My Future Job

My Future Job Is Being An Adoption Counselor.

Educational Requirements

·         A four year degree in social work or a related field

·         Graduate degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling or psychology

Salary

·         The median for master’s level family and/or adoption counselors was $39,710 in May 2010

·         The lowest paid adoption counselors earned less than $24,180

·         The highest paid adoption counselors earned more than $63,630

Job Description

·         Adoption counselors are usually trained as psychologists or social workers, and are often employed by social service agencies. In this role, they work to place children in foster or adoptive homes. To ensure that prospective parents are good candidates, the counselor conducts a thorough investigation into their finances, background, psychological fitness and home environment. After a child is placed, the adoption counselor continues to visit the family in order to monitor the child’s progress and offer support.

Occupational Outlook

·         According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of master’s level adoption counselors and marriage and family therapists is expected to grow by 37% from 2010 - 2020, which is considered much faster than average for all occupations. Growth within the foster care system has created a demand for adoption counselors in recent years. In addition, more families are choosing to adopt children from the United States and abroad. Job prospects are best for experienced candidates with graduate degrees.

Personal Characteristics/Abilities Needed for This Career

·         Adoption counselors must be compassionate people with a genuine interest in helping others through crises and stressful decisions. Because they spend much of their time interviewing, counseling and consulting with clients, they should have good people skills and strong speaking and listening skills.

·         Good adoption counselors are aware of their own limitations and seek support when they need it. Their emotional maturity and excellent self-management skills allow them to help people in crisis without becoming overwhelmed by the enormity of their clients’ problems. Working in the field of child welfare is an enormous responsibility. Adoption counselors rely on their observational and interpersonal skills to determine whether a potential placement is suitable and safe.

Advantages

·         Being able to help a child find the perfect home

·         Being able to make a family complete

·         Being able to help people understand they have someone to help and talk to which would be me

Disadvantages

·         Working with difficult families

·         Working with difficult children

·         Not being able to match a child up with the right family

Working Conditions

·         Adoption counselors spend much of the workday in offices meeting with clients and completing paperwork. They frequently travel to clients’ homes to conduct home studies and follow up with adoptive families.

·         Adoption counselors must schedule their work around the needs of clients. They often conduct home visits, respond to crises and provide counseling outside of regular business hours. In many agencies, adoption counselors are on call some nights and weekends.

Would I Be Suited To This Job and Consider It As A Career Possibility?

I think this job would be perfect for me because I am a people person and I always have a listening ear for anyone’s problems. I am also a hard worker especially when it comes to helping someone and I am organized and show a lot of compassion toward people in need. I think I would enjoy being a part of a family’s happiness so this job would definitely be for me.