by Phyllis Babrove, MSW, LCSW
My career as a social worker came later in life. At the age of 40, after raising a family, I decided to go to college. I completed my Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees by the time I was 47. Social work was not something that I had planned on studying. I enjoyed sociology classes more than anything, but I also wanted to become a therapist. Someone suggested that I would be able to have the best of both worlds with a degree in social work.
My jobs included working in protective services, conducting assessments for dependency court, and being a counselor at a community mental health agency. I spent the majority of my career with the public school system as a social worker.
As a protective services counselor, I learned about the court system, dependency issues, and how to help families stop the cycle of abuse. The same was true when I completed assessments for dependency court. Recommendations were made to the court as to what would be in the best interest of the child. I provided crisis counseling at a community mental health agency. The goal was to stabilize a family after a child had been hospitalized and to provide resources for them.
I spent the last 16 years of my career as a school social worker. The social worker’s role in the public schools is to work with students and families to ensure that the child attends school regularly, so he or she is successful academically and later in life. To be effective, the social worker becomes part of a team that includes the school and family. At times, mental health agencies, juvenile justice agencies, and protective services are involved. In many cases of truancy, there are underlying family issues that have to be determined. Other functions of the social worker include crisis counseling, training of school staff, facilitating group counseling, and assisting families with resources.
Four years ago, I reached my goal to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I was determined to pass the state test and after a lot of hard work, I did.
I retired in June of last year at the end of what I consider to be a rewarding career. I don’t know how many people I actually helped over the years, and I never will. I like to think that at some point in their lives, they will remember some advice I may have given or a suggestion I made that will help them be successful in whatever they decide to do.
I decided to write this piece because there are many people who would like to go back to school when they are older, but hesitate because of their age. I would suggest to them that they pursue their dreams and achieve their goals. Being a student later in life was meaningful, and I was fortunate that I found a profession in which life experience is looked at in a positive way.
Phyllis Babrove, MSW, LCSW, is currently taking online writing courses with the hope of publishing a novel. She enjoys spending time with her family and likes to travel to New England with her husband of 45 years.
Comments (75)
Comment Feed62 and getting my masters degree in SW
Michael A more than 2 years ago
I'm sorry
Soda City more than 1 year ago
MSW at 60
ct more than 1 year ago
Sorry too
Renee 342 days ago
How does one go about affording this process?
Carrie Federico more than 3 years ago
Affording tuition
Carol Smith more than 1 year ago
affording tuition
julie Johnson more than 1 year ago
47 and grateful
Joseph Peters more than 3 years ago
Age no bar
HRISHIKESH PRIYANK more than 4 years ago
50 and loving my life!
Lynda M. Coraluzzi more than 4 years ago
A Social Work Career Later in LIfe
Linda Porter more than 4 years ago
A SW Career Later In Life
V Gail Lesesne more than 4 years ago
goodness spring chicken at 60!
nan more than 4 years ago
65 years old BSW Unemployed
Lisa Lindsey more than 2 years ago
65 years old BSW Uemployed
Bessie Gove more than 1 year ago
unemployed
julie Johnson more than 1 year ago
61 MSW
Dawnmarie Goll more than 1 year ago
Recording
SocialWorker.com more than 1 year ago
Schools offering free tuition
Kim Rehman more than 3 years ago
State University that waives tuition for students over 60
Brennetta Simpson more than 2 years ago
A Social Work Career Later in Life
Tiffany Thompson, MSW, CSW more than 5 years ago
A social Work Career Later in Life
Brenda Dowling more than 5 years ago
Agism is alive & well in Social Work
Beth more than 4 years ago
Older Social Worker
Eunice Taylor more than 5 years ago
Thanks for the encouragement.
Teresa more than 5 years ago
Masters of Social work
Pam Rose more than 4 years ago
Financial Aid
SocialWorker.com more than 4 years ago
Returning to University ad an older student.
Deborah Reyna more than 3 years ago
Considering returning for MSW
maya more than 3 years ago
Part-time
SocialWorker.com more than 3 years ago
Social work student debt
Soda more than 1 year ago
Thankyou
Janice Bell more than 3 years ago
Encouraging for older students
Julie more than 5 years ago
Never too old
Magg more than 5 years ago
LCSW
Eunice Taylor more than 5 years ago
MSW @50
Yolanda more than 5 years ago
Never too old to study I say!
Sandra more than 5 years ago
66
Kath more than 5 years ago
60
Katherine Stewart more than 5 years ago
Sharing
Alicia more than 6 years ago
50
Lisa more than 6 years ago
Encouraging
Michele more than 5 years ago
Me too!
Shanna more than 5 years ago
To Shanna
SocialWorker.com more than 5 years ago
@ 50
Genia more than 5 years ago
Never too late
John more than 6 years ago
Thank You
Phyllis Babrove more than 6 years ago
mature student
shaz more than 6 years ago
foster carer looking to train as a social worker
Michelle Thomas-Troake more than 5 years ago
To Michele
SocialWorker.com more than 5 years ago
Adult learner
Alicia Sefcik more than 6 years ago
Another non-traditional student
Gayle more than 6 years ago
I'm a non-traditional, too!
Louise DeCosta-Bacher more than 6 years ago
Did you get a job easily
liv more than 3 years ago
Even older
Karen Marshall more than 6 years ago
A Social Work Career Later in Life
Kelly more than 5 years ago
Did you get a job in social work?
liv more than 3 years ago
Older Student
Dr. Joyce Lawson Noto more than 6 years ago
Thanks!
Christina more than 6 years ago
Yes!
Deb Hereld more than 6 years ago
57
Vanessa more than 6 years ago
Yes yes yes!
Doe Daughtrey more than 6 years ago
A Social Work Career Later in Life
Kelly more than 5 years ago
ASU and 60
Charis more than 1 year ago
Even older
Melissa Hubbert more than 6 years ago
With Appreciation.
Rhonda Glasgow more than 6 years ago
In Masters Progam with Young uns.
Pam more than 6 years ago
Another Older student
Laura V more than 6 years ago
I'm with you!
Dan more than 6 years ago
Keep going
Lisa more than 6 years ago
Update on career path
Lisa more than 6 years ago
Social Worker's Heart
Adele more than 6 years ago
Thanks for the encouragement!
Deb Farnsworth more than 6 years ago
Awesome!
David J. Ortiz more than 6 years ago
True professional
Jeanue more than 6 years ago