MSW Programs in Alaska

Deciding on a field of Social Work based on the social issues facing Social Workers in Alaska

The beautiful state of Alaska, with its many volcanoes, lakes, and glaciers, is the largest state in the United States by area, as well as the least densely populated and the fourth least populous (1). Furthermore, Alaska has a longer coastline than all the other U.S. states combined (2).

The capital of Alaska is Juneau, but Alaska’s most populated city is Anchorage, which has approximately 300 thousand residents (3). Alaska is not connected to the United States, but shares an international border with Canada.

The first settlement in Alaska was established in 1784 by Russian whalers and fur traders, and in 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. Alaska became property of the United States, but was considered to be the foolish purchase and called “Seward’s Folly.” However, this purchase ended up to be worth its cost and more, as Alaska introduced the gold rush era, accounts for 25% of the oil produced in the United States, and produces most of America’s salmon, crab, and herring (4).

Complex Social Issues

Alaska is a state with multiple and complex social issues. At 14.7%, Alaska has one of the highest concentrations of Native Americans in the country (5). The poverty rate of 9.6% is low, and the median family income is well above the national average at $69,917 dollars (6). However, this is offset by higher costs of living (approximately 26 percent higher than the national average cost of living) (7). Income disparity is wider than in other areas, creating issues of inequality.

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the Native Tribal Health Consortium have developed a joint project called “Healthy Alaskans 2020.” This project identified 25 health indicators as targets to improve the quality of life for Alaskans between 2010 – 2020. The list includes indicators that are ripe for social work intervention, such as: reduce Alaskan deaths by suicide; reduce the number of Alaskans experiencing poor mental health; reduce the number of Alaskans experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault; reduce the number of Alaskans experiencing alcohol and other drug dependence or abuse. There are very high rates of alcoholism, suicide and violence, especially among Native Alaskans (8).

Social workers in Alaska will likely find the goals of the Healthy Alaskans 2020 Project driving much of their work and social policy. Those who are willing to work in rural areas, and those who specialize in working with children and families will find the most opportunities for employment in Alaska. Successful social workers in Alaska will be culturally competent and well versed in issues related to the Alaska Natives.

How to Become a Social Worker

Would you like to become a social worker in Alaska? According to the 2014 US News & World Report graduate school of social work report, the only school offering a master’s degree in social work is the University of Alaska in Anchorage’s School of Social Work (9). The program offers a unique concentration in working with Native Alaskans; if interested, you may want to check out the program’s film titled “Ililirstait,”which showcases how Alaska Native social workers from UAA are making a difference in their state (10). The school offers part-time, full-time and distance education options, and a variety of concentrations (11). A Master’s in Social Work online may also be an option.

Getting your master’s degree can be expensive, but there are programs available to help support new social workers. You might want to check into the state’s loan repayment program (SLRP) and the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC). Both programs reward social workers who take on jobs serving a “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA) by forgiving loans of up to $40,000 total over a period of two years.

Finding a Job as a Social Worker

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for growth in the field of social work in Alaska is promising. By 2020, social work jobs will increase for child, family and school social workers by 17 percent (12), and healthcare social workers, mental health and substance abuse social workers can expect job openings to increase by 27 percent (13) (14).

Child, family and school social workers in Alaska make a median income of $46,110. Those working in the healthcare and medical field earn $47,460 annually. Mental health and substance abuse social workers can expect to earn $43,200 (15).

Although other types of social work roles earn higher salaries than child, family and school social work, at this time the majority of the available social work positions are in this sector. Child, family and school social workers hold 1160 jobs in Alaska. There are 760 mental health and substance abuse counselors and social workers employed in the state (16). However, with employment opportunities growing in all social worker sectors, you will find opportunities abound.

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• Alaska Social Work License Requirements
• National Association of Social Workers, Alaska Chapter
• Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners

Schools of Social Work in Alaska offering MSW Programs

• University of Alaska Anchorage
• University of Alaska Fairbanks

Sources Cited

1. United States, 2012. World Atlas Travel. http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/populations/usadensityh.htm
2. Alaska’s Size in Perspective, 1998. Alaska Science Forum. http://www2.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF14/1404.html
3. USA: Alaska, 2014. City Population. http://www.citypopulation.de/USA-Alaska.html
4. Alaska Facts and Trivia, 2014. 50 States.com. http://www.50states.com/facts/alaska.htm#.U77WaI1dXgJ
5. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02000.html
6. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02000.html
7. Cost of Living Calculator, 2014. PayScale.com. http://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Alaska-Anchorage
8. Healthy Alaskans 2020 – Top 25 Health Indicators, 2012. State of Alaska. http://hss.state.ak.us/ha2020/25LHI.htm
9. Graduate School Search, Social Work Programs, 2014. US News and World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?spp=10&program=top-social-work-schools&name=&zip=alaska&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
10. Meet Our Alaska Native Change Agents, 2014. University of Alaska Anchorage. http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/socialwork/
11. MSW Attendance Options, 2014. University of Alaska Anchorage. http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/socialwork/msw_program/msw_program-options.cfm
12. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=001000000&soccode=211021&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=02&search=Go#SectionOp3
13. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=001000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=02&search=Go#SectionOp3
14. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=001000000&soccode=211023&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=02&search=Go#SectionOp3
15. Statewide Statistics for Alaska, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
16. Statewide Statistics for Alaska, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.