Children`s social workers can follow different levels of certification through NASW. Children`s social workers at the BSW level can apply through NASW to become a Certified Social Worker for Children, Youth and Families (C-CYFSW). This certification requires 20 hours of postgraduate training on biopsychosocial issues, interventions or aspects of working with children and their families, as well as 1,500 hours of paid and supervised work experience upon receipt of a BSW. Working as a daycare worker can sometimes be both rewarding and very heartbreaking. In most cases, for example, you are helping children and families who need help and support. On the other hand, however, you`ll inevitably encounter at least a handful of heartbreaking cases in your career. These are the cases where you may have to remove children from their homes, or worse, the cases where you see children tolerating deplorable and even dangerous life situations. Because of the complexity and emotionally charged nature of their work (necessarily separating families, sometimes permanently, and balancing the sometimes conflicting interests of the child, their parents, and the child welfare court), child welfare social workers may find their daily tasks challenging. Despite these challenges, professionals in the field often find their ability to provide compassionate support to parents while protecting children in need rewarding because of their profound impact on an individual and societal level. Most schools of social work offer a variety of bachelor`s and master`s programs related to child welfare and protection. Take elective courses in child welfare-social work if you are interested in the field. These courses may cover historical perspectives of child protection work, current child protection policies, interventions and treatment modalities, as well as assessment and interview techniques. If you want to pursue a career in social work for child care, you will be working with children and families in need.
Often you will have to deal with children who are in poor living conditions, but you will also work with children with special needs and behavioral problems. The duties of daycare social workers require them to acquire extensive expertise in areas ranging from child development and family dynamics to parenting and trauma assessment. Because they often work with other agencies and organizations, they need a deep understanding of community resources and the ability to work collaboratively. The average annual salary for child, family and school social workers is $52,370, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The typical salary range for professionals in the field is $32,300 to $80,290. Social workers who work for local governments earn an average annual salary of $58,350, while state government employees earn $52,000 and social workers in individual and family services earn $45,360. Among the highest-paid states for this job are the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maryland. Sasha Chelsea McGowan, MSW, who works as a social worker in Contra Costa County, California, advised social work students to take courses that help them understand the populations involved in the child welfare system and how to meet their needs. „I highly recommend that MSW students take an elective course on the history of social work in the United States, as the history of racial and socioeconomic oppression is still strong in many of our poor and marginalized communities,“ she said. „I also recommend taking all child-friendly courses that deal with safety planning, risk assessment and the convoluted justice system. It is essential to have a good basis for assessing risks, defining harms and dangers to children and how to make impartial decisions on highly inflammatory issues.
We hire many people without specific training in childcare if they are able to master these tools. „Addressing systemic racism is essential for social workers, as structural injustices directly affect the health and well-being of families. Issues such as inequalities in the criminal justice system, segregation in residential areas, food insecurity, and educational disparities that disproportionately affect people of color clash with a fundamental ethic of empowering those who are vulnerable and oppressed. Social workers` efforts to combat institutional racism also include recognizing racism in child protection systems and creating more equitable policies and practices. Those who have a degree as daycare workers also develop plans to reunite families when children have been removed from a home. Some professionals work through the juvenile and family courts, develop a rehabilitation plan or act as a child advocate in court proceedings. Other social workers connect families with physiotherapy or occupational therapy services and help coordinate complex care plans for children with serious illnesses or disabilities. Parental control specialists can expect a starting salary of around $35,000, with salaries for experienced employees amounting to more than $60,000.