Pursuing a career in social work can be extremely rewarding for those looking to effect positive change within communities. Pacific Oaks College offers two online social work programs that prepare students to pursue a career in social work: an undergraduate program and a Council on Social Work Education-accredited (CSWE-accredited), Board of Accreditation-accredited (BOA-accredited) graduate program. The rigorous curricula of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs, paired with Pacific Oaks’ social justice values, equip graduates to pursue leadership and make a positive impact in communities.
How Social Work Leaders Effect Change
One career path for MSW graduates post-licensure is to become community outreach workers. For Social Work graduates looking to effect change in communities, a community outreach leadership role is an excellent path forward. When working for a nonprofit or a government agency, community outreach leaders help to improve underserved communities through policy change, events, and services that focus on health care, social services, and the well-being of individuals in the community.
Community Development
Social workers offer a unique perspective on community development through their experience with underserved populations. Having experienced social workers to provide insight and feedback during community development can change many people’s lives for the better. Social workers assess the needs of underserved communities and provide resources to put development into needed programs. After-school programs for at-risk youth; resume building and training for the unemployed; shelter and soup kitchen development for the homeless; and senior care are examples of community development programs for which social workers provide crucial perspectives. The curricula for Pacific Oaks’ online Social Work programs provide students with opportunities to intern in various settings, earning them hands-on experience in assessing community needs and working with licensed social workers.
Policy Advocacy
The most effective forms of long-term change come at the government policy level, as policies have the power to influence entire communities systemically. With a people-centric mindset, social workers in government roles use their empathy and expertise to influence new policies that improve underserved communities. Such policy initiatives may include expanding access to affordable health care through insurance policies; establishing meal programs for the homeless population; enacting protection and support services for the LGBTQ+ community; or ensuring equal employment opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups.
Social work education prepares graduates to analyze, evaluate, create, and advocate for impactful policies. At Pacific Oaks College, classes such as Social Welfare Policy and Analysis, included in the Master of Social Work curriculum, are designed to teach students the evolution of social welfare policies. Knowledge of the development and impact of major U.S. social welfare policies prepares graduates to identify social problems and create policies that make a positive impact on the well-being of communities.
Nonprofit Management
For those who aren’t interested in the policy advocacy side of social work, working at a nonprofit organization offers another impactful way to transform communities. With their people-centric mindset, social work professionals work toward leadership roles to make the most impact. A 2021 study measured the subjective well-being of a community through expressions of positive emotion, engagement, and relationships. It noted a correlation between nonprofits’ relationships in a community and an increase in community well-being.
Through engagement and shared values within a community, nonprofit organizations promote a sense of community within that community’s individuals. Pacific Oaks’ Social Work curriculum prepares students to promote a community’s well-being and support a sense of community within traditionally underserved populations. Graduates of the Master of Social Work program can pursue careers as nonprofit program managers, directors, or executive directors. Social workers in leadership roles within nonprofit organizations are valuable for supporting the organizations’ ability to unite communities.
Take the Next Step in Becoming a Social Worker
Through a career in community development, policy advocacy, or nonprofit management, you can change the communities that need the most help. Visit our blog to learn how to become a social worker.
At Pacific Oaks College, we believe in equipping graduates with the knowledge and skills to effect change and have an impactful career. Take the first step toward becoming a social worker with our Online BSW program. Next, the Online MSW program prepares students for the social work licensure process in the state of California. With many opportunities for fieldwork throughout these programs, students are provided integrative, hands-on experiences centered around culturally appropriate social work practice that prepares them to enter the workforce and transform communities. Request more information today.
