Nestled along the west side of the Hudson River, Rockland County has long been heralded for its picturesque views, charming neighborhoods, eclectic culture, and short drive to NYC. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t experience its share of societal woes. In fact, it’s long lagged behind other counties throughout the state, struggling with everything from homelessness to poverty to income inequality.
Case in point: As of May 2023, Rockland County reported that 26 percent of all children in the county were living in poverty, compared to just 19 percent statewide. And Rockland County’s housing problems are pervasive, with 26 percent of all people in the county reporting issues like high housing costs, and low-income housing solutions that are overcrowded and plagued with persistent plumbing problems.
It’s issues like these that spark the passion of the county’s social workers. They’re the muscle behind the programs that seek to provide at-risk and vulnerable individuals, groups, and communities with resources and services designed to fight inequality and injustice and establish or restore their safety, health, and/or well-being.
For example, the Rockland County Department of Social Services (DSS) is home to a number of programs like the Housing Unit, which offers services to eligible families experiencing homelessness or facing an imminent loss of housing. Social workers at DSS provide casework counseling and referral and also address a host of issues related to domestic violence, substance abuse, unemployment, and mental health.
Social work isn’t for the faint of heart, but for those who are motivated and driven by a deep sense of purpose to help the disadvantaged and underserved, it’s the only profession that will do. From Ramapo to Clarkstown to Haverstraw, opportunities to become part of the social work profession abound in Rockland County.
Helping Hands for the Homeless of Rockland Brings Hot Meals to the Streets
In January 2024, a new mobile kitchen set up shop in Spring Valley’s Memorial Park. But this isn’t your typical food truck. It’s part of a new initiative by Helping Hands for the Homeless of Rockland to distribute free meals to those in need.
Helping Hands, an interfaith, volunteer-driven organization, has long provided services for individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. But the new mobile kitchen now allows them to bring their services to the streets. The Rockland Interfaith Breakfast Program provides food service Monday through Friday each morning at the Church of the Nazarene, where they serve about 160 meals every day – both hot breakfasts and bagged lunches.
It’s also just blocks from the transit station, which offers a shuttle to a nearby warming center at the Yeager Center in Pomona, which is run by Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland County during the colder winter months.
Helping Hands has plans to travel to other towns throughout Rockland County, including Nyack, with the organization estimating they’ll be able to take the truck out about three times a week to different locations.
Helping Hands has a long history in Rockland County, where they’ve provided services and resources for the homeless, including everything from warm clothes to hot meals to access to medical and mental health care.
Social Worker Jobs: What Does a Social Worker Do in Rockland County?
They’re serving healthcare institutions like Highland Medical in Nyack. They’re working for city/county agencies like the Department of Social Services. And they’re lending their unique skillset to community agencies like the Center for Safety & Change, a domestic violence nonprofit that provides emergency shelter and services for victims of domestic violence.
They’re Rockland County’s social workers, and jobs for these professionals are a vital component of county, regional, and state efforts aimed at improving the lives of individuals, groups, and communities.
School Social Work Jobs in Rockland County
Rockland County’s public school system serves nearly 39,000 students across eight school districts. From South Orangetown CSD to East Ramapo CSD, school social workers in the county’s public school districts are responsible for conducting assessments and developing interventions that improve student learning. This may include individual and group therapy, counseling, and educational programs.
They also provide emergency assistance to students and staff during crises and help teachers and staff identify the signs of trauma in students. For students in special needs programs, they also handle case management and provide the counseling needed as part of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
Healthcare Social Work Jobs in Rockland County
Healthcare social work jobs in Rockland County are among the most plentiful thanks to the sheer variety of settings that call for social work support — from hospitals and outpatient clinics to skilled nursing facilities to home healthcare.
Social workers are an important part of the interdisciplinary teams at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. In the hospital’s emergency department, social workers are called upon to coordinate referrals, manage the pre-admission patient assessment process, and conduct clinical assessments as part of the psychiatric team. These professionals assess patients of various ages who come to the hospital for behavioral health reasons and provide recommendations for treatment or otherwise refer them to ER physicians and on-call psychiatrists.
Healthcare social workers are also part of the Nyack Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Valley Cottage. Healthcare social workers here are responsible for patient intake and determining the medically related social needs of the residents to ensure their social and emotional needs are met while in the facility.
Child Welfare Social Work Jobs in Rockland County
As the most vulnerable population, provisioning for the safety and welfare of children and at-risk adolescents is one of the most important aspects of the social work that’s taking place in Rockland County. Social workers focused on child welfare often work in the court system, child and social services system, as well as the many private organizations focused on issues like homelessness, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Social workers at Saint Dominic’s Family Services in Blauvelt work as part of a Rockland Community Based Services (CBS) program (children’s health and behavioral health). Social workers in this settings assess new referrals and coordinate medical and mental health services with assigned home health agencies. They also maintain contact with clients through monthly contact, attend necessary appointments with clients, and develop a plan of care.
Child welfare social work jobs are also found in the Family with Children shelter system. Social workers help improve access to mental health services and assist unhoused families and those at risk of becoming homeless.
Mental Health Social Work Jobs in Rockland County
Mental health is an important component of Rockland County’s healthcare system, as are mental health social workers. Jobs for mental health social workers are found in hospitals, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, community clinics, and more.
For example, psychiatric social workers for VNS Health in Valley Cottage provide behavioral healthcare to patients in a variety of settings, from community outpatient clinics to clients’ homes. Social workers here are called upon to de-escalate crisis situations and provide vital social services and resources that provide much needed stability.
They also work for organizations like Community Medical and Dental Care in Monsey, a multi-specialty, community medical center. Mental health social workers here provide individual and group therapy to clients with a variety of mental heath disorders. They conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team that includes psychiatrists, nurses, and other therapists.
Substance Abuse Social Work Jobs in Rockland County
Substance abuse social workers are in demand throughout New York, and Rockland County is no exception. Just some of the agencies employing substance abuse social workers here include:
- Good Samaritan Hospital’s Inpatient Chemical Dependency program
- Lexington Center for Recovery, which provides a comprehensive range of treatment, counseling and support for individuals with chemical/alcohol addiction problems
- Montefiore Nyack Hospital’s Recovery Center, which provides a full range of treatment options
- Open Arms, Inc., which provides residential treatment and supportive living services for men and women in early recovery
- Russell E. Blaisdell Addiction Treatment Center, which specializes in the treatment of addiction for men
- Samaritan Daytop Village, Rockland County Outreach, which provides treatment programs for substance abuse, along with specialized programs for youth, seniors, and veterans
Homeless Outreach Social Work Jobs in Rockland County
Homeless outreach social work jobs are a vital part of Rockland County’s Department of Social Services, as well as nonprofit organizations committed to helping the vulnerable unhoused population of Ramapo and the greater Rockland County area. For example, social workers lend their talents to the Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland, where they coordinates services with the Department of Social Services, nurses, social workers, and Child Protective Services through the Homelessness & Eviction Prevention Program. Catholic Charities also oversees a food pantry, community garden, nutritional outreach program, and immigration legal services.
Substance abuse social work jobs in Rockland County can also be found at other nonprofit organizations like Helping Hands, an interfaith human rescue organization that helps people who are homeless or otherwise experiencing food insecurity. In addition to providing those in need with food, clothing and hygiene supplies, this organization helps connect them with housing providers and with medical, mental health, addiction, and immigration services.
Social Worker Salary in Ramapo and Throughout Rockland County
Just about 90 minutes from the heart of NYC, Rockland County is home to towns like Ramapo and Nyack and exciting opportunities in social work. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not provide salary data for the Rockland County region, it does reveal what social workers are earning in nearby NYC.
Here, social workers focused on mental health and substance abuse earned an average salary of $98,480 as of May 2023, making them the nation’s highest paid professionals in the field.
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Social Workers reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2024.