Social Work Scholarships

If you’re pursuing a career as a social worker, be sure to check up on scholarships available before you make any tuition payments. Being a social worker is definitely a career for those who are compassionate and generally empathetic to the less-fortunate. Save money on school with a scholarship for social workers and use that cash for other essentials. Listed in this article are a few awards that are willing to help you out.

If you’re pursuing a career as a social worker, be sure to check up on scholarships available before you make any tuition payments. Being a social worker is definitely a career for those who are compassionate and are generally empathetic to the less-fortunate. Save money on school with a scholarship for social workers and use that cash for other essentials. Listed in this article are a few awards that are willing to help you out.

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If you’re pursuing a career in social work, then you probably have a natural inclination to help others in a time of need. Social work jobs are expected to grow faster than the national average because of the baby boomer generation retiring; about 72 million people (was 79 million but according to the Census Bureau, 4 million had died by April 2000). People will need help dealing with many age-specific diseases like alzheimer’s, cancer and heart related issues. Also, arranging caregiving services and counseling will certainly be needed during rough periods in a family’s life. Another reason social work is expanding goes beyond family problems though, it’s reported that more people convicted of substance abuse are being transferred to treatment programs as oppose to prison. Social workers who are knowledgeable in these areas will certainly be needed, and the top positions require you to have a masters or a doctorate. There are really three aspects of being a social worker:

• Child, family and school
• Medical and public health
• Mental health and substance abuse

And as you can imagine, different training will be required for each avenue you decide to choose. Below are a few social work scholarships for those seeking extra funding for school.

Joseph T. Weingold Social Work Scholarship

For students attending a New York college or university and pursuing a special education certificate, you’ll have a chance to win $3,000 given to you in $750 installments. Learning disabilities can be a trying time for a family, and many clinical social workers can be employed directly by a client to give a person with intellectual development issues the help he needs. This will be hugely beneficial to children with learning disabilities and their families. They’ll need the guided hand of a well-educated social worker to help advance in school. Character traits that are beneficial to those looking to work in this field include compassion, patience and a desire to watch others succeed.

Epilepsy Foundation Student Fellowship

If you’re an undergraduate in behavioral sciences including social work degree programs, then you’re eligible for a $3,000 scholarship from the Epilepsy Foundation. Epilepsy is a life-threatening disorder that has a death rate comparable to breast cancer. Three million Americans suffer from this condition which is more than the people who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Parkinson’s Disease combined. The median earnings for a medical social worker is 46,650.

The NASW Foundation Scholarships

The National Association of Social Workers Foundation has a few scholarships and fellowships for social workers already in college. They have their Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship which is directed toward those interested in mental health practices in the African American community. It awards $2,000 to recipients. Another one similar to this is the Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial MSW Scholarship aimed at those interested in the American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino populations. They also have two Fellowships for those needing partial support in dissertation research, the Jane B. Aron Doctoral Fellowship for help with health care policy research and the Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship for welfare policy, both awarding $2,000. For all of these programs you need to be a member of NASW.

Keeping Things in Perspective

Social work is a noble profession because you’re helping people in need. But still it isn’t exactly the highest paid field to go into. Medical and public health social workers are the highest paid with salaries reaching upwards to $69,090. If you feel you have a heart to help people, and more importantly, are dedicated to receiving the training required, then applying to one of the above scholarships will definitely help you achieve that goal. Taking your colleges career assessment test will help you identify what job fits your personality.