Pathways for 2002 Graduates

By Ella Harris, ACSW, Standard Compliance Specialist, NY State Office of Mental Health, Chapter Board member
(April 2002)

As MSW students, you were responsible for meeting deadlines for class papers, doing process recordings, participating in individual and peer group supervision where you received support and at the same time were challenged to develop your understanding of social work concepts and theories. Supervision also provided an opportunity to examine your interventions, and to develop a sense of self-awareness.

Given your successful completion of your training, you may feel well prepared for entering the professional world of social work. However, the transition from student to MSW entails significant changes. It is key to successfully managing this transition that one be aware of the challenges ahead.

As new MSWs enter the workplace, the expectations of them and demands on them are much greater. As students, you worked with a small number of cases and received a required number of supervisory hours. In contrast, MSWs are often expected to juggle large caseloads and work with complex problems and situations.

There may be limited supervision provided. Compounding the lack of guidance, new MSWs may also find that they are the only social worker in their department. This can promote feelings of isolation and result in feeling unsure about who they can turn to for help when faced with difficult situations.

Social work practice is being shaped by social trends such as budget cuts, welfare reform, unemployment, war, school issues, housing, lack of medical services for the uninsured, and the overall practice of preserving cost containment with health care services. For social workers, this means having to do more with less. This can frustrate and demoralize even the most seasoned social worker.

New MSWs will be challenged because of the lack of resources in the service systems in which they work. Some of these resource limitations have to do with basic needs or necessities, like poverty, limited funding for program development, working in organizations in which the mission is unclear, working in settings where other staff lack an understanding or appreciation of the social worker role.

A less tangible issue is lack of respect in the work place. It is important to work in an environment with appropriate workspace. An office that affords some privacy and is adequately maintained is important for you to practice with dignity and respect for yourself and your clients. Within this context, it is key that social workers develop their ability to advocate not only for their clients but also for themselves.

New graduates: You have the masterful skills to provide community outreach, social presentation and leadership on behalf of your clients. Your challenges as social workers should not preclude your development of self-care pathways, from attending to your emotional and physical health, personal and professional growth and allowing your voice to be heard.

Here are some in the box and out of the box survival pathways tips for self-care

• Be aware of providing practices you may regret;
• Hold to NASW'S Social Work Codes of Ethics: If you do not have a copy call NASW NYC Chapter for a copy;
• Do not compromise social work code of ethics, but hold it as a guide for social work practice;
• Be aware of an extensive assigned caseload; be aware what regulations and laws governor your area of assignment;
• It is highly advisable that you receive supervision from a certified social worker within your agency;
• Establish continuing education goals;
• Become an expert in a specific area of practice;
• Know what values and commitment the agency practices to support social workers in their work to provide quality social service;
• Practice consistent legal documentation practice;
• Develop positive work relationships with coworkers and administration;
• Learn about your stress related symptoms, and develop practicable plans to take care of yourself; practice what you offer your clients;
• Obtain information from your supervisor and peers as to whether the agency has a supportive plan to help social workers to reduce burnout;
• Demonstrate your convictions about your profession by providing the highest quality of services, and simultaneously being aware of systems to help you do the job;
• Increase your networking circles across different agencies and throughout the country.
• Take your lunch break, plan fun and take vacations with family and friends.

Be creative and innovative masters of your survival pathways, and know that working together, we will make a difference. Enjoy your future social work endeavors.

Don't be alone. JOIN NASW!