The proof is everywhere you turn. There’s a growing need for BSW and MSW-prepared social workers in Suffolk County to provide the most vulnerable people with social services designed to improve lives and even save them.
For example, in February 2024, Suffolk County officials reported major delays in processing applications for food stamps and other assistance programs. The reason? A severely understaffed Department of Social Services. In some cases, residents here waited months to receive the help they needed.
Though federal law entitles eligible households to receive food stamp benefits within 30 days of filing, the NYS Welfare Management System reported that Suffolk County failed to process at least one thousand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications within the 30-day deadline. At one point in the year, nearly half of all applications had exceeded the 30-day mark.
Increased caseloads and staffing shortages aren’t new to the social services field, with many agencies and organizations desperate for qualified help.
In June 2024, Suffolk County’s Labor Department hosted a job fair for the Department of Social Services. Some of the positions they were looking to fill included social service examiners, child support specialist trainees, and caseworker trainees.
It’s an outstanding time to get your education and credentials in place. With a BSW or MSW degree, you can begin making a positive, lasting difference in the lives of Suffolk County residents experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, domestic violence, mental health and substance abuse issues, and more.
Your Future Starts Here: BSW and MSW Programs That Will Jumpstart Your Career in Social Work
Are you ready to take a big step in your career and become a clinical social worker in Suffolk County? If the answer is a resounding “yes!”, then it’s time to learn more about the education requirements you’ll need to become a credentialed social worker in New York State.
Whether you hail from Long Island or Manhattan or Upstate New York somewhere, you’ll need to hold the same credential to practice as a clinical social worker in New York State.
The New York State Education Department is the agency that credentials both Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW). It’s a two-step licensure process that includes first earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) to achieve the LMSW credential and then completing a three-year period of documented supervised experience in diagnosis and psychotherapy if you choose to go on and earn the LCSW credential.
Literary Trailblazer: Alice Walker’s Enduring Influence
Alice Walker wasn’t just a critically acclaimed author – her work became symbolic of the Civil Rights movement and equality for African Americans. That enduring legacy has a monument of sorts right here in Long Island, in the place where Walker was laid to rest in Center Moriches in 2012.
An experience she had as a young woman led Walker to consider her work not just as a poet and writer, but as an activist:
“I was ordered immediately to the back of the bus because a white woman complained to the white bus driver…. I had been writing poetry since I was nine, but I realized I would never have the luxury of only writing poetry; that I would have to be politically active in order to achieve enough freedom to write at all.”
Her third novel, The Color Purple, the story of Celie, a poor, uneducated, fourteen-year-old black girl living in rural Georgia, became an immediate success, earning her both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in 1982. This novel, like many of her other writings, shone a light on African American history and culture, particularly for women.
The Color Purple was then adapted for film, becoming a blockbuster 1986 film starring a number of big names, including Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey, who won an Academy award for her role.
And then in 2005, it took Broadway by storm, debuting as a musical that ran until 2008, earning eleven Tony Award nominations. Years later, it enjoyed a revival, opening again in 2015 and running through 2017. During this time, it won two Tony awards, including the Best Revival of a Musical.
That means that an MSW accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a fundamental step toward licensure in New York.
There are two, major paths that you can take to earn the MSW:
(1) Earn a bachelor’s degree in a human services field like psychology, sociology, or mental health counseling and then complete a traditional, two-year MSW.
OR
(2) Earn a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and take a shorter path with a one-year MSW.
While both routes prepare you for licensure as an LMSW and LCSW, the BSW is designed to qualify you for an advanced standing MSW program, which takes just 12 months to complete.
Whether you’re just starting out or well on your way to the MSW, Suffolk County, Long Island is home to a couple premier CSWE-accredited BSW/MSW programs:
St. Joseph’s University of New York
Master of Social Work Program
Accreditation: MSCHE
Patchogue, NY
(Other location in Brooklyn)
MSW (on-campus, hybrid)
The St. Joseph University of New York’s MSW is designed to prepare students for impactful careers as generalist and clinical practitioners. Emphasizing social justice, diversity, and community empowerment, the program aligns with the values of the Sisters of St. Joseph, focusing on service and advocacy for those in need. The MSW program provides flexibility with full-time, part-time, day, evening, weekend, and online classes. Students gain practical experience through two internships, positioning them for diverse career opportunities in government, counseling, healthcare, and social services. With a curriculum rooted in ethical practice and professional development, graduates are well-equipped to address individual and community needs.
Stony Brook University SUNY
School of Social Welfare
Accreditation: MSCHE
Stony Brook, NY
(Other location in NYC)
MSW (on-campus)
Also Offers:
- BSW
- MSW/MA in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics
- MSW-MPH
- MSW-JD
- PhD in Social Welfare
The School of Social Welfare at Stony Brook University offers an array of programs, including a BSW, MSW, and several dual-degree options, including an MSW/MA in Medical Humanities, MSW/MPH, and MSW/JD. The MSW program, available on-campus, prepares students for advanced practice with a focus on social change and reform. Students can specialize in areas like community, policy, and integrated health as they gain practical experience through partnerships with community agencies. The dual-degree programs allow for interdisciplinary studies, enhancing career opportunities in fields like public health and law.
Long Island University, Post & Brooklyn Collaborative
School of Health Professions
Accreditation: MSCHE
Brentwood, NY
MSW (on-campus)
Also Offers:
- BSW
- Doctorate of Social Welfare
Though the main campus location for LIU University is in Nassau County, it also has a satellite campus right here in Brentwood, Suffolk County.