OPT Social Work Assistant Jobs
Social Work Assistant jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in social work, psychology, human services, or related fields. Most roles qualify under STEM-adjacent or standard OPT, offering 12 months of work authorization. Community agencies, nonprofits, and government-funded programs regularly hire OPT candidates for direct client support roles.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Provides assessment and intervention to assist clients/families to improve social and economic difficulties interfering with health and wellness through use of casework process and principles, strategies, and community resources. Provides professional discharge planning services through assessments, and coordination of post hospital care needs to patients and their families; providing them with resources and choices to effectively link them to the needed level of emotional, medical and spiritual care. Receives referrals for individuals from at-risk populations from interdisciplinary team members.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS ASSIGNED:
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Performs assessment on assigned patients, with focus on identifying those with complex psych-social or financial issues, placement needs and on the next business day after admission.
-
Identifies and assesses barriers early in the patient’s stay, formulating a plan with the patient, family, internal and external members of the healthcare team, payers, and community resources (e.g., LOS barriers to D/C).
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Assesses patient and family needs for support and community service needs (Meals on Wheels, Council on Aging, substance abuse etc.); educates and refers them to community resources, access to services, and establishes rapport with other agencies.
-
Assesses risk of readmission for specified patient populations and initiates assigned interventions that will enhance the patient’s ability to successfully transition along the care continuum.
-
Identifies the need for, arranges, and participates in family care conferences; participates in interdisciplinary conferences and provides consultation for patient, families, and clinical staff (e.g., attends care conferences/unit rounds/huddles).
-
Uses knowledge of insurance benefits and coverage guidelines to maximize appropriate utilization of resources.
-
Documents in the EMR: assessment, plans, interventions, barriers, and reassessments as necessary to facilitate discharge and/or transitions; ensures all pertinent information is transferred to post-acute agency.
-
Works collaboratively with the RN Care Manager/Supervisor, other disciplines, and internal and external members of the healthcare team to ensure a safe, appropriate, and timely transition to the next level of care, taking into consideration the patient’s available resources and preferences.
-
Performs other related duties as required and directed.
REQUIRED:
- Clinical Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker
PREFERRED:
- Clinical Licensed Master’s Social Worker
- Discharge planning experience preferred.
- Minimum of three (3) years clinical experience in a hospital setting preferred.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Schedule: Full-time
- Requisition ID: 26012098
- Daily Work Times: 8AM - 4PM
- Hours Per Pay Period: 80
- On Call: No
- Weekends: No
About us
The McLaren system includes 12 hospitals across the state, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 730-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 242,000 Michigan lives, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network, and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. McLaren has 20,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 93,000 network providers throughout Michigan.
INTRODUCTION
Provides assessment and intervention to assist clients/families to improve social and economic difficulties interfering with health and wellness through use of casework process and principles, strategies, and community resources. Provides professional discharge planning services through assessments, and coordination of post hospital care needs to patients and their families; providing them with resources and choices to effectively link them to the needed level of emotional, medical and spiritual care. Receives referrals for individuals from at-risk populations from interdisciplinary team members.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS ASSIGNED:
-
Performs assessment on assigned patients, with focus on identifying those with complex psych-social or financial issues, placement needs and on the next business day after admission.
-
Identifies and assesses barriers early in the patient’s stay, formulating a plan with the patient, family, internal and external members of the healthcare team, payers, and community resources (e.g., LOS barriers to D/C).
-
Assesses patient and family needs for support and community service needs (Meals on Wheels, Council on Aging, substance abuse etc.); educates and refers them to community resources, access to services, and establishes rapport with other agencies.
-
Assesses risk of readmission for specified patient populations and initiates assigned interventions that will enhance the patient’s ability to successfully transition along the care continuum.
-
Identifies the need for, arranges, and participates in family care conferences; participates in interdisciplinary conferences and provides consultation for patient, families, and clinical staff (e.g., attends care conferences/unit rounds/huddles).
-
Uses knowledge of insurance benefits and coverage guidelines to maximize appropriate utilization of resources.
-
Documents in the EMR: assessment, plans, interventions, barriers, and reassessments as necessary to facilitate discharge and/or transitions; ensures all pertinent information is transferred to post-acute agency.
-
Works collaboratively with the RN Care Manager/Supervisor, other disciplines, and internal and external members of the healthcare team to ensure a safe, appropriate, and timely transition to the next level of care, taking into consideration the patient’s available resources and preferences.
-
Performs other related duties as required and directed.
REQUIRED:
- Clinical Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker
PREFERRED:
- Clinical Licensed Master’s Social Worker
- Discharge planning experience preferred.
- Minimum of three (3) years clinical experience in a hospital setting preferred.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Schedule: Full-time
- Requisition ID: 26012098
- Daily Work Times: 8AM - 4PM
- Hours Per Pay Period: 80
- On Call: No
- Weekends: No
About us
The McLaren system includes 12 hospitals across the state, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 730-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 242,000 Michigan lives, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network, and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. McLaren has 20,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 93,000 network providers throughout Michigan.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Social Work Assistant
Target mission-driven nonprofits and government agencies
Nonprofits and public agencies funded through state or federal contracts often have established HR processes for hiring OPT workers. They hire on a rolling basis and are more accustomed to work authorization questions than smaller private practices.
Lead with your field placement experience
Supervised field hours from your social work program are directly relevant to Social Work Assistant roles. Quantify the populations you served and the case volumes you managed. Employers treat clinical placement experience as equivalent to professional work history.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront with employers
Be transparent about your OPT start date and expiration. Many agencies can begin the H-1B visa sponsorship process before your OPT expires if you raise it early. Waiting until the final months puts unnecessary pressure on both sides.
Check whether the role qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Social work degrees are not on the STEM designated degree list, so standard OPT gives you 12 months. Confirm your degree classification with your DSO before assuming extension eligibility, especially if your program had a quantitative or data-focused concentration.
Highlight licensure progress and state requirements
Many Social Work Assistant roles require or prefer candidates working toward LMSW or LCSW licensure. Noting where you are in that process signals commitment to the field and reassures employers that you are a long-term hire worth sponsoring.
Frame visa sponsorship as a structured, manageable process
Many social services employers have not sponsored before and assume the process is prohibitive. Come prepared with a brief overview of H-1B timelines and costs. Reducing the unknown makes sponsorship conversations far more productive and less likely to end the discussion.
Social Work Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Social Work Assistant jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Social Work Assistant roles qualify under standard F-1 OPT as long as the position is directly related to your degree in social work, psychology, human services, or a closely related field. Your DSO will confirm the connection between your job duties and your degree program before authorizing employment.
Can I work as a Social Work Assistant on OPT without a social work license?
In most states, Social Work Assistant positions do not require independent licensure, since the role operates under the supervision of a licensed social worker. You can work legally on OPT in these roles, though some agencies prefer candidates who are working toward licensure. Check your specific state's requirements, as supervision and title rules vary.
How can I find Social Work Assistant jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the best place to search. It filters job listings specifically for F-1 OPT and visa sponsorship eligibility, so you are not wasting applications on roles that won't work for your situation. Social services roles at nonprofits, county agencies, and community health organizations are the most common listings for OPT candidates in this field.
Will a Social Work Assistant employer sponsor me for an H-1B after OPT?
Some will, particularly larger nonprofits and public health agencies with established HR departments. Social Work Assistant roles can qualify for H-1B sponsorship if the position meets the specialty occupation standard, which typically requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Smaller community organizations may be less familiar with the process, so raising sponsorship early in the conversation matters.
Does a social work degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Standard social work degrees are not on the DHS STEM designated degree list, so most Social Work Assistant OPT holders receive 12 months of work authorization rather than the 24-month STEM extension. If your degree had a significant data science or quantitative methods component, confirm your degree's classification with your DSO. Assuming extension eligibility without verifying it is one of the most common OPT planning mistakes.