Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

Job Task

• Counsel clients in individual and group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental and physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
• Interview clients, review records, and confer with other professionals to evaluate mental or physical condition of client or patient.
• Collaborate with counselors, physicians, and nurses to plan and coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
• Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
• Refer patient, client, or family to community resources for housing or treatment to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness, following through to ensure service efficacy.
• Counsel and aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client or patient.
• Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
• Plan and conduct programs to prevent substance abuse, to combat social problems, or to improve health and counseling services in community.
• Supervise and direct other workers who provide services to clients or patients.
• Develop or advise on social policy and assist in community development.
• Conduct social research to advance knowledge in the social work field.

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