More than three million U.S. children—that’s 4.3% of the under-18 population—have a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The American Community Survey (ACS) considers someone to have a disability if they have challenges seeing, hearing, or for ages 5 and over, concentrating or remembering, walking or climbing stairs, or dressing or bathing, among other things. The most common issue for children is cognitive difficulty.¹ 

Children with special needs often require special services and support, including therapy, social skills training, medical treatments, psychiatry, and sometimes specific schools for special needs, according to Karen Zilberstein, LCSW. For parents, finding the right services for their children can seem like a scavenger hunt—especially since separate agencies may oversee each specific sector, and arranging services requires all kinds of paperwork and meetings. To make things even more challenging, not all communities have the support services needed, and parents often must look outside their neighborhoods for the right services. Despite all this, parents can locate the resources they require by doing the following:

• Know what your child needs and ask for it. See what is available at clinics, hospitals, and nonprofits and look into programs provided through your state’s human services department.
• Research alternatives. Ask friends, family, healthcare professionals, community members, and others for resources such as local and national organizations that can help you.
• See what works best for your family. Not all support systems may fit your child’s needs. Don’t be afraid to recalibrate the resources you put in place.
• Look for social support. Make sure to nurture relationships. Support groups can help overwhelmed parents, and social groups can connect your child with others. See if scholarships or free programs are available.
• Be persistent. Sometimes the line for services is long and you might be put on a wait list. Don’t let that deter you. Keep following up. While waiting, maintain conversations with healthcare professionals, parents, and others to seek out other situations in case your first option doesn’t work out. ²
   

Earn an MSW online to help others

If you work with children with special needs, or you’ve always felt a calling to create a more inclusive community, earning a master’s degree in social work might help your professional trajectory. Walden University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) online program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and its rigorous curriculum includes an optional licensure preparation experience and practice exam. 

Walden University allows you to customize your online MSW program by choosing from one of five focus areas: Addictions, Child and Family, Healthcare, Military, and Trauma. An embedded certificate can also be earned, should you choose to take an additional elective course. Regardless of the path you choose, you’ll have the opportunity to acquire practical experience through interactive online scenarios and skills labs.

Walden’s online MSW program provides added flexibility through its three completion tracks:

• Traditional: For those seeking a balance between school, work, and other commitments.
• Fast Track: For individuals focused on graduating quickly.
• Advanced Standing Option: For those who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited School of Social Work program and graduated with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Advanced Standing students can skip foundational courses and get right into higher-level courses.

Employment in social worker jobs should increase 6% through 2034, with the addition of about 44,700 positions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.³ Earning an MSW online and becoming licensed can qualify you to work in a variety of positions, including medical social worker, school social worker, clinical social worker, and more. Such positions can be found in a variety of settings, such as healthcare, mental health and substance abuse agencies, hospitals, insurance companies, and even private practices.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/03/united-states-childhood-disability-rate-up-in-2019-from-2008.html 
²www.helpstartshere.org/?p=12820
³www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.

Accreditation
Walden University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the CSWE-BOA indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the BOA has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

Note on Licensure
The Walden University Master of Social Work (MSW) program is designed to prepare graduates to practice as licensed social workers in many states. However, the requirements for licensure as a social worker vary greatly from state to state. Each state board that is responsible for regulating the practice of social work has its own academic requirements and issues its own license to practice as a social worker in that state. Additionally, students should be advised that the Walden MSW program is not designed or intended to prepare graduates for licensure as a school social worker; however, graduates might be eligible for licensure as a school social worker in their particular state of residence.

While Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide general information relating to the state-by-state educational requirements for social work licensure or certification, it remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization, or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of its coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, certification, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential. Licensure eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board that issues the credential to practice.

Prospective students enrolling in licensure-leading programs are advised that relocation to another state may impact the student’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.