Careers Mental and Social Health Information Provided By: Georgia Statewide Area Health Education Center (AHEC) PowerPoint Presentation By: Juliane Monko & Dr. Frank Flanders CTAE Resource Network, June 2009 Based On PowerPoint Ideas From: Penny Howard, RN, Healthcare Science Instructor

AHECAHEC There are six centers in the Georgia AHEC Network, and each serves a multi-county region. The AHEC mission is to meet the health needs of Georgia by improving the supply, distribution and quality of healthcare providers. AHECs offer enrichment programs, camps, learning tools, student counseling, volunteer and mentoring activity coordination, and access to other educational resources. Contact your regional AHEC for more information.

Objectives Students will be able to describe health careers in the field of Mental and Social Health. Students will be able to plan a healthcare career path in Mental and Social Health.

Careers in Mental and Social Health Counselor Genetic Counselor Human Services Worker Psychologist Social Worker

Counselor

Counselors work with people to help them solve their personal and social problems. They may help physically, emotionally, mentally, or socially impaired people become more self- sufficient.

Work Environment Salary Churches Community mental health centers Drug rehabilitation centers Halfway houses Hospice programs Hospitals Nursing homes Prisons Schools, colleges, and universities Social agencies Average Starting Salary $30,930  Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at: Counselor

Counselor Academic Requirements Counselors earn bachelor's degrees, usually in education, social work, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, or health sciences before entering a graduate program. Programs usually grant a master's degree in psychology, counseling, or related area. These are typically two-year programs including supervised clinical work. Some areas of counseling require either a Ph.D. or both counseling and teaching certificates.

Genetic Counselor

Genetic counselors work as a member of a team dedicated to counseling families with birth defects and genetically-inherited health problems, or who are at risk for developing such diseases or conditions themselves. Genetic counselors analyze familial patterns of inheritance and risks of recurrence and review the options available to family members that may be affected by an inherited gene mutation.

Work Environment Salary Commercial diagnostic laboratories Health maintenance organizations Hospitals Physicians' offices Private practices University medical centers Average Starting Salary $40,000  Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at: Genetic Counselor

Genetic Counselor Academic Requirements A college preparatory diploma is recommended. A bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required to enter a graduate program in genetic counseling. Programs last two years, including clinical experience, and lead to a master's degree.

Human Services Worker

Human services workers work with people who can not always take care of themselves, i.e. recovering addicts or adults with mental illness. The goal of the human services worker is to enable their clients to function as effectively and independently as possible.

Work Environment Salary Adult care facilities Community mental health centers Day treatment facilities Group homes Hospitals Military Prisons Public health departments Public welfare agencies Schools Substance abuse treatment centers Average Starting Salary $24,009  Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at: Human Services Worker

Human Services Worker Academic Requirements Two-year associate degree programs and four-year bachelor's degree programs are available.

Psychologist

Psychologists are mental health professionals who specialize in human behavior. They assist their clients with issues such as stress management, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, eating disorders, aggressive/violent behavior, marital and family conflict, alcoholism and substance abuse.

Work Environment Salary Colleges and universities Consulting firms Corporations Federal and state agencies Hospitals Market research firms Mental health clinics Military Prisons Private practice Rehabilitation centers Schools Average Starting Salary $54,400  Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at: Psychologist

Psychologist Academic Requirements A bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required to enter master's and doctoral programs in psychology. A master's degree in school psychology is the only master's level program that qualifies one to work as a psychologist. Earning a master's degree in school psychology typically requires two to three years of study.

Psychologist Academic Requirements Specialists and doctoral degrees are also available in school psychology. Most doctoral degrees involve 5 to 6 years of study, including a one-year internship. Many psychologists then choose to do additional formal post-doctoral training in a specialty area.

Social Worker

Social workers are specially trained in locating community resources to solve problems such as child abuse, homelessness, drug abuse, and poverty. Social workers assist with placing people back into society after hospitalization or rehabilitation. They may also organize support groups for families of patients suffering from cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, or other illnesses.

Work Environment Salary Community advocacy groups Government agencies HIV/AIDS clinics Home health agencies Hospice Hospitals Mental health/substance abuse centers Nursing homes Prisons Schools Social services agencies Universities Social Worker Average Starting Salary $34,283 (bachelor’s level) $38,254 (master’s level)  Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at:

Social Worker Academic Requirements Programs are offered at both the bachelor's and master's levels. The Master of Social Work is usually pursued after gaining some work experience and is often necessary to work in hospitals. Doctoral programs are also available in social work, but a master's is considered the terminal degree for practice.

Summary There are a variety of careers available in Mental and Social Health. Educational requirements vary by career and career level. Students interested in these careers should use the information provided here as a basis for a career plan. The student should also research the career further to complete a career plan. Career available in Mental and Social Health include: Counselor Genetic Counselor Human Services Worker Psychologist Social Worker