Definition and Goals of Social Work
- Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession.
- It aims to meet the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society.
- Social work draws from various fields such as psychology, sociology, health, political science, community development, law, and economics.
- Its ultimate goals include improving people's lives, alleviating biopsychosocial concerns, empowering individuals and communities, and achieving social justice.
History of Social Work
- Social work has its roots in voluntary philanthropy and grassroots organizing.
- The Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression led to the development of social work as a more defined discipline.
- Social work responded to child welfare concerns related to poverty and child labor.
- Important historical figures in social work include Helen Bosanquet, Octavia Hill, Jane Addams, Mary Ellen Richmond, and William Beveridge.
Social Work Practice Levels
- Social work practice is divided into three levels: micro-work, mezzo-work, and macro-work.
- Micro-work involves direct work with individuals and families, providing counseling/therapy and accessing services.
- Mezzo-work involves working with groups and communities, conducting group therapy, and providing services for community agencies.
- Macro-work involves fostering change on a larger scale through advocacy, social policy, research development, and working with government agencies.
Social Work Profession and Education
- Social work is a profession focused on helping individuals, families, groups, and communities.
- It aims to enhance well-being and develop problem-solving skills.
- Social work addresses both individual and broader social issues.
- Social workers act as advocates and connect people to the services they need.
- Social work education includes knowledge of human development, social and economic institutions, and cultural factors.
Roles and Impact of Social Workers in Specific Settings
- Roles of Psychiatric Social Workers: casework, managerial duties, social research, public education, impact on mental health treatment and mainstream medicine.
- Evolution of Mental Health Care: establishment of mental hygiene clinics, passage of the Community Mental Health Centers Act, emergence of the mental health consumer movement, managed care movement, recovery movement.
- Role of Social Workers in Military Settings: involvement in military operations, provision of counseling services, diagnosis rates of mental health disorders, high suicide rates, role in veterans' health care system.
- Psychiatric Social Work in Canada: early role in service delivery, indigenous beliefs on mental health, shift to hospital-based care, social work training, Canadian Mental Health Association.
- Historical Development of Mental Health Care in India: mentions of mental disorders in ancient texts, introduction of different medical systems, work therapy in Mysore Lunatic Asylum, improvement of mental hospitals by Berkeley-Hill, introduction of habit formation chart and psychiatric social worker, general hospital psychiatry units and family involvement, impact on reducing stigma and promoting care.
Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work practice draws from areas such as psychology, sociology, health, political science, community development, law, and economics to engage with systems and policies, conduct assessments, develop interventions, and enhance social functioning and responsibility. The ultimate goals of social work include the improvement of people's lives, alleviation of biopsychosocial concerns, empowerment of individuals and communities, and the achievement of social justice.
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
| Names | Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Advanced Practicing Social Worker, Registered Social Worker |
Activity sectors | Social welfare, social services, government, health, public health, mental health, occupational safety and health, community organization, non-profit, law, corporate social responsibility, human rights |
| Description | |
| Competencies | Improving the social environment and well-being of people by facilitating, and developing resources |
Education required | Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Social Work, Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSc) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (PGDipSW) for general practice; Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) for clinical practice; Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) or Professional Doctorate (ProfD or DProf) for or specialized practice; Accredited educational institution; Registration and licensing differs depending on state |
Fields of employment | Child and women protection services, non-profit organizations, government agencies, disadvantaged groups centers, hospitals, schools, churches, shelters, community agencies, social planning services, think tanks, correctional services, labor and industry services |
Social work practice is often divided into three levels. Micro-work involves working directly with individuals and families, such as providing individual counseling/therapy or assisting a family in accessing services. Mezzo-work involves working with groups and communities, such as conducting group therapy or providing services for community agencies. Macro-work involves fostering change on a larger scale through advocacy, social policy, research development, non-profit and public service administration, or working with government agencies. Starting in the 1960s, a few universities began social work management programmes, to prepare students for the management of social and human service organizations, in addition to classical social work education.
The social work profession developed in the 19th century, with some of its roots in voluntary philanthropy and in grassroots organizing. However, responses to social needs had existed long before then, primarily from public almshouses, private charities and religious organizations. The effects of the Industrial Revolution and of the Great Depression of the 1930s placed pressure on social work to become a more defined discipline as social workers responded to the child welfare concerns related to widespread poverty and reliance on child labor in industrial settings.[need quotation to verify]
social work (uncountable)
