Are you a social worker with a sense of adventure? Do you want to make a difference in diverse communities across the country while expanding your professional horizons? If so, a career as a Traveling Social Worker might be the perfect path for you. This dynamic field allows you to combine your passion for social work with the excitement of travel, offering unique opportunities for personal and professional growth.
What Exactly Does a Traveling Social Worker Do?
Traveling social work involves taking on temporary assignments, typically lasting 13 weeks or longer, in various locations. These assignments address staffing needs in different communities and healthcare facilities. While hospitals are the most common setting, opportunities can also arise in schools, behavioral health centers, and even military bases, both domestically and internationally.
The appeal of traveling social work extends beyond just seeing new places. It often comes with attractive benefits packages designed to support a mobile lifestyle. These can include competitive pay, housing stipends, and allowances to cover travel expenses. This financial flexibility, coupled with the chance to explore different environments, makes it an increasingly popular choice for social workers at various stages of their careers.
Top Agencies for Travel Social Work Opportunities
If you’re considering taking the plunge into traveling social work, connecting with the right agency is crucial. These agencies act as your primary resource for finding and securing assignments, handling logistics, and ensuring you have the support you need while on the road. Here are some of the leading and well-regarded travel social work agencies in the industry:
- GHR Healthcare (merged with Meelo): A large and established healthcare staffing company with a dedicated division for travel social workers. They offer a wide range of assignments across various settings.
- Aya Healthcare: Known for its extensive network and technology-driven approach, Aya Healthcare is a major player in travel healthcare staffing, including social work roles.
- Brundage Group: Specializing in government and military contracts, Brundage Group offers unique traveling social worker positions within federal agencies and military bases.
- Medovent Solutions: A healthcare staffing agency that focuses on connecting healthcare professionals, including social workers, with travel assignments nationwide.
- AMN Healthcare (Club Staffing): One of the largest healthcare staffing companies, AMN Healthcare, through its Club Staffing brand, provides numerous travel social work opportunities across the US.
- Magellan Health: While primarily known for managed behavioral healthcare, Magellan Health also has a staffing division that includes travel social work positions, particularly in behavioral health settings.
- Soliant: Soliant is recognized for its strong presence in school-based staffing and also offers traveling social worker assignments in educational environments.
- Nextgen: Utilizing a mobile app platform, Nextgen provides a modern approach to finding and applying for travel healthcare positions, including social work.
- GreenKey Resources: A staffing agency with a healthcare division that connects social workers with travel opportunities in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
- Leidos: Offering unique opportunities through their Military and Family Life Counseling Program, Leidos provides traveling social worker roles on military bases both in the US and internationally.
- Maxim Staffing: A national staffing agency with a healthcare division that includes travel social work positions in various healthcare settings.
- Cynet Health: Cynet Health is a healthcare staffing firm that places allied health professionals, including social workers, in travel assignments.
- Seco: Seco stands out for offering international traveling social worker assignments, providing opportunities to work in diverse global locations.
- Marshall Healthcare: A healthcare staffing agency focused on providing personalized service to healthcare professionals seeking travel assignments, including social workers.
- LRS Healthcare: LRS Healthcare specializes in travel nursing and allied health, offering a range of traveling social worker positions across different states.
- ADN Healthcare: ADN Healthcare provides staffing solutions for healthcare facilities, connecting social workers with travel assignments in various clinical settings.
- TotalMed: TotalMed focuses on licensed clinical social workers, offering travel assignments that require clinical expertise and licensure.
- Genie Healthcare: Genie Healthcare provides staffing for various healthcare roles, including allied health positions like traveling social workers, across the country.
It’s recommended to research and contact several agencies to find one that aligns with your career goals and preferred locations.
Steps to Becoming a Traveling Social Worker
Embarking on a career as a traveling social worker involves careful planning and preparation. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
1. Financial Readiness: Build a Safety Net
Before accepting your first assignment, ensure you have sufficient savings. Aim for at least 3-6 months of living expenses. This financial cushion is essential because you may need to cover upfront costs like travel and initial housing before your first paycheck arrives. Unexpected assignment cancellations can also occur, and having savings provides security during job transitions.
2. Gain Relevant Experience: Solidify Your Skills
While some entry-level traveling social worker positions exist, agencies often prefer candidates with prior experience. For hospital settings, 1-2 years of inpatient case management experience is highly recommended. This experience equips you with the necessary skills and confidence to quickly adapt to new environments and handle diverse caseloads with minimal onboarding. Experience in areas like discharge planning, crisis intervention, or medical social work can be particularly valuable.
3. Identify Your Ideal Assignments and Locations
Consider what type of setting you prefer (hospital, school, behavioral health, etc.) and where you’d like to travel. While hospital discharge case management is the most common type of travel social work, exploring less typical settings might align better with your interests. Research different locations and consider factors like cost of living, climate, and local culture to inform your choices.
4. Licensing Considerations: Clinical vs. Non-Clinical
Licensing requirements vary by state. Some traveling social worker positions require a clinical license (LCSW, LICSW, etc.), while others may not, particularly for non-clinical case management roles. Having a clinical license can increase your earning potential and open up more job opportunities. Agencies may offer assistance with obtaining licensure in new states or reimburse associated costs. If you don’t have a clinical license or prefer not to pursue one immediately, be prepared to act quickly on non-clinical roles, as they tend to be filled rapidly.
5. Master Contract Negotiation: Know Your Worth
Understanding contract terms is paramount. Carefully review every detail before signing any agreement. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and negotiate aspects you’re not comfortable with. Key contract elements to consider and potentially negotiate include:
- Sign-on Bonus: A one-time payment offered at the start of an assignment.
- Hourly Rate: Your base pay rate, which can vary based on location, experience, and assignment type.
- Housing/Meal Stipend: A non-taxed allowance to cover housing and daily living expenses. Research General Service Administration (GSA) rates for your target locations to understand typical stipends.
- Completion Bonus: A bonus paid upon successful completion of the contract term (e.g., after 13 weeks).
- Time Off: Terms regarding paid or unpaid time off during your assignment.
- Weekly Gas Reimbursement: Compensation for travel expenses related to commuting to and from your assignment.
- Licensure Reimbursement: Coverage of costs associated with obtaining a new state license.
- Contract Extension Rate Increase: Potential for a higher pay rate if you extend your assignment beyond the initial contract.
Additional benefits agencies may offer include retirement plans, paid time off/sick leave, and free Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
6. Secure Adequate Insurance: Healthcare on the Go
Healthcare insurance is a crucial consideration for traveling social workers. While some agencies offer insurance plans, coverage may be contingent on continuous employment with that agency. Gaps in coverage can occur between assignments. Consider these insurance options:
- Marketplace Plan: Obtain insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace for portable, individual coverage.
- COBRA: Continue your previous employer’s health insurance through COBRA, although this can be expensive.
- Spouse’s Insurance: If applicable, joining a spouse’s health insurance plan can provide stable coverage.
- Private Insurance Plan: Explore private health insurance plans for options tailored to your needs.
7. Navigate Housing Options: Finding Your Temporary Home
Agencies may occasionally arrange and pay for lodging, such as hotels, but this usually means forgoing the housing stipend. If you prefer more control and potential cost savings, explore these housing alternatives:
- Hotels: Offer flexibility and convenience, often without security deposits. Inquire about extended stay rates for longer assignments.
- Extended Stay Hotels: Designed for longer stays, these hotels often include kitchenettes and other amenities.
- Furnished Finder: A platform initially created for travel nurses, now widely used by healthcare professionals, offering furnished apartments, condos, and houses for mid-term stays.
- Airbnb: A popular platform for short-term and mid-term rentals, offering a wide variety of housing options.
- Blueground: Provides serviced apartments designed for stays of a month or longer, offering a more upscale, move-in ready experience.
Be cautious of scams when searching for housing online. Consider booking a hotel for your first few days in a new location to allow time to view longer-term rental options in person before committing.
8. Embrace the Journey: Personal and Professional Growth
Traveling social work is more than just a job; it’s a lifestyle choice. It offers unparalleled opportunities to broaden your professional skills, experience diverse work environments, and explore new regions. While the initial steps may feel overwhelming, each assignment will build your confidence and expertise in navigating the world of travel social work. You’ll develop valuable adaptability, problem-solving, and networking skills that will benefit your career long-term. Even if you discover that travel social work isn’t your long-term calling, the experiences and insights gained will be invaluable.
Essential Resources for Aspiring Travel Social Workers
To further your research and preparation, consider exploring these resources:
- Book Recommendation – The Travel Social Worker: A Guide to Traveling and Living Abroad as a Social Worker: This comprehensive guide offers in-depth information on all aspects of travel social work, from initial planning to contract negotiation and life on the road.
- Online Social Work Forums and Groups: Engage with online communities of social workers to ask questions, share experiences, and gain insights from those already working as traveling social workers. Platforms like NASW Social Work Online Community or specialized Facebook groups can be valuable.
Share Your Expertise!
If you’re a seasoned traveling social worker, we encourage you to share your tips and advice in the comments below to help those considering this rewarding career path! Your insights can be invaluable to aspiring travelers.
