Social work involves helping individuals, families, couples, groups of people, or communities to improve their situations, and in many cases to overcome difficult situations. The field of social work is quite broad and far reaching. It may include helping individuals to work together cooperatively, control addictions, overcome tragedies, and even guide students in their future course studies. Further, social work may be comprised of pastoral care, geriatric services, child welfare services, mental health assessments, and general counseling for the family of loved ones who are sick.

Experts in the social work profession try to provide skills and resources to vulnerable individuals. Often they work with people who are poverty-stricken; children and women who have been the victims of domestic violence; and others who have no-one on whom they can depend. Social workers will try to find housing placements for low income earners, and also look for facilities for adults who are not capable of living on their own.

Employees of various social organizations may also help in the enforcement of basic human rights in regards to tenants who cannot defend themselves against landlords who take advantage; assist illiterate people to fill in forms, apply for bank accounts, and other everyday tasks and help immigrants to understand procedures and policies in their new country of residence. Social workers also help when parents have ill or premature babies. Once the babies leave the hospital, the social worker is available to provide out-patient counseling and other support services that the new parents require.

Social workers work in many settings which vary depending on the field of expertise. For example some work in administrative offices, others in hospitals, some in government agencies, others in charitable endeavors, some work in long-term care facilities, others work in health care offices, and some social workers even work in prisons and alternative correctional facilities. The social work profession is seen in schools, the judicial system, psychiatric hospitals, private practice, disaster relief organizations, and in academia such as research and publication. A lot of people apply for jobs in social work for non-financial rewards, which makes it quite unique.

As a career, social work is in such high demand, due to the stressful and taxing nature of today's world and economy, that it is one of the fastest growing areas in job vacancies. Education at the bachelor's, master's and doctorate levels is increasing in number of students, classes, universities, and colleges. Professional social workers are needed in all walks of life.

In fact, the social work profession is so prevalent, and such an integral segment of daily life for most people, that both Canada and the US each year declare the month of March as National Social Work Month. In addition, World Social Work Day is set for March 16, 2010.