencies.

They work in public welfare offices, local government agencies, private practices, and outpatient facilities, addressing complex social issues through evidence-based practice. Some conduct research projects to advance the field, while others work one-on-one with clients to provide counseling services and connect them to community resources.

Today's social workers are expanding beyond these traditional roles, finding innovative ways to create positive change in emerging and unexpected settings. If you’re considering a Master of Social Work (MSW) and are curious about where social workers work beyond traditional settings, look no further. This comprehensive guide will help you explore your options.

Navigating the emotional, financial, and social challenges of a diagnosis or illness can be difficult, especially for at-risk patients and their families. Healthcare social workers can help.

Medical social workers typically help clients handle insurance issues, coordinate health care, and manage the discharge process. For terminally ill patients, they may facilitate transitions to hospice centers and coordinate end-of-life care. In mental health facilities, social workers provide counseling services and crisis intervention.³ As part of interdisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals, medical social workers serve as advocates, educators, and liaisons—guiding patients through the healthcare system and ensuring equitable, patient-centered care.³

Many children and adults struggle with social and emotional challenges that hinder their learning.⁴ School social workers help students overcome social and emotional challenges that affect their learning. Factors like poverty, homelessness, and bullying can impact academic performance and student well-being.^5,6

Social workers who opt to work in education help bridge the gap between home and school to meet students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and help them thrive in the classroom. They design and implement programs, provide mental health intervention, conduct crisis management, or connect students to specialized resources and support.⁷

While nearly half of all public schools employ at least one full- or part-time social worker, some school social workers choose to work in higher education.⁸ In colleges and universities, social workers support diverse student populations and provide special education services for students with disabilities. Working alongside teachers, administrators, and families, a school social worker helps remove barriers to academic success.⁹

Social workers focused on systemic change often work in community centers, nonprofits, or government agencies like Health and Human Services (HHS).¹⁰ These professionals aim to create lasting social change through social, economic, and environmental reform to improve community life for underserved populations.

Social workers in state and federal government settings support communities through large-scale social programs and influence policy changes that benefit their clients.¹¹ Those working with local governments or nonprofits, including child welfare agencies and community centers, often focus on a specific community issue, like homelessness or mental illness, and provide services, resources, and interventions to address their clients' particular needs.

Today's workforce prioritizes flexibility, inclusion, and mental health support in their career decisions. As a result, more corporations are hiring social workers to enhance their social impact, strengthen their reputation with job seekers, and improve their organizational culture.¹³

From human resources to corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate social workers have unique opportunities to influence an organization's social accountability, hiring practices, and policies to improve employee well-being and community impact.

Social workers in correctional facilities advocate for inmates and support their transition back to community life.¹⁴ In addition to advocating for inmate rights, these social workers provide mental health counseling, advocate for inmate rights, and prepare clients for reintegration while working to reduce recidivism.^{14, 15}

Substance abuse social workers can use their specialized expertise to provide important support for inmates transitioning back into society.

In juvenile justice settings, social workers facilitate rehabilitation programs, advocate for systemic change, and recommend alternatives to keep vulnerable children out of the adult criminal justice system.

Social workers have served the military, veterans, and their families since the early 20th century.¹⁶ Active-duty service members and veterans face unique challenges from their service in combat–from managing mental health and substance disorders to transitioning back to civilian life–and social workers help military clients manage these challenges, providing specialized support during and after active duty.¹⁶

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employs more social workers with advanced degrees than any other organization.16 Outside of the VA, military social workers and family social workers may also serve veterans and their families through private practice, veterans service organizations and agencies, or direct service in the armed forces.¹⁷

Regardless of the setting, social workers support families of active-duty military and veterans with various services, including crisis intervention, mental health services, benefits assistance, and long-term case management.

As global needs evolve, so do social work practice settings. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth and virtual counseling, particularly in mental health services.¹⁸ Through telehealth, clinical social workers expand their reach to remote populations while maintaining care continuity.¹⁹

Other emerging practice fields include disaster response, climate resilience, and specialized gerontological social work. Social workers increasingly respond to natural disasters and large-scale emergencies, supporting affected community members through crisis intervention and resource coordination. Environmental social workers advocate for healthy environments and address climate change's impacts on marginalized populations.^{20, 21} Meanwhile, gerontological social workers are developing innovative programs for older adults, particularly in senior centers and community-based programs that promote healthy aging and social connection.

These diverse work environments represent just some of the settings where a master's degree in social work can help you create positive change. Today's social workers have unprecedented opportunities to provide services across healthcare teams, support families and those with mental illness, raise awareness of social issues, and conduct research that shapes policy and practice.

Whether you're interested in direct services in traditional settings like mental health clinics and child welfare agencies or drawn to emerging roles in corporate social work, environmental justice or international social work, the field offers numerous paths to create lasting impact.

If you're ready to advance your career in social work, an online Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work can prepare you for success working with diverse populations across different practice settings. The CSWE-accredited program emphasizes evidence-based practice and provides the foundation for working with vulnerable children, older adults, and other populations in need of support. Learn more about the application process and schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor today to explore how a Wurzweiler MSW can help you achieve your professional goals and make a meaningful difference in your community.