Introduction to Social Work Susan Mankita, MSW, LCSW Chapter 1:What is Social Work? Adapted from...
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Transcript of Introduction to Social Work Susan Mankita, MSW, LCSW Chapter 1:What is Social Work? Adapted from...
Introduction to Social Work
Susan Mankita, MSW, LCSW
Chapter 1:What is Social Work? Adapted from Farley, Smith, &
Boyle
What is Social Work?
Social work and social welfare based on three premises”Person is importantPerson has personal, family, and
community problems resulting from interaction with others
Something can be done to alleviate problems and enrich individual’s life
Social Welfare
Social welfare has a broader meaning and encompasses social work, public welfare, and other related programs and activities
Encompasses well-being and interest of large numbers of people, including physical, education, mental, emotional, spiritual, and economic needs
“Social welfare is a necessary thread in the fabric of social structure, and society has a responsibility for the plight of its members”
Social WorkDefinition
“Social work seeks to enhance the social functioning of individuals, singly and in groups, by activities focused upon their social relationships which constitute the interaction between man and his environment.”
These activities can be grouped into three functions
restoration of impaired capacity provision of individual and social resources, prevention of social dysfunction
Distinguishing Characteristics of Social Work
Art with scientific and value foundationA profession because it meets human
needs and aspirations recognized by society
Takes its values from those held by society of which it is a part but not universally or predominantly held or practiced in society
Problem-solving functions
Knowledge Base
Scientific base of social work consists of three types of knowledge:
Tested knowledge Hypothetical knowledge that requires
transformation into tested knowledge Assumptive knowledge that requires
transformation into hypothetical and thence into tested knowledge
Knowledge needed for social work practice is determined by its goals and functions and the problems it seeks to solve
Social work is...
May be defined as an art, a science, a profession that helps people to solve personal, group (family), and community problems and to attain satisfying personal, group, and community relationships through social work practice.
Social work practice today is often generic, involving all three of the traditional methods.
The major focus is on reducing problems in human relationships and on enriching living through improved human interaction
More Distinguishing Characteristics of Social
Work Social work stresses the total person in the total
environment Emphasis on importance of family in molding
and influencing behavior Utilization of community resources in helping
people solve problems is very important Supervisory process provides guidance and
direction of inexperienced workers and for continuing growth of experienced
Social work is...
Unique educational program involving classwork and practical field work experience
Traditional social work – Clinical work: close, face-to-face relationship in working
with people and their problems Group work: groups the tool to bring about desired
changes in social functioning Community organizing: intergroup approach toward facing
and solving social pathologies by increasing the understanding of community needs and developing tools to respond effectively to those needs
Generalist social work practice
Social work is...
Social work has distinctive professional bodies: National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Relationship is key in social work process Social work has an orientation in psychiatric concepts
and places considerable stress upon understanding people
Social in social work emphasizes stress on social interaction and resultant social functioning and malfunctioning
Social work recognizes that social problems and human behavior inhere to a considerable degree in the social institutions of humanity
More social work is...Most social workers are employed in agency settings Aim of social work is to help clients to help
themselves or to help a community to help itselfBecause social workers work in agencies, fees are
utilized for welfare of the agency rather than for increased incomes of workers (who are paid salaries)
Traditionally social workers have provided service and therapy for individuals and families – more recent, enrichment in living for all people
Sociology and Social Work
“science of society” “the scientific study of society” “…study of men considered as affecting and as affected by
association” Concerned about the how, when, and why people behave as
they do in association with others Particularly interested in the why of human interaction
Social worker interested in the how and why but is also concerned about helping people to solve problems they have and to improve their social functioning
Psychiatry and Social Work
Frequently part of the same team Psychiatrist deals with the treatment of
illness and the medical model which social worker focuses on problems and strengths in human relationships
Psychiatry tends to focus on pathology and the healing of illness while social work concentrates on strengths and the development of potential
Psychology and Social Work
Often members of the same team Psychology is science of the mind – seeks
to study, explain, and change behavior of people
Psychologist interested in understanding individual and his or her behavior
Psychologist are the primary testing professionals
Counseling and Social Work
School counselor, marriage counselor, and rehabilitation counselor
Generally short-term counselingTends to see more clients for shorter
periods of time