HOT JOBS : Social Work--A Career for Pragmatists Who Want to See the World

SANTA ANA â€”  At 31, Jack Light is too young to remember the 1960s, when social work was a popular major on college campuses. In fact, he felt slightly out of place at UC Berkeley in the 1980s when business and law were the main attractions.

“That was when Michael Milken and the other Wall Street types were on top of the world. Everybody wanted to be like them. Majoring in social work was out of favor,� said Light, who has been working in his chosen field for eight years.

“I originally wanted to be a psychologist but decided that the practical aspects of social work were a better choice for me,� said Light, who works in the Adult Protective Services Division of the Orange County Social Services Agency in Santa Ana.

“I like being out in neighborhoods dealing with people in their actual environment, not in an office setting where you can’t see everything that’s affecting the person or family.�

Light supervises a team of social workers who investigate reports of mental, physical and financial abuse of the elderly and disabled adults. “Our goal is to help the family function better. We help them obtain whatever help and resources that will make it possible for them to provide a healthy, safe environment for the person involved.�

Though Light and his staff have no law-enforcement authority, they often make surprise visits to homes where abuse has been reported and occasionally obtain the abused person’s permission to move him or her to a board and care home.

Light says his job requires a pragmatic and non-judgmental approach, for social workers encounter people from all economic and ethnic backgrounds.

“That’s one of the most enriching and important aspects of our jobs,� he said. “We have to be sensitive to the way various cultures regard the elderly and developmentally disabled. It helps to develop a rapport with people so they will trust you and come to you for help.�

OCCUPATION: SOCIAL WORKER

* Name: Jack Light, 31

* Outlook: One of the 10 fastest-growing job fields in Orange County.

* Prospects: By 1998, the number of non-medical or psychiatric social work jobs in the county is projected to increase by 16.6% to 2,180 positions.

* What’s involved: Social workers are employed by government or nonprofit agencies to help children, the disabled and the elderly obtain medical services, day care, food, shelter and employment. They also investigate reports of physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse.

* Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field such as psychology. Most advanced positions require a master’s degree. Both degrees require several hours of supervised fieldwork. The master’s degree is required before advancing to become a licensed clinical social worker who may conduct individual or group therapy sessions.

* Salary range: $27,000 to $55,000 a year

* Pros: Satisfaction of helping individuals in a broad range of situations.

* Cons: Having to untangle red tape to get help for clients.

* Advancement: After several years’ experience, social workers may advance to supervisory positions. Some remain involved in administrative work, while others specialize in research. Some serve on the staffs of elected officials as policy analysts and consultants.

* Quote: “Most people enter this field because they care and want to help others. But since it’s impossible to cure all societal ills, it’s important to develop a pragmatic outlook, or you will burn out.�

Researched by JANICE L. JONES / Los Angeles Times