Social Welfare Administrator Careers
What Is A Social Welfare Administrator?
Social Welfare Administrators are in charge of social services programs and projects. They direct all aspects of a social program, including hiring staff, collaborating with team members, budgeting, directing volunteers, determining the policies regarding participant involvement, following program requirements, and involving the community. They are directly responsible for the benefits and risks of the programs they direct.
Social Welfare Administrators are decision makers who focus on the entirety of the system rather than individuals. They must have a commitment to social work and its ethics and values, and a clear vision for the future.
What Is A Social Welfare Administrator Responsible For?
Social Welfare Administrators develop policies and programs that help others. They work in the social services department of an organization, and they set policies to help people cope with problems such as unemployment, substance abuse, inadequate housing, and spousal and child abuse. The Social Welfare Administrator designs the programs that help people combat these social issues.
Social Welfare Administrators research and analyze proposed legislation, regulations, and rule changes to determine how they will affect their agencies. They consult with their staff to interpret program-related regulations and policies and disseminate information about available programs and policies to the community at large.
The Social Welfare Administrator role varies based on the organization they work for; however, they all work to improve the quality of social services, human behavior, and social problems and are committed to providing consumer-driven activities and servicing disenfranchised populations.
Social Welfare Administrators can expect to work on any of the following tasks:
- Develop budgets
- Create community outreach programs
- Assess community/organizational social issues
- Educate the public on social issues and available programs
- Research the needs of various populations
- Evaluate the effectiveness of current programs
- Develop social work policies and regulations
- Identify areas lacking in support
- Manage community outreach initiatives
- Inspect agency operations and facilities to ensure standards are met
- Determine policies and define scope of service
- Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies to meet community need
- Write grants and manage fundraisers
Where Does A Social Welfare Administrator Work?
Social Welfare Administrators jobs work in private and public endeavors. Many Social Welfare Administrators work at the government level, assisting local, state, and federal agencies in developing viable social services in the communities they serve. They have many job titles and levels of expertise and work in a variety of community settings, such as in education or religious and civic institutions.
Social Welfare Administrators may also work for vocational facilities, rehab centers, and temporary housing, providing oversight to counselors and teachers at these facilities. They also advise companies on employment issues, including helping unemployed people find temporary or permanent jobs. They work in nursing facilities and help with oversight of treatment and care of the elderly.
What Other Career Options Are Available to a Social Welfare Administrator?
Social Welfare Administrators have the opportunity to improve the individual lives of the greater population. They may work in government services where they keep the population healthy and safe. They can enter the private sector in a variety of settings.
A few career options available to Social Welfare Administrators include the following:
Local, State, and Federal Agencies
Federal agencies such as the Department of Human Services, Administration on Aging, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services require dedicated and passionate advocates to lead their agencies. Social Welfare Administrators craft policies and programs that affect the country’s population at large and the local community as a whole. At the government level, Social Welfare Administrators research and analyze public policy, directing their agencies to serve the public well-being with social programs that assist those in need.
Professor of Social Work
Combining teaching and research, a professor of social work focuses on grant writing, research, and publication. The professor of Social Welfare Administration also designs and develops curriculum plans to stimulate class discussion and ensure student engagement with social issues. They also teach students how to create policy and programs to assist the population.
Non-Profit Organizations
Social Welfare Administrators working for nonprofits are leaders who wear many hats. They are visionaries who juggle management, company communications, strategy, marketing, and public relations. Normally reporting to a board of directors, they manage people, property, and assets as well as directing fundraising and public relations.
Medical Social Welfare Administrator
Patient care environments, including hospitals, clinics, retirement homes, and academic medical programs require administrative oversight with focus on the social concerns of patients and their families. The Social Welfare Administrator creates policy and directs the programs that encompass the care delivered in these facilities, verifying legal and accreditation compliance. They also plan budgets, oversee staff development and student progress, and direct community outreach activities. They ensure compassionate and compliant care is delivered in their facilities, and that patients are released to safe and healthy environments when they are discharged.
Public Policy Analyst
Social Welfare Administrators working as public policy analysts strive to influence political and social decisions. They research and analyze policies and programs, evaluate the outcomes of existing policies, and share information with the public and government officials. They direct the activities of teams who evaluate human behavior and then generate and evaluate reports on population conduct. As a political analyst, the Administrator must be able to perform independent research that requires reading and digesting complex information and then communicating it via speaking and writing within the organization and to the public as necessary.
What Degree Do You Need to Become A Social Welfare Administrator? What Do They Study?
For most entry-level positions, a bachelor’s degree in sociology is normally sought, but public health, public policy, and health services are also alternative majors. Administrators are required to have a Master’s of Social Work to work in executive or administrative positions. Students of the master’s degree will study management principles, public health ethics and methodology, leadership skills, and budgeting, to name but a few.
While not typically required for a career in Social Welfare Administration, a Doctor of Philosophy, or PhD, may give an edge to students in certain competitive fields, such as educational endeavors and research.
How Much Money Does A Social Welfare Administrator Earn?
The salary of a Social Welfare Administrator varies widely and is dependent upon the field of industry the Administrator chooses to work in. The median annual salary of most Social Welfare Administrators is $84,000. Earners in the top ten percent are earning around $106,000, with executives in large organizations earning upwards of $181,000 per year. As in most Business Administrative positions, annual salary varies depending on location, experience, and industry.