- "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." - "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."
Social work is a profession focused on helping individuals, families, and communities overcome social and interpersonal challenges to enhance their well-being.
Social Welfare Policy and Service Delivery: The understanding of the political and economic factors that shape social welfare policy and the ways in which social services are designed and delivered.
Social Justice and Human Rights in Social Work: The fundamental principles of social justice and human rights and how they relate to social work practice.
Cultural Competence and Diversity in Social Work: The understanding of cultural differences and the importance of cultural competence in social work practice.
Social Work Ethics and Values: The principles and values that guide social work practice, including the NASW Code of Ethics.
Social Work Communication Skills: The ability to effectively communicate with clients, colleagues, and other professionals in the field of social work, both verbally and in writing.
Social Work Case Management: The skills necessary to manage cases effectively, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services.
Social Work Research and Evaluation: The ability to critically evaluate research and to conduct research studies to inform social work practice.
Community Practice and Advocacy in Social Work: The understanding of community development, advocacy, and social change initiatives that promote social justice and human rights.
Social Work Program Development and Management: The skills necessary to develop and manage social service programs, including grant writing, budgeting, and program evaluation.
Trauma-Informed Practice in Social Work: The understanding of trauma and the impact of trauma on individuals and families, as well as the skills necessary to provide trauma-informed care.
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Social Work: The understanding of domestic violence and sexual assault, including prevention, intervention, and support for victims and survivors.
Supervision and Professional Development: The skills necessary to provide supervision to social work professionals and to engage in ongoing professional development to stay current in the field.
Child and Family Social Work: This subfield deals with helping children and families that are facing social and emotional difficulties. Social workers in this subfield work on cases involving abuse, neglect, addiction, mental health, and more.
Healthcare Social Work: Healthcare social workers are involved in helping individuals cope with medical conditions and provide support to families during difficult times. They work in hospitals, clinics, hospices, and other medical settings.
Aging and Gerontology Social Work: This subfield focuses on the needs of older adults and their families. Social workers in this field might help provide assistance with daily living activities, such as showering or dressing, or connect them with resources to improve their quality of life.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work: Social workers in this area specialize in helping individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues by providing treatment, diagnosis, and support.
Criminal Justice Social Work: This subfield deals with the rehabilitation and social reintegration of individuals who have been incarcerated or institutionalized, as well as providing support to their families.
Education Social Work: Education social workers help students overcome challenges that affect their academic performance, including behavioral issues, family problems, and mental health issues.
Community Development Social Work: Social workers in this subfield collaborate with community organizations and leaders to develop strategies for meeting the basic needs of individuals and families within a community.
International Social Work: This subfield deals with social work on a global level and may involve working with refugees, immigrants, and displaced persons in crisis situations.
Military Social Work: Military social workers provide support to the military personnel and their families through counseling, crisis intervention, and accessing benefits.
Policy and Advocacy Social Work: In this subfield, social workers play an instrumental role in analyzing, developing, and influencing policies and legislation that impact social issues, public health, and human rights.
Administration Social Work: This entails running a social service organization.
Child Welfare Social Work: This category of social work focuses exclusively on children, ensuring their protection and welfare.
Corrections Social Work: This involves helping incarcerated people re-enter the community after their release.
Disability Social Work: This type of social work helps people maintain independence despite physical, cognitive or mental issues.
- "Social work practice draws from areas, such as psychology, sociology, health, political science, community development, law, and economics."
- "Micro-work involves working directly with individuals and families." - "Mezzo-work involves working with groups and communities." - "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."
- "The social work profession developed in the 19th century, with some of its roots in voluntary philanthropy and in grassroots organizing."
- "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."
- "To engage with systems and policies, [social work] conducts assessments, develops interventions, and enhances social functioning and responsibility."
- "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."
- "The effects of the Industrial Revolution [...] 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."
- "To prepare students for the management of social and human service organizations, in addition to classical social work education."
- "Social work draws from areas such as psychology, sociology, health, political science, community development, law, and economics."
- "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."
- "The social work profession developed in the 19th century, with some of its roots in voluntary philanthropy and in grassroots organizing."
- "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."
- "Social workers responded to the child welfare concerns related to widespread poverty and reliance on child labor in industrial settings."
- "Social work [aims] to enhance the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being."
- "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."