Should I Consider Becoming a Social Worker in Massachusetts?

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Having a well striated population of individuals who are in need of social service; this state would be fertile ground for social work in many areas. According to United States Census Bureau, some of the population numbers of particular age groups are well represented when contemplating the marketability of social work in Massachusetts professionals.

The entire population of Massachusetts estimated in 2013 was over 6.5 million. Listed below is a cluster of individuals and the percentage of the population pie, of which they each represent a slice, who may at any time benefit from social services.

•Total Population: (2013 estimate) – 6,692,824
•Veterans: (2008-2012) – 400,874
•Persons 65 years and over, percent (2012) – 14.4%
•Persons under 18 years, percent (2012) – 21.1%
•Persons under 5 years, percent (2012) – 5.5%

Tallied together, these four groups of people represent 57.6% of the population of Massachusetts. Knowing these calculations, one can only surmise that social work in Massachusetts would be a lucrative prospect when it comes to career seeking.

Veterans

Oftentimes, veterans come home from combat duties, only to be displaced, possibly divorced or totally disabled. Social workers in these areas are necessary for guidance in understanding the complicated military procedures of application for benefits. Psychotherapists are needed for intrinsic psychological evaluations and rehabilitation for these wounded veterans. There may also be a need for counseling of children and spouses of wounded warriors since some of them return different people than the person who left. The demand for assistance in re-establishing credit and financial matters may also be strong in these areas.

Baby Boomers

The senior citizen population is on the rise everywhere in this country. There is a steep increase in these individuals seeking help with partners who have the beginnings of dementia, Alzheimer’s, or physical defects that change the dynamics of normal living. Assisted living facilities often offer social worker services to residents who require extra care or information for benefits that may be available for their own particular problems. Activity directors, home health professionals and other types of social entities are on call for the elderly in countless capacities.

Teenagers

With crime on the rise, especially in youthful venues, we see a more incredible need for counseling in this age group than ever before. Teens today are being subjected to violent school events, violence in social media, and violence in the home. This type of behavior only perpetuates more of the same and with good juvenile counselors there may be a way to get in front of the behavior with some of these youths if the timing is right. There are social workers in Massachusetts that set precedence in the juvenile re-entry programs, so youths that are incarcerated or fostered might be able to return to a normal environment with a new attitude and different goals.

Newborns

Babies born to unwed mothers or homeless mothers will definitely require a different value of care. Healthcare social workers may go into the homes for teaching or even visit the homeless for relating information that will help re-establish some since of order to the lives of those on the street. In order to help the victim, the resources must be made available through the process of communications. There are also social workers in this field that may help with adoption process and help mothers make difficult decisions about what is good for the baby.

Social work in Massachusetts should be tailored to the population and its particular problems. There are 60-80 jobs a day posted on sites like Indeed.com for social workers and all related specialties. Crisis stabilization, case management in many areas, outreach coordinators and countless other opportunities abound.