Spanish for Social Workers and Case Managers: 80+ Phrases (Free PDF)

Quick answer: Key Spanish phrases for social workers and case managers include Soy su trabajador/a social (I’m your social worker), Estoy aquí para ayudarle (I’m here to help you), Todo lo que me diga es confidencial (Everything you tell me is confidential), ¿Cuántas personas viven en su casa? (How many people live in your home?) and ¿Se siente seguro/a en su casa? (Do you feel safe at home?). This guide has 80+ phrases for intake, housing, benefits, family, health, safety and follow-up, with a printable PDF.

Social workers, case managers and nonprofit staff often meet clients at the hardest moments of their lives. Even basic Spanish builds trust and makes intake faster. Use these phrases for rapport and routine questions. For assessments, legal rights, consent, abuse reports and anything complex, always work with a qualified interpreter.

Introductions and building trust

Spanish	Say it	English
Hola, me llamo… Soy su trabajador / trabajadora social.	OH-lah, meh YAH-moh… soy soo trah-bah-hah-DOR / trah-bah-hah-DOH-rah soh-SYAHL	Hi, my name is… I’m your social worker.
Soy su administrador/a de casos.	soy soo ahd-mee-nees-trah-DOR deh KAH-sohs	I’m your case manager.
Estoy aquí para ayudarle.	es-TOY ah-KEE PAH-rah ah-yoo-DAR-leh	I’m here to help you.
¿Prefiere hablar en español? ¿Necesita un intérprete?	preh-fee-EH-reh ah-BLAR en es-pah-NYOL? neh-seh-SEE-tah oon een-TER-preh-teh	Do you prefer to speak Spanish? Do you need an interpreter?
Todo lo que me diga es confidencial.	TOH-doh loh keh meh DEE-gah es kohn-fee-den-SYAHL	Everything you tell me is confidential.
Tómese su tiempo.	TOH-meh-seh soo tee-EM-poh	Take your time.

Note on confidentiality: if your agency has mandated-reporting rules, explain the limits too: Hay algunas excepciones, por ejemplo si alguien está en peligro. – There are some exceptions, for example if someone is in danger.

Intake and personal information

Spanish	English
¿Cuál es su nombre completo?	What’s your full name?
¿Cuál es su fecha de nacimiento?	What’s your date of birth?
¿Cuál es su dirección actual?	What’s your current address?
¿Cuál es el mejor número para llamarle?	What’s the best number to call you?
¿Podemos dejarle mensajes en ese número?	Can we leave you messages at that number?
¿Cuántas personas viven en su casa?	How many people live in your home?
¿Tiene hijos? ¿Cuántos años tienen?	Do you have children? How old are they?
¿Tiene algún documento de identidad?	Do you have any ID?
Necesito que firme aquí.	I need you to sign here.

Housing

Spanish	English
¿Dónde está viviendo ahora?	Where are you living now?
¿Renta o es dueño/a de su casa?	Do you rent or own your home?
¿Tiene un lugar seguro para dormir esta noche?	Do you have a safe place to sleep tonight?
¿Le han dado un aviso de desalojo?	Have you received an eviction notice?
el albergue / el refugio	shelter
la vivienda asequible	affordable housing
la renta / el depósito / el contrato de arrendamiento	rent / deposit / lease

Income, work and benefits

Spanish	English
¿Está trabajando ahora?	Are you working right now?
¿Cuánto gana al mes, más o menos?	About how much do you earn a month?
¿Recibe algún beneficio o ayuda del gobierno?	Do you receive any benefits or government assistance?
los cupones de alimentos / SNAP	food stamps / SNAP
el seguro médico / Medicaid	health insurance / Medicaid
la solicitud	application
Le voy a ayudar a llenar la solicitud.	I’ll help you fill out the application.
Necesitamos un comprobante de ingresos.	We need proof of income.
el banco de comida / la despensa	food bank / food pantry

Family and children

Spanish	English
¿Sus hijos van a la escuela?	Do your children go to school?
¿Quién cuida a los niños cuando usted trabaja?	Who takes care of the children when you work?
la guardería	daycare
la custodia	custody
el padre / la madre de crianza (temporal)	foster parent
la cita en la corte	court date

Health and wellbeing

Spanish	English
¿Cómo se ha sentido últimamente?	How have you been feeling lately?
¿Tiene un doctor o una clínica?	Do you have a doctor or a clinic?
¿Toma algún medicamento?	Do you take any medication?
¿Ha tenido problemas para dormir o comer?	Have you had trouble sleeping or eating?
¿Le gustaría hablar con un consejero?	Would you like to talk with a counselor?

For mental health vocabulary, see our guide to Spanish terms for mental health professionals and substance abuse terms in Spanish.

Safety questions

Ask these privately, and bring in an interpreter as soon as the answer suggests risk.

Spanish	English
¿Se siente seguro / segura en su casa?	Do you feel safe at home?
¿Alguien le ha hecho daño o le ha amenazado?	Has anyone hurt or threatened you?
¿Tiene miedo de alguien?	Are you afraid of anyone?
¿Ha pensado en hacerse daño?	Have you thought about hurting yourself?
Usted no tiene la culpa.	It’s not your fault.
Hay ayuda disponible las 24 horas.	Help is available 24 hours a day.

Next steps and follow-up

Spanish	English
Este es el plan para las próximas semanas.	This is the plan for the next few weeks.
Le voy a referir a…	I’m going to refer you to…
Traiga estos documentos a su próxima cita.	Bring these documents to your next appointment.
Nuestra próxima cita es el martes a las diez.	Our next appointment is Tuesday at ten.
Si necesita algo, llámeme a este número.	If you need anything, call me at this number.
¿Tiene alguna pregunta para mí?	Do you have any questions for me?

Parent letter template in Spanish

A short, plain letter works better than a long form. Adapt this template for appointment reminders and document requests:

Estimado/a [nombre]:

Le escribo para recordarle su cita el [día] a las [hora] en [lugar]. Por favor traiga los siguientes documentos: [lista]. Si no puede venir, llámeme al [número] para cambiar la cita.

Gracias,
[Su nombre], trabajador/a social

English: Dear [name], I’m writing to remind you of your appointment on [day] at [time] at [place]. Please bring the following documents: [list]. If you can’t come, call me at [number] to reschedule. Thank you, [Your name], social worker.

For anything legal (court orders, rights, custody decisions), use a professional translation.

Cultural tips for working with Spanish-speaking clients

• Use usted and formal titles (señor, señora, don, doña) until the client invites you to be less formal. See señora vs señorita vs doña.
• Family often comes first. Clients may want relatives involved in decisions; ask who they’d like present.
• Trust takes time. Some clients worry about immigration status or government contact. Explain clearly what you do with their information.
• Don’t use children as interpreters, especially for sensitive topics.

Spanish for social workers course (online)

Our online Spanish course for social workers (and our Spanish training for nonprofits) gives case managers, intake staff and volunteers live group lessons by role plus a self-study course they can use between visits. We can build custom lessons from your own intake forms and procedures, so staff practice the exact conversations they have every day.