Our Social Worker Resource Guide

Social Work Blogs and News Sites

Find inspiration, learn from others’ stories, check out social work news and discover tips and techniques from other social workers. Visit these blogs and news sites to learn more about the lives of social workers and social work students.

1. Creative Play Therapist

Creative Play Therapist, run by a licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist, shares ideas and resources for play therapy interventions.

2. Help Starts Here

Help Starts Here is the National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW) site for the public, with wellness articles on challenges clients face and a tool for finding a social worker. It’s a good place to find content to share with clients, post on social media or read for yourself.

3. The New Social Worker

The New Social Worker provides tips and news for social workers, such as articles on ethical issues, self-care and careers.

4. The Guardian: Social Care

The Guardian’s social care section collects news and commentary on social care, including stories about the people who give and receive care.

5. Social Work Blog

Learn the latest developments in social work practice, advocacy, ethics and law in this blog hosted by NASW.

6. Social Work Career

The Social Work Career website focuses on helping current and aspiring social work professionals advance their careers, with education and training resources, expert interviews, tips for LMSW exams, and more.

7. Social Workers Speak

See how social work and related issues are portrayed in the media and movies at Social Workers Speak, a site developed by NASW.

Books for Social Workers

Reading a book is a great way to glean insights and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Books help social workers discover new experiences and view their world in a different light. These books have plenty to teach:

• “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma,” by Bessel A. van der Kolk — The author is a trauma expert who has spent more than three decades working with survivors. He explains how traumatic stress rewires the brain and how treatment and therapy can help.
• “The Bully Society: School Shootings and the Crisis of Bullying in America’s Schools,” by Jessie Klein — Written by a former school social worker and professor, this book addresses school shootings and bullying in American schools.
• “Days in the Lives of Social Workers: 62 Professionals Tell ‘Real-Life’ Stories From Social Work Practice,” edited by Linda May Grobman — Now in its fifth edition, this book compiles first-person stories from social workers across many practice settings.
• “I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t),” by Brené Brown — Based on seven years of the author’s research and hundreds of interviews, this book explores shame’s effects on women, including fear, perfectionism and blame.
• “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America,” by Barbara Ehrenreich — Beginning in 1998, the author took low-wage jobs to see how low-wage America lives. The book helps readers understand how people experience life while trying to work to survive.
• “The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients,” by Irvin D. Yalom — This guidebook is organized as 85 tips for beginning therapists on navigating the therapeutic process.
• “Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence — From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror,” by Judith Lewis Herman — The author uses research on domestic violence and political terror to show parallels between private and public traumas and how social context affects them.
• “Trauma Stewardship (Revised and Updated): An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others,” by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky with Connie Burk — This book talks about how people whose work exposes them to trauma can stay present and care for themselves while caring for others.
• “Where to Start and What to Ask: An Assessment Handbook,” by Susan Lukas — This handbook helps beginning practitioners interview clients and form a thorough assessment.

Websites and Online Resources for Social Workers

When you have a question, want to learn about a social work topic or need some clarification, there are online resources and websites that can help. Bookmark these.

• ASWB Exams — The Association of Social Work Boards, which develops the social work licensing exams, explains its Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist and Clinical exams, how to register after your state board approves you, and its official practice test and examination guidebook. To see where the exam fits in the path to clinical practice, read our LCSW license guide.
• Code of Ethics — Brush up on the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics about client responsibility, privacy, confidentiality and more.
• CSWE Program Directory — Check whether a bachelor’s, master’s or practice doctorate social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or is in candidacy.
• Encyclopedia of Social Work — Search Oxford’s reference articles on topics encountered in social work study and practice.
• Explore Social Work — If you want to learn more about social work careers, the NASW has compiled job resources for social workers.
• The Journal of Social Work — This journal seeks to advance social work theoretical understanding, inform social work practice and shape social work policy.
• NASW Press — Find social work books, journals and reference works from the publishing department of the National Association of Social Workers.
• Social Work Journal — The official journal of the NASW features recent articles and studies related to social work.
• Social Work Test Prep — Take practice tests for the ASWB licensing exams on this site.
• Social Work Today — This website has articles on social work topics including behavioral health, addictions, children and family, aging, health care, ethics, tech and social justice.
• Tips & Tools for Job Seekers — Get interview tips, resume and cover letter advice and more in this job seeker site by the NASW.

Helpful Apps for Social Workers

Get help for your social work career right in your pocket with mobile apps:

• Evernote — Evernote is a note-taking app that also scans documents and clips web pages. Searching inside PDFs and other documents requires a paid plan.
• Google Translate — When you need to talk to a non-native speaker or are having a difficult time understanding, use Google Translate to cross language barriers.
• Suicide Safe — The Suicide Safe app from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is based on SAMHSA’s Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) approach and helps providers use it when working with patients.
• Talk. They Hear You. — This SAMHSA app to prevent underage drinking gives users tools to talk with children and teens about the dangers of alcohol.

Resources to Share With Clients

Social workers often need a quick, reliable referral. These national services help clients find support directly:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — People in crisis can call or text 988, or chat online, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
• 211 — Dialing 211 connects people to local help with bills, food, housing and utilities, health care, and mental health and substance use support. United Way says every call is confidential.
• Eldercare Locator — This public service of the Administration for Community Living connects older adults and their families with local services, online or at 1-800-677-1116.
• USA.gov Benefit Finder — Clients can choose categories such as food, health, or children and families to see government benefits they may qualify for and how to apply.

Get the Social Work Support You Need

There are thousands of social work resources available to help you succeed in your social work career and better serve your clients. Refer to this guide for social worker resources that can help.

Professional Development Resources for Social Workers

Joining organizations for social workers or attending events and conferences is a great way to keep up with social work news and connect with peers and mentors who may one day provide you with opportunities for growth. Here are some organizations to check out:

• Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children (APSAC) — This nonprofit is focused on professionals who work with mistreated children and their families. APSAC provides resources, networking opportunities, training and publications, including the APSAC Advisor.
• Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) — This nonprofit is dedicated to social workers who work with cancer patients and their families. AOSW hosts an annual conference for oncology social workers and provides online learning tools.
• Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA) — The CSWA advocates for licensed clinical social workers on national issues and offers members free consultation on topics such as telemental health, technology, supervision and private practice.
• International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) — The IFSW brings together national social work organizations from around the world and works to promote social work to achieve social development.
• National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) — The NABSW is made up of people of African ancestry and is committed to enhancing the quality of life for people of African ancestry. The NABSW hosts an annual conference and has a career center.
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW) — Founded in 1955, NASW describes itself as the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world. NASW hosts events and conferences for members, creates and maintains professional social work standards, and advocates for social work policies.
• National Rural Social Work Caucus — Geared toward rural social workers, the caucus holds a National Rural Social Work Conference in the U.S. every year. The conference increases the knowledge base for rural social work by sharing research and expertise with attendees.
• School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) — The SSWAA is an organization for school social workers. It offers professional development and a national conference and advocates on policy affecting social work in schools.