Social workers support children and families facing the challenges of illness and hospitalization.
What do social workers do?
Social workers are trained mental health professionals who are an important part of the health-care team. They can help you and your family cope with illness. They understand how a child's illness can affect the whole family, and can support decision-making and communication while helping families access practical resources and community supports throughout their child's care.
Social workers can help you and your family in many ways
Social workers can help you and your family in many ways. For example:
- They can provide counselling. That is, they can listen to you, talk to you and suggest ways to make things better.
- They can provide counselling for children, teens, parents, couples or families.
- They can put you in touch with support groups, or other families who have similar problems.
- They can show you where to find help in your community, such as financial help or home help.
- They can speak up for you in the hospital and in the community. They can ask questions for you and make sure members of the health-care team know what you want and need.
There are many reasons to see a social worker
Different families need different things. There are many reasons you might want to talk to a social worker. Here are some of the things you might be worried and want to talk about:
- How your child and family adjust to illness and treatment
- If your child has problems at school or with other children because of the illness and treatment
- How to cope with stress
- Feelings of guilt, grief or loss
- Concerns about your other children
- Concerns about being a good parent
- Family conflict which makes it hard for you to cope
- Financial (money) problems because your child is sick or in hospital
- If you feel you cannot talk to other members of the health-care team
- Support for your family after your child leaves hospital
- Support for your child and family while your child is an outpatient
- Concerns that you or your child may be at risk of emotional, physical or sexual abuse
Working on problems and solutions together
The social worker will talk to you about your situation. You will identify the problems you want to solve and the social worker will work with you to solve those problems. They may continue to provide counselling and support after your child goes home.
How to contact a social worker
A member of your child's health-care team might suggest that you talk to a social worker. Or you can ask for this service yourself.