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Social work

Social work
Occupation
NamesLicensed 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
CompetenciesImproving 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 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.[1][2] Social work practice draws from liberal arts, social science, and interdisciplinary 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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

The social work profession[7] developed in the 19th century, with some of its roots in voluntary philanthropy and in grassroots organizing.[8] 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.[9][need quotation to verify][10][11]

  1. ^ "What is Social Work?". Canadian Association of Social Workers. May 6, 2011. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019. Social work is a profession concerned with helping individuals, families, groups and communities to enhance their individual and collective well-being.
  2. ^ "Global Definition of Social Work". International Federation of Social Workers. Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019. The following definition was approved by the IFSW General Meeting and the IASSW General Assembly in July 2014: [...] 'Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. [...]'
  3. ^ Zastrow, Charles (September 14, 1990). "Social Workers and Salesworkers". Journal of Independent Social Work. 4 (3): 7–16. doi:10.1300/j283v04n03_02. ISSN 0883-7562.
  4. ^ Barker, Robert L. (2014). The Social Work Dictionary (6th ed.). United States: NASW Press. p. 240. ISBN 978-0871014474.
  5. ^ Turner, Francis J. (September 7, 2005). Encyclopedia of Canadian Social Work. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. pp. 219, 236. ISBN 978-0-88920-436-2.
  6. ^ Austin, Michael J. (December 2018). "Social Work Management Practice, 1917–2017: A History to Inform the Future". Social Service Review. 92 (4): 548–616. doi:10.1086/701278. ISSN 0037-7961. S2CID 149612302. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  7. ^ Dorrien, Gary (2008). "Fostering Democratic Citizenship: Jane Addams". Social Ethics in the Making: Interpreting an American Tradition. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons (published 2011). p. 168. ISBN 978-1-4443-9379-8. Retrieved May 13, 2019. Long condemned by conservatives for launching the social work industry, [Jane] Addams acquired academic critics who agreed for different reasons.
  8. ^ "Charity Organization Societies: 1877-1893". Social Welfare History Project. February 4, 2013. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2017. The COS emphasis on a scientific approach led to the use of investigation, registration, and supervision of applicants for charity. It resulted too in community-wide efforts to identify and coordinate the resources and activities of private philanthropies and the establishment of centralized 'clearinghouses' or registration bureaus that collected information about the individuals and families receiving assistance. These innovations were later incorporated into the casework method of social work, the organization of Community Chests and Councils, and the operation of Social Service Exchanges.
  9. ^ "Social Work Profession". Encyclopedia of Social Work. Vol. 20. Summer 2017. ISBN 978-0-19-530661-3.
  10. ^ "National Conference of Charities and Corrections: Part II: Progress 1874-1893". Social Welfare History Project. October 26, 2012. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Lingwall, Jeff (2014). "Education Clauses in Corporate Charters: How Child Welfare Law Confronted the Industrial Revolution". Journal of Law & Education. 43 (2): 189–224 – via EBSCOhost.

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