Want to become social worker for adoption agencies. What do i study?
BySo i have finally found what i want in life and what i love to do which is help kids, teens and young adults. I have always wanted to work for an adoption agency so should I study psychology or sociology? Help!
I DON’T want to separate kids from their parents. I wanted to work for an adoption agency to give them homes and interview the parents. Sorry if I confused anyone in my wording.
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15 Comments
April 28th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
child psychology but ask your college advisor/ counselor
April 28th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
try for a 5 year msw program that will give you a master’s. In that field you won’t really be able to make money (or find a job either) without a masters.
I admire your willingness to help children, I don’t think I could take it.
April 28th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
According to some on this board, adoption = abandonment by the mother. Why do you want to encourage that?
April 28th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Many colleges and universities have a separate social work major. I would look for that.
While either psychology or sociology would be a good minor, the social work major tracks more seamlessly into higher education programs and jobs, and some schools with Master of Social Work (MSW) programs will expect a social work major at the undergrad level.
If you want to help kids, teens, and young adults, though, I suggest you shoot for a job in your state’s foster care or juvenile systems… since social workers for adoption agencies mainly deal with newborns and expectant mothers. Another possibility would be to go into psychology instead of social work. I don’t think a job as an adoption agency social worker really fits what you want to do.
April 28th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
You want to separate children from their parents. Great goal, best of luck with that! May that be returned to you in spades!
April 28th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Why don’t you study social work and HELP foster children find families. You could work for social services and really help the kids that need so much.
Forget working for an adoption agency, foster kids really need a good worker to help them, as they are alone in a maze of confusion.
April 28th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Social work is usually a specific degree program.
April 28th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I have a Bachelors in Social Work with a minor in sociology and work in a public agency, finding families for children who have a goal of adoption. I work with foster children.
You could go for a Bachelors in social work. Make sure the college/university social work program is accredited by the CSWE otherwise pursuing an MSW would be fruitless.
Some of my professors had Bachelor degrees in other human resource related fields and then Masters/Doctors in social work.
Find a college that has a social work program and call the department chair or adviser. Ask lots of questions……
Also, if you are finding homes for children then you are working with children who have been separated from their parents…..for whatever reason. Be it by the parents own will, or by acts that involved the public child welfare system….
A degree in psychology will introduce you to a different “thought” or model than a social work degree; more of a medical model. Sociology would be good….
April 28th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
If you want to work for an adoption agency, get a business degree. They are all about making money off unfortunate women by buying and selling their babies to the highest bidder. Adoption agencies don’t give a hoot about the welfare kids, they just want to make a buck.
If you truly want to help children, get a BS degree in sociology or psychology and a MS degree in social work and work for the department of social services. There you can help kids who truly need homes rather than stealing babies from poor people.
You sound like an awesome person. Don’t throw your ideals away on the corrupt adoption agency industry.
April 28th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
I would say a Masters in Social Work as well. I’m confused on how some people misinterpreted your question maybe I dont understand your question…
Good Luck!
April 28th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Although you can work in the social services field with a degree in sociology or psychology, it will be much easier to find a SW job if you have a degree actually in social work. I
f you want to be an adoption social worker you could work for CPS, a private fostercare-adoption agency, a domestic adoption agency, or an international adoption agency. There are many different rouyes you can go.
April 28th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
I think you are an angel. You should get a degree in social welfare.
April 28th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Major in Social Work
April 28th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Accounting, Economics, Finance, Business, Political Science.
These are truly the skills and abilities of those who work “successfully” in adoption agencies.
Oh…and see if you can take some courses in DoubleSpeak. Although I don’t think it’s actually offered as a full major.
You asked. I answered.
April 28th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Hello,
If you would like to be an adoption worker then you are most likely best to follow the Social Work track, you can minor in Psychology. You can, at this point, work as an adoption counselor with your BA at the State level (like Child Protective Services), however, to be in the private or international realm you will need at least your MSW (Master in Social Work).
The interviewing of potential parents is often the home study I believe you are referring to, that is different then the adoption specialist position, that is called a Resource worker in the CPS world…
To do home studies you will need to get your Masters in the private realm…
The adoption specialists are the individuals who work with the foster parents on adopting, see the children monthly, do permanency work and complete the consent (what is needed in court for the adoption). Long process but yes definitely worth it and rewarding….good luck!