Clinical Social Work

The mission of the Clinical Social Work Department at UCLA Health is to help patients and their families understand, adjust to and cope with the impact of illness or injury in order to maximize their level of functioning and quality of life.

The Clinical Social Work Department at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center provides psychosocial support, community resources and referrals, coping strategies for patients and families during a hospitalization. Clinical Social Workers assist patients and families with physical, emotional and social concerns that arise during a hospital stay. They serve as liaisons within the hospital setting and provide advocacy for patients and families. Clinical Social Workers are available throughout the hospital including:

Pediatrics, Medicine, Surgery, Transplantation, and the Emergency Room as well as in some of the outpatient clinics.

Services depend on the individual needs of each patient/family and may include assistance with issues such as:

  • Coping with diagnosis, illness and hospitalization
  • Impact of illness on family members
  • Parenting and care-giving concerns
  • Grief, loss or end of life
  • Violence in the home or community
  • Trauma/Abuse
  • School or educational concerns
  • Financial barriers
  • Housing options
  • Access to community resources
  • Depression, anxiety, psychiatric concerns
  • Alcohol and substance abuse
  • Patient and family support groups

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