Supporting Delaware communities

With specialized training in human development, human services and social systems, social workers are uniquely positioned to support communities in times of crisis or challenging life changes. And the need for social workers is growing, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting about 74,700 openings across the nation each year, on average, over the next decade.

With its master of social work program and community outreach, the University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is working to address the critical need for more social workers in Delaware.

"Our college has always been dedicated to improving lives through education, human development and community engagement," said Rena Hallam, CEHD interim dean and professor in its Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. "The MSW program deepens that commitment by embedding a strong clinical and community-engaged practice component into the college."

The need for social work in Delaware

Social workers support individuals and families through a wide range of life changes or challenges, including mental health issues and substance use disorders, terminal illness, aging and loss of housing or employment. They often work within hospitals and mental health clinics, helping families access resources or offering psychotherapy services. They also work in schools to support students' development, implement school policies and connect families to other educational, health or human services.

Despite this important role, there were more than 750 unfilled social work positions within Delaware as of October 2022. And 100% of the school-based positions and 73% of the non-school-based positions required job candidates to hold a master's degree in social work.