Since beginning work as a social worker more than 20 years ago, Elizabeth Blue has had her share of disturbing experiences. While some made her question whether she wanted to continue in this job, she says they were an important part of her training.
"I worked with a young person and his family at an alternative school," says Blue, who works in Wisconsin. "The boy committed suicide and that was really dreadful. I also once worked with a girl who was pregnant at 11. Many times, it just really floored me to find out this stuff was going on in the world."
Blue chose not to let these experiences defeat her. Instead, she became even more determined to help people.
Much of Blue's training has been on the job because, like many other people who took up social work at the time, she didn't have the option of pursuing a social work degree.
"In the early '70s, there was no such thing as a bachelor's degree for social work," explains Blue. "That didn't come around until the '80s, so I took a teaching degree instead. Had there been a program, I would have found it."
Blue entered social work with plenty of good intentions but no official training, as did many of her colleagues at the time.
"There were a lot of people out there like me, working with a good heart and an interest in people -- but no actual training," says Blue.
Blue says this was a difficult time for social work. "We've had to struggle with a legacy of lots and lots of misfires with clients."
People like Blue learned most of their skills on the job, working with different agencies. While Blue admits she learned a lot, she says it was difficult because every agency had its own special way of doing things.
"Every agency trains people according to its own philosophy and values," she says. "I did a lot of learning on the job and learned a lot of incorrect things."
Blue has since earned a master's degree in social work and is now working on her PhD -- gaining the academic qualifications to back up all the practical experience she's gained.
Even with all the progress that has been made in social work since Blue started, she says there are still some common stereotypes that all social workers face.
"There are so many myths and stereotypes, I don't know where to start," she says. "People think we like to play God. They think we're child stealers and that we break up families. They also tend to think we all work for welfare agencies, which is totally false. Only about one-quarter of us do."
Social worker Harry Mar has his own private practice. On a daily basis, Mar counsels kids, adults and senior citizens on a variety of problems.
"I like the variety of my job," says Mar. "I think seeing all sorts of people is what keeps it fresh. I'm not just dealing with child services issues. It's not depressing all the time, which is good, because I don't think I could handle it if it was."
Mar doesn't deny there are social workers out there who thrive on the control aspect of their jobs and end up making bad decisions in the process. However, he stresses that these are individuals and not the norm.
"There may be individual social workers, just like there are individual lawyers or doctors or whatever, that like to play God," Mar says. "We're trained to work in partnership with a client. Your work with a client should never put you in a God-like position."
For Mar, all the study and practical experience pays off when he sees someone he's helped doing really well.
"It's really rewarding when I see people I helped years ago still doing well, and they tell me their experience in my program was important for them," he says.
Social work can take a toll on those who pursue it. In his 20 years as a social worker, Mar has seen a number of his colleagues burn out or become cynical as a result of the stresses of the job. Mar says he's avoided this by developing a personal strategy for dealing with the stress and frustration.
"You have to learn how not to take this home with you at night," he says. "I've done this by cultivating a group of very supportive friends and colleagues. When my work affects me, I'm able to talk about it with someone close to me and that usually resolves the tension."
Mar also says changing jobs frequently and working in a variety of different areas has helped him avoid burnout. "I've developed this strategy carefully over the years because I really need it," he says.
Mar plans to continue in social work, despite the fact that social programs are constantly threatened by budget cuts. He says the need is still there and the field is growing.
Besides, he says there's a lot of work to be done.
"I like the variety and challenge I face every day," says Mar. "And the opportunity to push forward for change is what keeps it exciting."