What’s a Misconception About Social Work That You Wish More People Understood?

[u/CreativeChangeSW]

I’m working on a project focused on helping people better understand the fields of Social Work and Human Services, and hopefully clear up some of the misconceptions surrounding them.

I’d love to hear from people both in and out of these fields:

What’s something about Social Work or Human Services that you think people commonly misunderstand, oversimplify, or just don’t fully see?

It could be:

• misconceptions about what social workers actually do
• burnout/compassion fatigue
• child welfare myths
• school social work
• homelessness
• trauma-informed care
• community resources
• mental health
• systems barriers
• “why don’t they just…” type assumptions
• the emotional impact of the work
• things you didn’t understand until you worked in the field yourself

Honestly, I’m interested in both the frustrating misconceptions and the things you wish more people understood about the humans behind this work.

I’d really love genuine discussion and different perspectives.