Through Mimi Abramovitz and Yoosun Park put forward two very different visions of social work. Both authors use historical evidence to support their perspectives, and each perspective contains valid points. Abramovitz argues that the social work profession does not engage enough in social reform efforts, and Park uncovers a dark side in the history of the profession, and concludes that social work may be well intentioned but may cause more harm than good.…
Part 2: Summary of Social Work Speaks and “Unit 3” The section “Poverty and Economic Justice” in Social Work Speaks discusses the economy and its balance, or lack thereof, as well as the people who are impacted by the economy’s debilitating imbalance. The PowerPoint titled “Unit 3: Children and Poverty” helps to further understand the poverty crisis that our society is facing by focusing on the children who live in poverty. The social work profession is there to help those who are most vulnerable: children, single parents, older adults, and families that are financially oppressed. In modern social work the professionals help with not only economic policies but they also help create a safety net as well as support systems for those in need.…
“As the nation devolves many of its policies to state and local governments, social workers must reconceptualize social welfare policy as an interventive discipline to keep other groups from shaping policies that will apply to vulnerable and powerless citizens”…
places these restrictions formally or covertly on oppressed groups so that they may be exploited…
Explore how historical events have shaped the social work profession. Recognize personal values in the context of one 's practice as social worker and identify roles…
Throughout the course we learned about different fields of social work, the complications that come with the job, and the different people you will encounter. Thus, changing our thoughts and feelings towards social work. Before taking the class our thoughts about social workers were more or less simple minded. I say this because most of us thought social workers simply deal with children and some consider them “child snatchers”. After getting the opportunity to take the class, we learned there is more to social workers than we thought. Social workers work with different ages, races, religions, and genders. We also learned how social workers work with these different populations (Morales, Sheafor, & Scott, 2010). During class we discussed a…
The field of social work encompasses the need for action and change. Social work practitioners advocate for and facilitate change at various levels of society, including individuals (micro), small groups or communities (mezzo), and organizations or government (macro). Macro-level advocacy and intervention efforts work to address problems of diverse populations, such as issues of civil rights and equality, and achieve systemic change. By intervening at the macro-level, social workers are often able to orchestrate greater change at the micro level. In order to do so, they must demonstrate an ability to effectively engage in policy analysis and practice. Practitioners must be able to identify specific problems and critically evaluate relevant…
Social Workers value the maximum feasible self – determination, empowerment, and enhancing strengths to increase the client’s voice in decision making. ‘The Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EAPS) affirm the commitment of social programs to the core values of the profession: service, social justice, dignity, and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, human rights, and scientific inquiry’ (NASW, 2008 A; CSWE, 2008; as per Hepworth, Glenda and Kim, 2010). Social Workers demonstrate respect for and acceptance of the unique characteristics of ‘diverse populations that are characterized by great diversity, including the intersection of dimensions such as age, class, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, identity and expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental ability, age, and national origin’ (CSWE, 2008; as per Hepworth, Glenda, and Kim,…
Social work is a profession committed to the development of the full potential of individuals, groups, and communities. “There are many ways to determine what people need from social workers. One can locate a service at the crossroads of life, observe the way people live, the strains they are subject to from their environments and their relationships, and the ways they react to these events” (Meyer,1976, p. 42).…
Reflecting back on this course, my impression on the field of Social Work embraces that this fields rests far more diverse and incriminated into society than I previously thought; “Not only do they help the individuals cope with the situation at hand, they advocate for them and seek out valuable resources and other means of support for the affected person(s)” (XXX). Prior to this course, I detained a misconception that social workers predominantly counseled individuals, when in reality, social workers integrate collaboration, advocacy, investigating, counseling, planning, monitoring, and organizing into their occupational responsibilities. Assisting in a vast array of societal facets, social workers rely on theories and frameworks to pilot…
In any human service organization it is very important for a budget to be developed and followed. This can help with the longevity of a company. Without a workable budget and the following of that budget. It can spell disaster over time and could potentially cause the Care safe foster system to close its doors.…
During the great depression, many different social workers lost their jobs due to the terrible economy. Many other jobs were also lost. In the 1960’s there were many social protest movements. Along with those protest movements, there was a shift in emphasis of changing the schools environment to help better the needs of diverse students. During the 1970’s the term visiting teacher turned into the term social worker.…
I never thought about running for a political office one day, but these videos have changed my mind about politicians and how they can make a difference with a social work background. I do not see myself running for a political office in my future, but I would get more involved with what is going on and support a politician who has the best interest for the people. Yes I do believe that social work politicians are able to advocate for their clients effectively, because they know what their clients need and can represent their clients interests. Social workers also have to have the knowledge and understand how a policy will impact the community. They can advocate for social justice that includes a deep understanding to the needs of all people…
Social work is a profession devoted to helping people function the best they can in their environment. This can mean providing direct services or therapy directly to people. It also can mean working for change to improve social conditions. The phrase "in their environment" points to a distinguishing characteristic of social work, one that sets it apart from other helping professions. Social workers help clients deal not only with how they feel about a situation but also with what they can do about it.…
Social work is a practice-based profession as well as an academic discipline that advocates social change, development, and the empowerment and liberation of society for individuals and communities in need. Professionals in the field of social work help people overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges such as poverty, discrimination, abuse, addiction, physical illness, divorce, loss, unemployment, educational problems, disabilities and mental illnesses. They help prevent crises by counseling individuals, families, and communities to cope more effectively with the stresses of everyday life. Social work is based upon the principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities. My ambition to be…