Social Services Department
The Social Services Department at Children’s of Alabama is staffed by more than 40 Alabama-licensed Social Workers. Our Social Workers are an essential part of the multi-disciplinary team as they work to empower and advocate for our patients and their families.
Social Work services include but are not limited to Pre-Admission Planning, Discharge Planning, Crisis Intervention, Support and Guidance, Care Coordination, Bereavement and Grief Support, Resource Identification and Referral, Case Consultation, Education, Financial Assistance, and Advocacy.
Social Workers identify and address the family’s social, emotional, and environmental needs that affect or are affected by the child’s illness or disability. We do this by providing the following services:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, every patient at Children’s of Alabama has access to a social worker. If you need support from Social Services, please contact the Social Services Office at 205-638-9684.
To stay at the Ronald McDonald House, your hospital social worker must complete a referral, and parents are required to complete a background check before being added to the list. For more details, visit www.rmhca.org for information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama.
Yes, there are several hotels nearby that offer discounted rates. When calling hotels, be sure to ask for their hospital rate. You can also search online for hotels near Children's of Alabama.
For transportation assistance, please reach out to your social worker to explore available resources or referrals to community partners. If your child is enrolled in Medicaid, you can contact Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation for help by visiting here.
Please contact your assigned social worker about community resources that may be available to help with rent or utility bills that are delinquent or behind due to extended hospital stays . Assistance may be available depending on your child's diagnosis and available funding. For additional support, you can contact United Way 211 at www.uwca.org for resources in your area.
For help with school-related letters or forms, contact your social worker or the school liaison at the clinic or unit where your child is being seen.
We have a care closet to provide toiletry and clothing items for unexpected admissions or forgotten items. Please reach out to your social worker for assistance.
Yes. Families with a child admitted as an inpatient receive 2 meal tickets per day to help cover meals. The two meal tickets are issued per family, not per individual, and can only be used at the hospital cafeteria’s hot bar.
Social Work Internship Program
The Master of Social Work (MSW) Internship Program trains graduate students in either Advanced Clinical Placement (Second year) or Advanced Placement. Internships are offered in a variety of settings: acute, chronic care, inpatient, outpatient, etc.. The MSW Program provides hands-on experience working with diverse populations in a variety of practice methods (micro, mezzo, macro), developing skills specifically related to Medical Social Work. Roles included in the Program, can be but not limited to case management, program development and implementation, advocacy, and community engagement. Interns will work within an interdisciplinary team of medical providers and allied health to provide the best care possible to patients and their families.
The MSW Program provides weekly supervision to foster professional development and meet CSWE guidelines for learning contracts and goals. Additionally, there is a cohort of interns each semester who will participate in group supervision in an effort to foster growth, create valuable networking experience, licensure preparation, among other topics. The program encourages networking opportunities to gain valuable insights into different agencies and how this can affect change for our patient populations and department.
If you are interested in a MSW internship at Children’s of Alabama please email Melissa.Beukelman@childrensal.org or call 205.638.9208. All interns will require authorization from their university’s Field Coordinator, and interview with the MSW Program Coordinator prior to acceptance. Interns will be required to complete all Children's of Alabama Human Resource requirements as a condition of acceptance.
