[originaltext] Hi, I’m Elizabeth Hoffler, Master of Social Work. I’m a socia

Hi, I’m Elizabeth Hoffler, Master of Social Work. I’m a social worker, a lobbyist and a special assistant to the Executive Director at the National Association of Social Workers. Today we are going to be talking about becoming a social worker. Social work is the helping profession. [20] Its primary mission is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic needs of all people, with a particular focus on those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. We often deal with complex human needs. Social work is different from other professions, because we focus on the person and environment. We deal with the external factors that impact a person’s situation and outlook. And we create opportunity for assessment and intervention to help clients and communities cope effectively with their reality and change that reality when necessary- In thousands of ways social workers help other people—people from every age, every background, across the country. Wherever needed, social workers come to help. The most well-known aspect of the profession is that of a social safety net. We help guide people to critical resources and counsel them on life-changing decisions. There are more than six hundred thousand professional social workers in the country, and [21] we all either have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a PhD in social work. There are more clinically-trained social workers than clinically-trained psychiatrists, psychologists and psychiatric nurses combined.
    Throughout this series, you will learn more about the profession, the necessary steps to get a social work degree, the rich history of social work and many ways that social workers help others. Later in this series, you’ll hear from Stacy Collins and Mel Wilson, fellow social workers at the National Association of Social Workers. Stacy is going to walk you through the step-by-step process of becoming a social worker, and [22] Mel will tell you about the range of options you have once you get your social work degree, as well as the high standards of responsibility that social workers must adhere to. The National Association of Social Workers represents nearly 145,000 social workers across the country. Our mission is to promote, protect and advance the social work profession. We hope you enjoy this series about how you can make a difference by becoming a social worker. Next, we are going to talk about choosing social work.
    20. What do social workers mainly do?
    21. What do professional social workers have in common according to the speaker?
    22. What is Mel Wilson going to talk about in the series?