Social work
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 224677744 by [[Special:Contributions/99.248.64.83|99.248.64.83]] ([[User talk:99.248.64.83|talk]]) Rv editing test
[[Image:Mind the income gap.jpeg|250px|thumbnail|200px|right|A photo of public space "[[graffiti]]" art found on a [[retaining wall]] in [[Columbus, Ohio]]. Social workers are concerned with [[social inequalities]].]]
'''Social work''' is a discipline involving the application of [[social theory]] and research methods to study and improve the lives of people, groups, and societies. It incorporates and uses other [[social sciences]] as a means to improve the [[human condition]] and positively change society's response to chronic problems. Social work is the profession committed to the pursuit of [[social justice]], to the enhancement of the [[quality of life]], and to the development of the full potential of each individual, group and community in society. It seeks to simultaneously address and resolve social issues at every level of society and economic status, but especially among the poor and sick. Social workers are concerned with social problems, their causes, their solutions and their human impacts. They work with [[individuals]], [[Family|families]], [[Group (sociology)|groups]], [[organizations]] and [[communities]].
Social work as a defined pursuit and profession began in the 19th century. This was in response to societal problems that resulted from the [[Industrial Revolution]] and an increased interest in applying [[scientific theory]] to various aspects of study. Eventually an increasing number of educational institutions began to offer social work programs. The [[settlement movement]]'s emphasis on [[advocacy]] and case work became part of social work practice. During the 20th century, the profession began to rely more on research and evidenced-based practice as it attempted to improve its professionalism. Today social workers are employed in a myriad of pursuits and settings. Professional social workers are generally considered those who hold a professional degree in social work and often also have a [[license]] or are professionally [[registration|registered]]. Social workers have organized themselves into local, national, and international professional bodies to further the aims of the profession.
==Origins==
Social work, as a profession or pursuit, originated in the 19th century. The movement began primarily in the [[United States]] and [[England]]. Social work has its roots in the struggle of [[society]] to deal with [[poverty]] and the resultant problems. Therefore, social work is intricately linked with the idea of charity work; but must be understood as a distinctly different as well. The concept of [[charity]] goes back to ancient times, and the practice of providing for the poor has roots in all [[Major religious groups|major world religions]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalenvision.org/forteachers/28/1258/ |title=Religion |accessdate=2008-04-09 |work=Middle School Lesson Plans |publisher=Global Envision}}</ref> However, the practice and profession of social work has a relatively modern (19th century) and scientific origin.<ref name="BoiseStateI">{{cite web|last = Huff |first = Dan |title = Chapter I. Scientific Philanthropy (1860-1900) |work = [http://www.boisestate.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/central/core.htm The Social Work History Station] |publisher = [[Boise State University]] |url = http://www.boisestate.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/chapts/1-1.htm|accessdate = 2008-02-20}}</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], the [[Christian]] church had vast influence on [[Europe]]an society and [[charity]] was considered to be a responsibility and a sign of one’s piety. This charity was in the form of direct relief (for example, giving money, food, or other material goods to alleviate a particular need), as opposed to trying to change the root causes of poverty. After the end of [[feudalism]], the poor were seen as a more direct threat to the social order,{{Fact|date=April 2008}} and so the state formed an organized system to care for them. In England, the [[Poor Law]] served this purpose. This system of laws sorted the poor into different categories, such as the [[able bodied poor]], the [[impotent poor]], and the [[idle poor]]. This system developed different responses to these different groups.
[[Image:Charity to Street Arab.jpg|150px|thumbnail|100px|left|Social work involves ameliorating social problems such as poverty and homelessness.]]
The 19th century ushered in the [[Industrial Revolution]]. There was a great leap in technological and scientific achievement, but there was also a great [[Rural-urban migration|migration]] to urban areas throughout the [[Western world]]. This led to many social problems, which in turn led to an increase in social activism.<ref name="EDINBURGH">{{cite web|title = Social Work History |publisher = [[University of Edinburgh]] |url = http://www.socialwork.ed.ac.uk/social/history.html |accessdate = 2008-02-20}}</ref> Also with the dawn of the 19th century came a great "[[missionary]]" push from many [[Protestant]] denominations. Some of these mission efforts (urban missions), attempted to resolve the problems inherent in large cities like [[poverty]], [[prostitution]], [[disease]], and other afflictions. In the United States workers known as "friendly visitors", [[stipend]]ed by church and other charitable bodies, worked through direct relief, [[prayer]], and [[evangelism]] to alleviate these problems.<ref name="BoiseStateI"/> In Europe, [[chaplain]]s or [[almoner]]s were appointed to administrate the church's mission to the poor.
[[Image:Jane Addams profile.jpg|150px|thumbnail|100px|right|[[Jane Addams]] ([[September 6]], [[1860]] – [[May 21]], [[1935]]) was a founder of the [[Settlement movement|U.S. Settlement House movement]] and is considered one of the early influences on professional social work in the [[United States]].]]
During this time, rescue societies were initiated to find more appropriate means of self-support for women involved in [[prostitution]].{{Fact|date=April 2008}} [[Mental asylum]]s grew to assist in taking care of the [[mentally ill]]. A new philosophy of "scientific charity" emerged, which stated charity should be "secular, rational and empirical as opposed to sectarian, sentimental, and dogmatic.<ref name="BoiseStateII">{{cite web|last = Huff |first = Dan |title = Chapter I.2 Missionaries & Volunteers |work = [http://www.boisestate.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/central/core.htm The Social Work History Station] |publisher = [[Boise State University]] |url = http://www.boisestate.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/chapts/1-2.htm|accessdate = 2008-02-20}}</ref>" In the late 1880s, a new system to provide aid for social ills came in to being, which became known as the [[settlement movement]].<ref name="BoiseStateIII">{{cite web|last = Huff |first = Dan |title = Chapter II. Settlements (1880-1900) |work = [http://www.boisestate.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/central/core.htm The Social Work History Station] |publisher = [[Boise State University]] |url = http://www.boisestate.edu/socwork/dhuff/history/chapts/2-1.htm|accessdate = 2008-02-20}}</ref> The settlement movement focused on the causes of poverty through the "three Rs" - Research, Reform, and Residence. They provided a variety of services including educational, legal, and health services. These programs also advocated changes in social policy. Workers in the settlement movement immersed themselves in the culture of those they were helping.
In America, the various approaches to social work led to a fundamental question – is social work a profession? This debate can be traced back to the early 20th century debate between [[Mary Richmond|Mary Richmond's]] [[Charity Organization Society]] (COS) and [[Jane Addams|Jane Addams's]] [[Settlement movement|Settlement House Movement]]. The essence of this debate was whether the problem should be approached from COS' traditional, [[scientific method]] focused on efficiency and prevention or the Settlement House Movement's immersion into the problem, blurring the lines of practitioner and client.<ref name="Social Work">{{cite journal| last = Parker-Oliver | first = Debra| coauthors = Demiris, George | title = Social Work Informatics: A New Specialty | journal = Social Work | volume = 51 | issue = 2 | pages = 127–134 | publisher = [[National Association of Social Workers]] | date = April 2006 | url = http://lysander.naswpressonline.org/vl=7534711/cl=13/nw=1/rpsv/cw/nasw/00378046/v51n2/s4/p127 | accessdate =2008-02-19 }}</ref>
Even as many schools of social work opened and formalized processes for social work began to be developed, the question lingered. In 1915, at the National Conference of Charities and Corrections, Dr. [[Abraham Flexner]] spoke on the topic "Is Social Work a Profession?" He contended that it was not because it lacked specialized knowledge and specific application of theoretical and intellectual knowledge to solve human and social problems.<ref name="UM-SSW">{{cite web|title = From Charitable Volunteers to Architects of Social Welfare: A Brief History of Social Work |publisher = [[University of Michigan]] |url = http://web.archive.org/web/20070205223657/http://www.ssw.umich.edu/ongoing/fall2001/briefhistory.html |accessdate = 2007-02-20}}</ref> This led to the professionalization of social work, concentrating on case work and the scientific method.
==Contemporary professional development==
{{Main|Social work knowledge building}}
The [[International Federation of Social Workers]] states, of social work today, <blockquote>
"social work bases its methodology on a systematic body of evidence-based knowledge derived from research and practice evaluation, including local and indigenous knowledge specific to its context. It recognizes the complexity of interactions between human beings and their environment, and the capacity of people both to be affected by and to alter the multiple influences upon them including bio-psychosocial factors. The social work profession draws on theories of human development and behaviour and social systems to analyse complex situations and to facilitate individual, organizational, social and cultural changes."<ref name="IFSW">{{cite web|title =Definition of Social Work |work=IFSW General Meeting in [[Montréal, Canada]], July 2000 |publisher =[http://www.ifsw.org/home International Federation of Social Workers] |date =04/10/2005 |url =http://www.ifsw.org/en/p38000208.html |accessdate =2008-02-19}}</ref></blockquote>
The current state of social work professional development is characterized by two realities. There is a great deal of traditional social and psychological research (both [[qualitative]] and [[quantitative]]) being carried out primarily by university-based researchers and by researchers based in institutes, foundations, or social service agencies. Meanwhile, many social work practitioners continue to look to their own experience for knowledge. This is a continuation of the debate that has persisted since the outset of the profession in the first decade of the twentieth century.<ref name="Social Work"/> One reason for the gap between information obtained through practice, opposed to through research, is that practitioners deal with situations that are unique and [[idiosyncratic]], while research concentrates on similarities. The combining of these two types of knowledge is often imperfect. A hopeful development for bridging this gap is the compilation, in many practice fields, of collections of "best practices" which attempt to distill research findings and the experience of respected practitioners into effective practice techniques.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Although social work has roots in the informatics revolution, an important contemporary development in the profession is overcoming suspicion of technology and taking advantage of the potential of information technology to empower clients.<ref name="Social Work"/>
==Qualifications==
{{Main|Qualifications for professional social work}}
Professional social workers are generally considered those who hold a professional [[Academic degree|degree]] in Social Work. Often these practitioners must also obtain a [[license]] or be professionally [[Licensure|registered]]. In many areas of the [[Western world]], social workers start with a Bachelor of Social Work ([[Bachelor's degree#New bachelor's degrees|BA, BSc or BSW]]) degree. Some countries, such as the [[United States]], also offer [[post-graduate]] degrees like the [[master's degree]] ([[Master of Social Work|MA, MSc or MSW]]) or the [[doctoral degree]] ([[Doctor of Social Work|Ph.D or DSW]]).
In the [[United Kingdom]], often referred to as social services assistants or care workers, are persons who are not professionally registered and often do not hold any formal social work qualification. In England, to use the term 'social worker', one must register with the General Social Care Council (GSCC). This followed the Care Standards Act 2000 which has protected the title since April 2005 in England. Within the mental health sector in the UK, an additional qualification can be gained: an "Approved Social Worker". This enables the practitioner to assess and make an application to [[hospital]] for admission under the [[Mental Health Act 1983]].
In a number of countries and jurisdictions, [[Licensure|registration]] or [[licensure]] of people working as social workers is required and there are mandated [[qualifications]].<ref>The [[National Association of Social Workers]] (NASW, 2005). NASW Fact Sheet. Retrieved November 15, 2006 from http://www.socialworkers.org.</ref> In other places, a professional association sets academic and experiential requirements for admission to membership. The success of these professional bodies' efforts are demonstrated in the fact that these same requirements are recognized by employers as necessary for employment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cswna.org|title=Catholic Social Workers National Association}}</ref>
===Professional associations===
There are a number of professional associations for social workers. The purpose of these associations is to provide [[advocacy]], [[ethical]] guidance, and other forms of support for their members and social workers in general. There are a number of international regulatory bodies for professional social workers. Two of these are the [[International Federation of Social Workers]] (IFSW) and the [[International Association of Schools of Social Work]] (IASSW). The Iowa School Social Workers Association (ISSWA) is made up of masters level social workers employed by area education agencies and local school districts in Iowa.
On a national level there are organizations regulating the profession, as well. Some of these are the [[National Association of Social Workers]] ([[United States]]), the [[British Association of Social Workers]] ([[United Kingdom]]), the [[Australian Association of Social Workers]] ([[Australia]]), and the [[Professional Social Workers' Association]] ([[India]]).
==Role of the professional==
{{Main|Role of the professional social worker}}
Professional social workers have a strong tradition of working for [[social justice]] and of refusing to recreate unequal social structures.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} The main tasks of professional social workers can include a variety of services such as case management (linking clients with agencies and programs that will meet their psychosocial needs), [[medical social work]], counseling ([[psychotherapy]]), human services management, social [[Social welfare function|welfare]] policy analysis, community organizing, advocacy, teaching (in schools of social work), and social science research. [[Professional]] social workers work in a variety of settings, including: non-profit or public social service agencies, [[grassroots]] advocacy organizations, [[hospitals]], [[Hospice care|hospices]], community health agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, and even the [[military]]. Some social workers work as [[psychotherapists]], counselors, or [[mental health]] practitioners, often working in collaboration with [[psychiatrist]]s, [[psychologist]]s, or other medical professionals. Social workers may also work independently as private practice psychotherapists in the United States and are able to bill most third party payers such as insurance companies. Additionally, some social workers focus their efforts on [[social policy]] or conduct academic research into the practice or ethics of social work. The emphasis has varied among these task areas by historical era and country. Some of these areas have been the subject of controversy as to whether they are properly part of social work's mission.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}
A variety of settings employ social workers, including governmental departments (especially in the areas of child and family welfare, [[mental health]], [[Prison|correctional services]], and education departments), hospitals, non-government welfare agencies and private practice - working independently as counsellors, family therapists or researchers.
==Types of professional intervention==
There are three general categories or levels of intervention. The first is "Macro" social work which involves society or communities as a whole. This type of social work practice would include policy forming and advocacy on a national or international scale. The second level of intervention is described as "Mezzo" social work practice. This level would involve work with agencies, small organizations, and other small groups. This practice would include policy making within a social work agency or developing programs for a particular neighborhood. The final level is the "Micro" level that involves service to individuals and families.
There are a wide variety of activities that can be considered social work and professional social workers are employed in many different types of environments. In general, social workers employed in clinical or direct practice work on a micro level. Social workers who serve in community practice are occupied in the mezzo or macro levels of social work. The following lists detail some of the types of jobs that social workers may do.
===Types of clinical or direct practice===
{{MultiCol}}
* Assessment and diagnosis
* Case management
* Clinical supervision
* [[Counseling]] or [[psychotherapy]]
* [[Psychoanalysis]]
* [[Crisis intervention]]
* [[Family therapy]]/Family interventions
* [[Group therapy]] or [[Social work with groups|other group work]]
{{ColBreak}}
* [[Child welfare]]
** [[Adoption]]
** [[Child abuse]]
** [[Foster care]]
* [[Disability]] services
* [[Domestic violence]]
* Family planning
* [[Employee assistance programs]]
* [[Medical social work]]
* [[Forensic Social Work]]
* [[School social worker]]
* [[Substance abuse]]
{{ColBreak}}
* [[Aging]] or [[gerontology]]
**[[Nursing home]]
**[[Hospice]]
** [[Reminiscence therapy]]
* Anti-poverty
** Income assistance
** Job training/placement
** [[Food bank]] programs
** Housing and [[homelessness]]
{{ColBreak}}
* Violence prevention
* [[Person centered planning]]
* [[Play therapy]]
* [[Psychosocial]] and [[psychoeducational]] interventions
* [[Relationship counseling]] and interpersonal counseling
* [[Relationship education]]
{{ColBreak}}
* [[Immigrant]] and [[refugee]] services and supports
* [[Anti-racism]]
* [[Lesbian]], [[gay]], [[bisexual]], and [[transgendered]] supports
{{EndMultiCol}}
===Types of community practice===
{{Main|Community practice}}
{{MultiCol}}
* [[Academic]]
* [[Management]]
* [[Community development]]
* [[Community economic development]]
* Community education
* [[Community organizing]]
* [[Critical social work]]
{{ColBreak}}
* [[Mediation]]
* Neighborhood development
* Policy advocacy
* [[Policy analysis]]
* [[Political participation]]
* Program development
{{ColBreak}}
* [[Program evaluation]]
* [[Research]]
* [[International development]]
* [[Social action]]
* [[Social movement]]
* [[Sociological practice|Social planning]]
{{EndMultiCol}}
==See also==
*[[Barefoot social work]]
*[[Caseworker]]
*[[School social worker]]
*[[Social Work in the Military]]
*[[Tony Vinson]]
*[[Michel Foucault]]
*[[Approved Social Worker]]
*Licensed Clinical Social Worker
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Sisterlinks|wikt=social work|b=Strengths-Based Social Work Practice |q=Jane Addams|s=Author:Jane Addams|commons=social work|n=social work|v=social work}}
*[http://www.liv.ac.uk/sspsw/Social_Work_Manifesto.html Social Work Manifesto]
*[http://www.ifsw.org/en/p38000208.html Definition of Social Work] Adopted July 2000 by the International Federation of Social Workers. German translation also available at: [http://sozialarbeit.at/def.htm Austrian National Federation of Social Workers]
*[http://www.socwork.net Social Work & Society - Online Journal for Social Work and Social Policy. Open Access and Non-Governmental]
*[http://www.socialworker.com The New Social Worker Online]
*[http://www.nsula.edu/social_work/faculty/claudia/skills.htm Micro, Mezzo, & Macro Practice Skills] From [[Northwestern State University|Northwestern State University's]] Department of Social Work.
*[http://www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk Social Care Online] UK based database. Includes a social care taxonomy and a comprehensive list of social care organizations in the UK.
==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book
|last=Axinn |first=June and Mark J. Stern
|editor=
|title=Social Welfare: A History of the American Response to Need
|edition=7th edition
|year=2008
|publisher=Pearson/Allyn and Bacon
|location=Boston, MA
|isbn=9780205522156
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Barker |first=Robert L.
|editor=
|title=Social Work Dictionary
|edition=5th edition
|year=2003
|publisher=NASW Press
|location=Silver Spring, MD
|isbn=087101355X
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Davies |first=Martin
|editor=
|title=The Blackwell Companion of Social Work
|edition=2nd edition
|year=2002
|publisher=Blackwell
|location=Oxford, UK; Malden, MA
|isbn=0631223916
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Fischer |first=Joel and Kevin J. Corcoran
|editor=
|title=Measures for Clinical Practice and Research: A Sourcebook
|edition=4th edition
|year=2007
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|location=Oxford, UK; New York, NY
|isbn=9780195181906
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Greene |first=Roberta R.
|editor=
|title=Social Work with the Aged and their Families
|edition=3rd edition
|year=2008
|publisher=Transaction Publishers
|location=New Brunswick, NJ
|isbn=9780202361826
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Grinnell |first=Richard M. and Yvonne A Unrau
|editor=
|title=Social Work Research and Evaluation: Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice
|edition=8th edition
|year=2008
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|location=Oxford, UK; New York, NY
|isbn=9780195301526
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Mizrahi |first=Terry and Larry E. Davis
|editor=
|title=Encyclopedia of Social Work
|edition=20th edition
|year=2008
|publisher=NASW Press and Oxford University Press
|location=Washington, DC; Oxford, UK; New York, NY
|isbn=9780195306613
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Popple |first=Philip R. and Leslie Leighninger
|editor=
|title=The Policy-Based Profession: An Introduction to Social Welfare Policy Analysis for Social Workers
|edition=4th edition
|year=2008
|publisher=Pearson/Allyn and Bacon
|location=Boston, MA
|isbn= 0205485928
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Reamer |first=Frederic G.
|editor=
|title=Ethical Standards in Social Work: A Review of the NASW Code of Ethics
|edition=2nd edition
|year=2006
|publisher=NASW Press
|location=Washington, DC
|isbn=9780871013712
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Richardson |first=Virginia E. and Amanda Smith Barusch
|editor=
|title=Gerontological Practice for the Twenty-First Ccentury: A Social Work Perspective
|edition=
|year=2006
|publisher=Columbia University Press
|location=New York, NY
|isbn=023110748X
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Sowers |first=Karen M. and Catherine N. Dulmus and others.
|editor=
|title=Comprehensive Handbook of Social Work and Social Welfare
|edition=
|year=2008
|publisher=John Wiley & Sons
|location=Hoboken, NJ
|isbn=0471752223
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Thyer |first=Bruce A. and John S. Wodarski
|editor=
|title=Social Work in Mental Health: An Evidence-Based Approach
|edition=
|year=2007
|publisher=John Wiley
|location=Hoboken, NJ
|isbn=0471693049
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
*{{cite book
|last=Turner |first=Francis J.
|editor=
|title=Canadian Encyclopedia of Social Work
|edition=
|year=2005
|publisher=Wilfrid Laurier University Press
|location=Waterloo, ON
|isbn=0889204365
|pages=
|chapter=
|chapterurl=}}
{{refend}}
{{Social work}}
{{Allied health professions}}
[[Category:Social work|*]]
[[Category:Mental health professionals]]
[[Category:health sciences]]
[[de:Soziale Arbeit]]
[[es:Trabajo social]]
[[fi:Sosiaalityö]]
[[fr:Assistant de service social]]
[[he:עבודה סוציאלית]]
[[hr:Socijalni radnik]]
[[it:Assistente sociale]]
[[ja:ソーシャルワーカー]]
[[nl:Maatschappelijk werk]]
[[pl:Praca socjalna (specjalizacja)]]
[[pt:Serviço social]]
[[simple:Social worker]]
[[sl:Socialno delo]]
[[sr:Социјални рад]]
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[[uk:Соціальна робота]]
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