Final answer:
A social worker making referrals and follow-ups primarily serves as an advocate for clients' needs, which varies from therapy, legal matters, or research-focused roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
A social worker who is involved in the process of making referrals and following up with them to ensure that resources have been effectively utilized is primarily performing the role of an advocate for clients' needs. They do not typically provide therapy sessions, focus on legal matters, or conduct academic research as their main function, though these can be aspects of social work in different contexts.
In the context of community psychology, the role of social workers and community psychologists can sometimes overlap as both aim to help individuals and communities realize their best opportunities for living a life aligned with their preferred identities and sense of agency.