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Careers in Social Work
Public Policy
Social workers in public policy can work in local, state, or federal
government and in the non-profit and private sectors, for example:
- Social service agencies
- Public policy “:think tanks”:
- Advocacy organizations
- Research Organizations
- Foundations
- Legislative bodies such as committees, offices of elected officials
(TIP: “:Hot Spots”: are state capitals and states with
progressive social welfare policies)
Social workers in public policy should possess excellent written and
verbal communications skills. In addition, most policy positions
require:
- Knowledge of and exposure to the legislative process
- Problem solving and analytical skills
- Political savvy, ability to think on your feet, and tenacity
- Computer skills
- Ability to connect the past (history) with the present
- Research/quantitative skills
Social workers can gain valuable experience in public policy by:
- Volunteering or completing a field assignment in public policy
organizations
- Joining and being active in an organization such as NASW or Bertha
Capen Reynolds Society
- Working as a legislative aide
- Reading (newspapers) voraciously and asking the right questions of
the right people
- Speaking with clients from all walks of life (they’ve
been there and done that)
In addition to utilizing traditional job search techniques to prepare
for a career in public policy, social workers should also:
- Be up-to-date on policy issues
- Have a working knowledge of the legislative process on both the
federal and state level
- Network extensively with those already established in the profession
- Complete a post-graduate degree training program such as: Coro
Fellows Program in Public Affairs, Presidential Management Intern Program,
or the Social Work Congressional Fellows Program
- Work first in direct services in your area of interest (TIP: Nothing
like doing it to know how to do it!)
- Study the history of social welfare policy in depth; read the works
of social work pioneers (TIP: never stop learning!)
- Find mentors and absorb all you can
- Search for employment via state agency web pages, legislature web
pages, state federal government web pages
prepared by the Core Group of the Career Development Directors in
Social Work Education, 7/99 |
