Westchester County leaders are hard at work, creating and implementing programs aimed at preventing homelessness, and they’re relying on BSW and MSW-prepared social workers to get it done.
The Westchester Department of Social Services (DSS) has helped more than 200 individuals and families in the county get connected with permanent homes through the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program. The EHV program has been able to make a serious dent in homelessness throughout the county in recent years, with Westchester currently leading all New York counties for its use of the EHV program to prevent homelessness.
Some of the people helped through this program include those fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and dating violence, along with people who were either recently unhoused or are at a high risk for homelessness.
The county’s high success rate is due, in part, to its partnership with WESTHAB, a nonprofit agency that develops affordable housing, runs homeless shelters, and operates a number of initiatives aimed at youth and employment programs.
DSS workers also provide individuals in the EHV program with a follow-up care program that connects them with dozens of community agencies to ensure their continued success.
From county agencies like DSS to nonprofits like WESTHAB, Westchester County is home to a host of human services agencies and organizations that hire graduates of local social work degree programs. Making your mark in child welfare, substance abuse treatment and prevention, immigration, mental health, unhoused services and more all starts with a BSW or MSW degree.
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) has become the standard entry point into professional social work and is a great way to prepare for key jobs in the field. But if you want to practice clinical social work, working one-on-one and in group counseling to support people through trauma or addiction, you’ll need a state license and a Master of Social (MSW) to get you there.
From Student to Licensed Social Worker: Earning a BSW or MSW in Westchester County
There’s plenty of paths to becoming a social worker in Yonkers and elsewhere in Westchester County. But the one most traveled for career-focused social work professionals in it for the long haul involves earning the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential through the New York State Education Department.
Both credentials prepare you to work at the micro-level, providing clinical counseling services and talk therapy, and both also allow you to serve in macro and mezzo areas related to the kind of community advocacy, program development, and policy work that takes place in Westchester County every day.
The big difference is that the LCSW lets you perform vital clinical services, including diagnosis and direct counseling without supervision. And it’s that extra level of responsibility and accountability that makes it a two-step licensure process, which starts by earning the LMSW before completing about three years of supervised experience in diagnosis and therapy before qualifying for the LCSW.
The New York Society for Ethical Culture Has a Long Legacy that Touched Westchester County
Part school of thought, part political movement, part religion, the New York Society for Ethical Culture (NYSEC) has been working toward the advancement of social justice for all since 1876.
Founded by Dr. Felix Adler, described as both “visionary and revolutionary,” NYSEC began as an idea to promote ethics in social work through education and to serve as a forum through which members could express their religious consciences through moral and human actions.
Dr. Adler and his followers quickly got to work, initiating two projects in 1877: the District Nursing Service (now the Visiting Nursing Service), and the founding of the first free kindergarten in the United States. Just three years later, the Workingman’s School was chartered and five years later, it was reorganized to become the Ethical Culture School.
But Adler didn’t stop there. His vision included improving the living conditions in tenement houses, founding the Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Westchester County, which became New York’s only independent specialty children’s hospital. He later founded the Down-Town Ethical Society, which eventually grew to establish everything from libraries to educational classes to employment bureaus.
True to their word on advancing social justice, the Society hired a woman to become its associate leader and eventually became a platform for civil rights. In 1909, they signed a petition to create the National Association of Colored People (NAACP). Adler went on to serve on the National Urban League’s executive committee in 1910.
Adler’s death in 1933 wasn’t the end of the great work he started. Instead, he left behind a legacy that included leaders like John Lovejoy Elliott, who helped found the National Civil Liberties Bureau, and Algernon D. Black, who founded the Encampment for Citizenship, a program for adults to engage in activism and volunteerism.
Throughout the years, the NYSEC has been involved in major movements aimed at helping the homeless, addressing issues of war, repealing the death penalty, and promoting women’s rights — including their right to healthcare through the establishment of many Planned Parenthood clinics in NYC. They’ve even partnered with the Innocence Project to help free wrongfully accused prisoners and organizations like Amnesty International and the ACLU to promote the social good.
For either license, you’ll need a Master of Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). You can prepare yourself for the MSW in one of two ways:
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Traditional two-year MSW - Earn a bachelor’s degree in a human services field, which can include anything from public health to psychology. This route prepares you for a traditional MSW that takes about two years to complete.
OR - Advanced-standing on-year MSW - Earning a CSWE-accredited BSW lets you qualify for advanced-standing admissions. Enrolling in an advanced-standing MSW means you can have your MSW in hand in as little as one year.
In addition to the many online options available to you, Westchester County is home to two schools offering CSWE-accredited BSW programs and one that offers an MSW to get you started on the path to becoming a licensed social worker in New York:
Iona University
Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy Department
New Rochelle, NY
(other location in Bronxville)
BSSW (on-campus)
Iona University’s BS in Social Work program stands out for its high ranking and value in the greater New York metropolitan area. This program offers an exceptional education rooted in the liberal arts, focusing on the knowledge, skills, and values of social work. Students benefit from small class sizes, personal attention from a dedicated faculty, and a student-centered learning environment. It also includes two field practicums totaling 500 hours of hands-on experience, with placements in diverse settings such as foster care agencies, substance abuse programs, and schools. Graduates are well-prepared for advanced standing admissions to CSWE-accredited MSW programs, or to transition to the workforce with a competitive edge. Opportunities for internships at top-ranked hospitals like New York-Presbyterian prepare students with real-world skills, and the university’s commitment to interprofessional collaboration ensures a well-rounded education.
Mercy University
School of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Dobbs Ferry, NY (other locations include Manhattan and Bronx)
BSW (on-campus)
Mercy University’s BSW prepares students for impactful careers through a robust curriculum and extensive fieldwork opportunities. With campuses across New York (including two in NYC), the program emphasizes practical experience, requiring students to complete internships in diverse settings such as mental health clinics, hospitals, and substance abuse programs. The program’s faculty of experienced practitioners serve as mentors who help guide students through their academic journey. Graduates are well-equipped to enter the workforce or pursue advanced studies, with many continuing their education in MSW programs. Mercy’s BSW program stands out for its commitment to service and social justice, preparing students to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities.
Fordham University
Graduate School of Social Service
New York, NY
BASW
Also Offers:
- MSW
- MSW/JD
Though the main campus location for LIU University is in NYC, it also has a satellite campus right here in Westchester County (West Harrison).