Okay so, I actually worked in food service in my early 20's, ended up getting interested in mental health and social work and got a graduate degree. Now I work part-time and have a good paying job at a hospital. But I feel like I want a change already. I originally planned to work with kids with my MSW degree, but I ended up in health care because frankly it is the best paying job in my field. Now I am thinking of going back to school to get a teacher certification with special education endorsement, or maybe for occupational therapy. I would like to work with kids with special needs. I could also do this as a social worker as well, though in a different capacity. I have ruled out nursing school or nurse practitioner school, those would require a LOT of prerequisites. Generally, I would like to work with kids and families with a variety of issues. I have considered private practice also. My interests are mental/behavioral health and special needs, such as autism, dyspraxia, AD/HD. Any thoughts?
I think those are great choices! They do take a lot out of you emotionally. Working for a school district - I know first hand that those positions are very hard to fill because there are not enough people endorsed. Why it might not be a great time for some education positions, Special Programs is different. There is always a high need in this field.
Good luck in whatever you choose!
This is absolutely NOT the time to be going into education. The field (even special education) is over-saturated and we are continuing to lay-off teachers each year. Special education certification really isn't as much of a "benefit" as it was 5 years ago and being an OT is an entirely different program and level of certification.
I was a school psychologist for many years, then became an Assistant Principal and now supervise special education programs for NYS. I will candidly tell you this... we are not hiring. Most states are not. If you have a stable job and want to get your teaching certificate for the future, go for it, but don't plan on landing a teaching job. You may get lucky, but I am flooded with resumes on a weekly basis from highly qualified individuals who have been laid-off.
Just my thoughts. I also worked in private practice and would suggest that you consider working PT for a private practitioner before making that leap. Insurance for you is very high and many insurance companies are pulling way back on what they will cover re: supplemental/support therapies especially when there is a medication "solution". Most insurance companies with grant coverage for medications that address symptomology, but severaly limit behavioral therapies because of the intensity and cost.
I just read a New York Times article that more teachers were laid off last year than ever before in the history of the US. Schools are doing serious budget cutting, and there isn't an end in sight, especially since there are fewer children entering school in the next 5 years (lower birth rate).
My suggestion is that you find a way to do exactly what you want to -- work with special needs kids -- out of the school setting. You''ll have more flexibility, higher pay, better job security, etc. So how about starting to look for organizations that do something similar to what you're hoping to do and seeing if you can volunteer (to see if it's a good fit) or work part time to get your foot in the door?
Please go spend a day in a classroom.
They send the brand new teachers to special ed. I spent one year working in the special needs classroom of a public school. It took so much out of me emotionally. Your heart goes out to these kids and thier families. So much so, that you have nothing left for your own kids and family at the end of the day.
Autistic kids thrive on a strict schedule and familiarity. If I were late or absent for a drs appointment, I had enormous guilt. I knew that was going to send a couple of the kids into a tailspin. I was pregnant and couldn't dare take time off to go to the dr!
It was rewarding and I got the warm and fuzzies. I also got hit, peed on, bitten, milk poured all over me, and very very little pay.
My suggestion for you is communication disorders. It makes more money than I can possibly comprehend. My sil has a masters in CD and bachelors in SW. She makes something like $45 an hour. TIme and a half overtime. Excellent benefits. It's seriously in demand, so she will never be unemployed.
She started out working with kids and now she goes to nursing homes. She goes in, has her one on one session and therapy with the patient, writes up her n otes and recomendations and then takes the next patient. She gets the warm fuzzies of helping, along with a fat paycheck, and rarely gets peed on or bitten!
Hmmm.... I think first I'd apply at a place like Child Serve here in Des Moines (http://www.childserve.org/ but I'm sure your area has something sinilair) to use your current qualifications in a more child centered enviroment. That would probably increase your satisfaction AND give you a closer up view of what kind ofwork is available....
If you already have an MSW, why not start a private practice? You could be a therapist for children which would allow you to work with kids and parents on the special needs you mentioned. I work at a private school for learning disabled kids and the kids all have therapists they use for their anxiety, ADHD, etc. Given your interests and your bakground, I would thinkit would be fairly easy for you to become a therapist no?
I agree with the previous poster. Find something in your current field which is closest to what you think you'd like to do, like working with children or special needs children. I know your grad degree was a lot of work already and this will be so much easier for you. Of course, it's up to you, but that's my $.02. GL.
For a teaching cert. you will need about a yr. of prereqs. in art, behavioral/social (you probably have this or equiv.), heck, I don't remember all of the classes I had to take after my bachelors for the 5th yr. program here in OR. But, it did take about a year to complete all of them. Then, you had to put in your registration to a teaching program (which took another year), and any endorsements will take even more time, usually.
I would look into the ESD in your area and see if there are any positions for early childhood intervention or even school age intervention. Our ESDs are county-wide, so you wouldn't be in a specific school district. I don't know what WA does. This might be the best of both worlds (in education, but working in small group/one-on-one situations to give children services through the county school system. I have no idea how hard it is to get a job in the ESDs.
I would definitely do lots of research/homework before incurring the cost of more education for a field (within a local school district) that might be saturated or near saturation with candidates.
