Would a B.A.S. in social work be beneficial?

Question

i am about to receive my A.S. degree in early childhood education. my ultimate goal is to create and operate a foster care facility that is actually beneficial to the children. so i started with this degree, and trying to decide which path would be the most beneficial for my goals-- and the children. I've worked at several facilities, and i am appalled. i want to be able to provide whatever is needed to help these children. i was told get a B.A.S. in social work. anyone have a serious opinion on this subject? anyone know exactly what this degree would involve? thanks for any help.

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Answer 1

Social workers deal with low pay, whining, crazy people, stupid people, lazy people, addicted people etc. the dregs of society and their victims and administrative hassles. The burn out rate for social workers is extremely high especially for those who have not attained a graduate degree in the field. Studying it would be a waste of time.

Try education, child psychology or something that deals with normal issues rather than nuts, weirdos and their offspring. You may also want to consider some small business classes.

Answer 2

If I were you I would explore getting an MSW (Master of Social Work) degree which means starting with a BSW. Talk with your academic counsellor about what is involved in pursuing a long range objective of an MSW. One advantage to this particular Masters degree is that it is one of the few degrees that once it is in your hands there is no question that you are a skilled professional. The reason is because this particular degree requires a lot of field research/experience to complete ... in short you will hit the ground running on graduation day.

I would also suggest you minor in (or self-study) some kind of government coursework because much of what "appalled" you is probably due to various Regulations. Understanding how the system works might give you a fighting chance to make a difference or at least prevent you from beating dead horses.

Along the same lines you should take a really hard look at the foster care "exit systems" which affect foster kids with problems (physical, mental, or learning disabilities) turning 18 and then being "cut loose" with no support of any kind. These kids turn into criminals or street people just to survive after such a sudden and unexpected change.