Occupation · SOC 21-1021
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
Median wage
$58,570
$40,580–$94,030
Projected growth
+3.4%
Average growth
Annual openings
1,340
per year
Employed (US)
382,960
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
501 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionService OrientationJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem Solving
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceTherapy and CounselingPsychologyEnglish LanguageAdministrative
Technology & tools
Computer based training softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Maintain case history records and prepare reports.Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts to help children who face problems, such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty.Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements.Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems, such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.Refer clients to community resources for services, such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply.Collect supplementary information needed to assist client, such as employment records, medical records, or school reports.Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues including mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, child care, or medical care.Provide, find, or arrange for support services, such as child care, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, or parenting classes to prevent more serious problems from developing.Place children in foster or adoptive homes, institutions, or medical treatment centers.Recommend temporary foster care and advise foster or adoptive parents.Counsel students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical impairment indicate a need for assistance, diagnosing students' problems and arranging for needed services.Evaluate personal characteristics and home conditions of foster home or adoption applicants.Conduct social research.Supervise other social workers.Lead group counseling sessions that provide support in such areas as grief, stress, or chemical dependency.Serve on policy-making committees, assist in community development, and assist client groups by lobbying for solutions to problems.Determine clients' eligibility for financial assistance.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Case history records — compile and maintain under supervisor guidance using office suite and word processing software in a community services agency.Client intake interviews — conduct structured individual assessments following established protocols to identify presenting needs in a supervised field placement.Service referral networks — identify relevant agencies, schools, clinics, and courts by reviewing resource directories under direct supervision.Service plans — assist in drafting initial client service plans using agency templates in consultation with an assigned supervisor.Legal documentation — gather and organize case materials related to child abuse or custody matters under the direction of a licensed social worker.Parent communication — participate in structured meetings with parents to document child-rearing concerns as directed by a supervising clinician.School-based problem identification — observe and record behavioral and attendance data for referred students using agency database software.Referral coordination — schedule medical, psychiatric, or diagnostic evaluations for clients by following established referral procedures.Active listening skills — apply foundational techniques during client interactions to demonstrate empathy and build initial rapport in a supervised setting.Report writing — prepare draft case notes and summary reports using prescribed formats for supervisor review in a social services office.
developing
Case records — maintain accurate and timely case history documentation with minimal oversight using database and word processing tools in a family services agency.Multi-context client assessments — conduct interviews with individuals, families, and groups to evaluate situations, capabilities, and needs with routine supervision.Interagency liaison activities — coordinate communication between schools, courts, protective services, and healthcare providers to support children experiencing disabilities, abuse, or poverty.Service plan reviews — develop, update, and monitor client service plans in consultation with clients and track service quality through structured follow-up contacts.Court preparation support — compile case evidence and assist licensed practitioners in preparing testimony related to child abuse, discipline, or custody proceedings.Parental guidance sessions — conduct structured counseling interviews with parents experiencing child-rearing difficulties to assess family dynamics and recommend next steps.School consultation — collaborate with teachers and school administrators to analyze causes of truancy or behavioral problems and co-develop practical intervention strategies.Diagnostic referral management — identify the need for and arrange medical or psychiatric testing to clarify client challenges and support treatment planning.Caseload time management — prioritize competing client obligations and administrative deadlines using calendar and electronic mail tools in a high-volume social services environment.Data system utilization — query and update client records in agency database platforms to monitor service delivery progress and generate routine status reports.
proficient
Complex case documentation — independently design and maintain comprehensive case histories that satisfy legal, clinical, and agency standards across a full caseload.Holistic client assessments — lead in-depth interviews with diverse individuals, families, and groups to synthesize multi-dimensional needs and formulate evidence-based service recommendations.Cross-system coordination — serve as the primary liaison among schools, courts, child guidance clinics, protective services, and medical providers to resolve complex child and family challenges.Individualized service planning — autonomously develop, implement, and evaluate tailored service plans for clients with multifaceted needs, adjusting strategies based on outcome data.Legal proceedings participation — provide expert testimony and professional consultation in custody, abuse, and child discipline hearings, interpreting case evidence for judicial and administrative bodies.Family counseling — independently facilitate parent and family counseling sessions to address entrenched child-rearing concerns and determine the need for escalated intervention.School system problem-solving — lead consultative processes with school personnel to diagnose systemic causes of truancy and misconduct and design sustainable, school-wide solutions.Comprehensive referral orchestration — evaluate clinical indicators and arrange appropriate medical, psychiatric, and psychological testing, interpreting results to guide interdisciplinary treatment planning.Critical judgment in crisis situations — apply advanced problem sensitivity and deductive reasoning to identify and respond to child safety risks within complex family and community environments.Persuasion and negotiation — advocate effectively on behalf of clients with resistant stakeholders — including courts, schools, and service agencies — to secure needed resources and protections.
advanced
Agency case record standards — establish and enforce documentation policies and quality-assurance protocols that ensure legal compliance and clinical integrity across the entire organization.Assessment framework development — design evidence-based intake and needs-assessment tools adopted agency-wide to improve the consistency and accuracy of client evaluations.Interagency partnership leadership — build and sustain formal collaboration agreements between child welfare agencies, judicial systems, schools, and healthcare networks to address community-level service gaps.Service delivery systems design — lead organizational planning to create, evaluate, and continuously improve service delivery models that achieve measurable outcomes for children and families.Policy and legal advocacy — represent the organization in legislative, regulatory, and judicial arenas, shaping child welfare and family law policy through expert testimony and stakeholder engagement.Staff mentorship and clinical supervision — provide advanced clinical supervision, professional development, and performance coaching to emerging and developing social workers across program units.Organizational consultation strategy — direct school district and community partnerships, guiding systemic responses to truancy, behavioral health crises, and educational inequity at a population level.Interdisciplinary diagnostic protocols — lead the design of interdisciplinary referral and diagnostic processes — integrating medical, psychiatric, and social findings — to drive comprehensive client care.Workforce competency frameworks — develop and implement training curricula and competency standards that elevate ethical practice, cultural responsiveness, and critical decision-making across the social work team.Organizational technology strategy — oversee the selection, implementation, and optimization of case management database, medical software, and presentation platforms to enhance service delivery and reporting capabilities.
Also known as
124 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Social WorkerAdoption CoordinatorChild Welfare WorkerFamily Protection SpecialistFamily Intervention SpecialistSocial Work (Army 73A)Child Protection SpecialistReligious Affairs (Air Force 5R0X1)Juvenile CounselorAdoption CounselorParent EducatorChild Protective InvestigatorChaplain Specialist (Navy 3725)Youth AdvocateMental Health Service Journeyman (Air Force 4C051)School TherapistChildren's CounselorMental Health Service Manager (Air Force 4C000)Substance Abuse Control Specialist (Marine Corps 0149)Military and Family Readiness Non-Commissioned Officer (RNCO) (Air Force 8C000)Caseworker, Child WelfareChild AdvocateDrug and Alcohol Counselor (Navy 003380)Clinical Social Worker (Air Force 42SX)Social Group WorkerFoster Care WorkerClinical Social Worker (Navy 0868)Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselor (Navy 810C)Case WorkerCommunity-Relations-And-Services Advisor, Public HousingClinical Social Worker (Air Force 42S3)Clinical Psychologist (Navy 0851)Chaplain (Air Force 52R3)Chaplain (Air Force 52R1)Correctional Counselor (Navy 810A)Community WorkerSchool Social WorkerFamily Services Center Director (Navy 3525)Child Care CounselorSupervisory Chaplain (Navy 3730)