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