Evolution of Social Work: Adaptation to Technology, Discoveries and Challenges
The field of social work has evolved vastly over the years and will continue to evolve as humans and society continues to change and adapt to new technology, make new discoveries and face new challenges either exiting or difficult. As cited on the Amaranth foundation website “Social work in its various forms addresses the multiple, complex transactions between people and their environments. Its mission is to enable all people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. Professional social work is focused on problem solving and change. As such, social workers are change agents in society and in the lives of the individuals, families and communities they serve. Social work is an interrelated system of values, theory and practice.” (http://www.amaranth.org.au/resources/what-is-social-work/). To explore social work we will ponder the question of what is social work and look to answer why we in fact need social work as a profession and in the world.
In 2001 the International Federation of Social Workers developed a definition of social work that could be applied world wide and described social work as being a profession that promotes social change, encourages problem-solving in humans and promotes wellbeing. Socail work uses theories of human behaviour and social systems as well as principles of social justice (IFSW, 2001 as cited in Wilson, Ruch, Lymbery and Cooper, 2011, pg 62)
The terms social work and social welfare will frequently be blended and confused however social welfare has extensive meaning and includes domains such as social work, public welfare, and other related programs and activities (Farley, Smith and Boyle, 2000). Social work and social welfare are based on three main hypotheses, firstly that the person is important, secondly that the person has personal, family, and community problems resulting from interactions with others, and thirdly that something can be done to ease these problems and improve the
In 2001 the International Federation of Social Workers developed a definition of social work that could be applied world wide and described social work as being a profession that promotes social change, encourages problem-solving in humans and promotes wellbeing. Socail work uses theories of human behaviour and social systems as well as principles of social justice (IFSW, 2001 as cited in Wilson, Ruch, Lymbery and Cooper, 2011, pg 62)
The terms social work and social welfare will frequently be blended and confused however social welfare has extensive meaning and includes domains such as social work, public welfare, and other related programs and activities (Farley, Smith and Boyle, 2000). Social work and social welfare are based on three main hypotheses, firstly that the person is important, secondly that the person has personal, family, and community problems resulting from interactions with others, and thirdly that something can be done to ease these problems and improve the