J-1 Visa Social Worker Jobs
Social Worker positions in the United States are accessible to international professionals through the J-1 visa's Trainee and Specialist program categories, both of which require a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor to issue your DS-2019 and provide sponsorship. Host employers in public agencies, nonprofits, and healthcare systems serve as your placement site.
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145 PHP Adult
Scheduled Weekly Hours
16
Work Shift
First Shift (United States of America)
Shift & Status
Internship start dates include May 2026 and August 2026.
Who Are We?
We at Pine Rest believe in the power of healing and that everyone in our community has the right to expert care for mental health and substance use disorders. We are much more than just the third largest non-profit behavioral health system in the country, our 220-acre main campus, and our network of clinical sites across Michigan. We are a tight-knit community of healers who witness the impact of our life-changing work each day.
Each day, we are closing the gaps in access to care. We are innovating through leading-edge research, testing, programs, and treatment modalities that others replicate across the country. Our services include a state-of-the-art psychiatric urgent care center and a soon-to-be-built pediatric behavioral health center, outpatient, inpatient, partial hospitalization (day programs), assessment and testing, residential, addiction treatment and specialty services such as crisis response, employee assistance programs, forensic psychiatry and psychology, and neuromodulation. On-the-job educational programs for nurses, psychologists, advanced practice providers, psychiatrists, and chaplains are equipping the next generation of care providers.
We are passionate about serving and are honored to be a part of this incredible work.
What Will you Do?
As an Intern at Pine Rest, you’ll be part of tight-knit team that believes in the healing power of your expertise and compassion. The Intern - Master’s Level Social Worker will have shared responsibility and accountability with the Internship Supervisor and designate leaders for a group of patients/clients and directs care to these patients/clients via the development of the treatment approach including specific discipline interventions. They will ensure that the appropriate level of care is determined and confer with the family referral source as to the status of the patient throughout treatment. Intern - Master’s Level Social Worker must demonstrate excellent customer service and have enthusiasm about the program and the Pine Rest organization.
Our Interns are driven to make an impact in the lives of those we serve and are motivated by the healing they witness first-hand each day. They are dedicated to excellent customer service, enthusiastic about the care we offer, and foster a sense of belonging and empowerment in a diverse workplace.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assesses and prioritizes patient/client treatment needs including discharge needs.
- Implements plan of care and collaborates with the clinical team to assure a uniform plan of care.
- Provides individual, group, and family therapy or interventions; psychosocial assessment, including assessment of co-occurring disorders.
- Provides input to the interdisciplinary treatment plan, functioning as a team member.
- Establishes therapeutic relationship with assigned patients/clients including engaging, deescalating, screening, and managing crises.
- Serves as a liaison between community resources, family, patient/client, and hospital- or clinic-based providers of care.
- Assures appropriate length of stay based on continual reassessment of patient’s/client’s progress towards goals.
- Responsible to monitor for and report to the manager, attending physician, or appropriate team leader any potential risk to patient safety that could lead to an adverse outcome.
- Responsible to document and report all necessary information according to established policies and procedures.
- Utilizes processes to conserve financial resources.
- Creates a customer/client friendly environment by following quality improvement standards, maintaining professionalism, initiating and maintaining positive relationships with departments, co-workers and external customers.
- Works in various clinical settings with diverse patient/client populations with complex needs.
- Commitment to demonstrating the Hospital and Residential Services Model of Care.
What Does the Role Require?
Education/Experience:
- Currently enrolled in an accredited Master’s Level Social Work program.
Notice:
Pine Rest provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
All new employees are subject to a criminal background check and education verification which may include sending a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college transcripts.
NOTICE: Successful completion of a drug screen prior to employment is also part of our background process.
Cost Center
145 PHP Adult
Scheduled Weekly Hours
16
Work Shift
First Shift (United States of America)
Shift & Status
Internship start dates include May 2026 and August 2026.
Who Are We?
We at Pine Rest believe in the power of healing and that everyone in our community has the right to expert care for mental health and substance use disorders. We are much more than just the third largest non-profit behavioral health system in the country, our 220-acre main campus, and our network of clinical sites across Michigan. We are a tight-knit community of healers who witness the impact of our life-changing work each day.
Each day, we are closing the gaps in access to care. We are innovating through leading-edge research, testing, programs, and treatment modalities that others replicate across the country. Our services include a state-of-the-art psychiatric urgent care center and a soon-to-be-built pediatric behavioral health center, outpatient, inpatient, partial hospitalization (day programs), assessment and testing, residential, addiction treatment and specialty services such as crisis response, employee assistance programs, forensic psychiatry and psychology, and neuromodulation. On-the-job educational programs for nurses, psychologists, advanced practice providers, psychiatrists, and chaplains are equipping the next generation of care providers.
We are passionate about serving and are honored to be a part of this incredible work.
What Will you Do?
As an Intern at Pine Rest, you’ll be part of tight-knit team that believes in the healing power of your expertise and compassion. The Intern - Master’s Level Social Worker will have shared responsibility and accountability with the Internship Supervisor and designate leaders for a group of patients/clients and directs care to these patients/clients via the development of the treatment approach including specific discipline interventions. They will ensure that the appropriate level of care is determined and confer with the family referral source as to the status of the patient throughout treatment. Intern - Master’s Level Social Worker must demonstrate excellent customer service and have enthusiasm about the program and the Pine Rest organization.
Our Interns are driven to make an impact in the lives of those we serve and are motivated by the healing they witness first-hand each day. They are dedicated to excellent customer service, enthusiastic about the care we offer, and foster a sense of belonging and empowerment in a diverse workplace.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assesses and prioritizes patient/client treatment needs including discharge needs.
- Implements plan of care and collaborates with the clinical team to assure a uniform plan of care.
- Provides individual, group, and family therapy or interventions; psychosocial assessment, including assessment of co-occurring disorders.
- Provides input to the interdisciplinary treatment plan, functioning as a team member.
- Establishes therapeutic relationship with assigned patients/clients including engaging, deescalating, screening, and managing crises.
- Serves as a liaison between community resources, family, patient/client, and hospital- or clinic-based providers of care.
- Assures appropriate length of stay based on continual reassessment of patient’s/client’s progress towards goals.
- Responsible to monitor for and report to the manager, attending physician, or appropriate team leader any potential risk to patient safety that could lead to an adverse outcome.
- Responsible to document and report all necessary information according to established policies and procedures.
- Utilizes processes to conserve financial resources.
- Creates a customer/client friendly environment by following quality improvement standards, maintaining professionalism, initiating and maintaining positive relationships with departments, co-workers and external customers.
- Works in various clinical settings with diverse patient/client populations with complex needs.
- Commitment to demonstrating the Hospital and Residential Services Model of Care.
What Does the Role Require?
Education/Experience:
- Currently enrolled in an accredited Master’s Level Social Work program.
Notice:
Pine Rest provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
All new employees are subject to a criminal background check and education verification which may include sending a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college transcripts.
NOTICE: Successful completion of a drug screen prior to employment is also part of our background process.
See all 6+ Social Worker jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Social Worker roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Social Worker
Verify your credential equivalency before applying
U.S. social work roles often require a BSW or MSW from a CSWE-accredited program. Get your foreign degree evaluated by a NACES-member credential evaluation service so host employers can confirm it meets state licensing board standards.
Distinguish Trainee from Specialist category eligibility
The Trainee category suits social workers within five years of graduating or gaining experience abroad. The Specialist category applies if you have substantial post-degree experience. Clarifying this before you apply prevents your designated sponsor from rejecting your DS-2019 application.
Target host employers with existing sponsor relationships
Use Migrate Mate to find U.S. social work employers already familiar with J-1 host agreements. These organizations have completed the site-evaluation and training-plan processes before, which shortens your onboarding timeline significantly.
Build a structured training plan with your host employer
Your designated sponsor requires a detailed training plan before issuing the DS-2019. Work with your prospective host to document specific learning objectives, supervision hours, and evaluation milestones tied directly to social work practice competencies.
Confirm the 2-year home residency requirement applies to you
Many social workers on J-1 visas are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement, particularly if government funding or skills-shortage designations apply. Confirm your status with your designated sponsor before accepting an offer.
Research prevailing wages using OFLC Wage Search
Host employers participating in J-1 programs must pay wages comparable to U.S. workers in the same role and location. Cross-check your offered compensation against the OFLC Wage Search by SOC code before signing your training agreement.
Social Worker jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Social Worker JobsSocial Worker J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to social workers?
Most international social workers use the Trainee or Specialist category. Trainee applies if you completed your degree or professional training within the past five years and are seeking structured skill development in the U.S. Specialist applies if you have substantial post-degree expertise and are pursuing advanced, focused training. The category determines your DS-2019 eligibility and training plan requirements.
Who actually sponsors a J-1 visa for a social work role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your host employer. Organizations like Cultural Vistas or CIEE issue your DS-2019, monitor your training plan, and ensure program compliance. Your host employer, such as a nonprofit, hospital, or government agency, provides the actual work placement and supervises your day-to-day training.
How do I find U.S. employers willing to host a J-1 social worker?
Many social work employers are unfamiliar with J-1 host agreements, so targeting organizations already experienced with exchange visitors improves your odds. Migrate Mate lets you search for roles and employers that align with J-1 sponsorship, helping you focus your applications on host sites where the program structure is already understood.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect social workers?
It frequently does. Social work often falls under skills-shortage designations or involves government funding streams that trigger the two-year home-country physical presence requirement under INA Section 212(e). This means you must return to your home country for two years before changing to certain other visa statuses. Confirm whether your specific situation triggers this requirement with your designated sponsor before accepting an offer.
What documents does a social worker need to apply for J-1 training?
You'll need a valid passport, a completed DS-7002 training plan signed by both you and your host employer, proof of relevant degree or professional credentials, and a letter from your host confirming the placement. Your designated sponsor then reviews these materials before issuing the DS-2019. Foreign credential evaluations from a NACES-member service are often required to satisfy state licensing board and sponsor requirements.
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