As most of us know, social work has been around for quite some time and has helped so many people in their lives to overcome personal battles and become "healthier" not only mentally but also in life. In this post I will be discussing social work and the importance behind it, what factors contribute to it, and the overall ways that it helps people.
According to Simmons University, the social work ethics provide six purposes. These purposes are:
- To establish the core values upon which the social work profession is based.
- To create specific ethical standards that should guide social work practice and reflect the core values.
- To help social workers navigate professional considerations and obligations when ethical uncertainties arise.
- To provide ethical standards to which the social work profession can be held accountable.
- To initiate new social workers to the profession's mission, values, and ethical principles and standards.
- To create standards by which the social work profession can assess if a social worker has engaged in unethical conduct. Social workers who pledge to abide by this code must cooperate with its implementation and disciplinary rulings based upon it.
The Early Days of Social Work
The Social Work Degree Guide says that this profession originated in the 19th century as a movement primarily experienced within the United States and United Kingdom. Especially during the Great Depression, social work was the main demand for people who needed shelter, food, jobs, money, and most importantly to know that they were someone's priority. Social workers were called to not only help people find stability in needing shelter, but also in life. These days were the most important for helping people get on their feet and finding a career for them even if it was not something long term, but to get them started in life. This is how the early days of social work looked for most employees in the career during this era. It is how the job really took off because so many people were in need of basic life materials that they did not have and so professionals had to step in and provide for the needy and search for answers that hopefully they could provide.
The Core of Social Work
There are two factors that lead into social work itself and they are "man's existential predicament", which is basically one's own freedom and choice of how they can view their own life how they want to. The second factor is man's existential nature, that every individual has uniqueness and every situation also has its own uniqueness to it, and it is rooted into the overall outlook on "man's existential predicament." This just means that every man and woman has their own right to their choices and how they execute them, a right to their own mind and freedom so others cannot think for them for tell them what they can and cannot do. Every person's situation is personal and unique in its own way no matter how big or small it is. These are what the factors that are relating to it is a short description on the root of social work and how it works.
How Does Social Work Help People?
Social workers help people to try and cope the best they can in any stage of life they are in. They do more than just "counsel" others. Social workers help with adoption and even going as far as helping someone figure out life when they are diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. They work with children, people with severe mental illnesses, and many cases of drug and alcohol addictions. Social workers help children who have been/are abused physically, sexually, emotionally, and mentally. They work to find safer places for children to live in if they are around someone who has an addiction and is very abusive or just living with an abusive parent that does not give the proper care the need and are just ignorant in general. Social workers save multiple lives every day no matter what the situation is or the case that is brought to them. They are there for an endangered person's life in need and will do anything to help them live a safer, happier, and healthier life. This is overall what a social worker does during their job and how they can help any person whose life is a risk of abuse and harm.
Questions:
- What are the six purposes that are in the social work ethics?
- What century did social work originate?
- What do social workers do?
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think that social work is a valid profession?
- Why do you think people go into this profession?
- Would you want to be a part of this field?
Work Cited
What Is the Social Work Code of Ethics? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://socialwork.simmons.edu/social-work-code-of-ethics/.
Existentialism. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_existentialism.html.
CareerExplorer, F. social workers on. (n.d.). Careers. Retrieved from https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/social-worker/.
Post I commented on:
My sister is a social worker, you don't have to sell me on the profession's humane and invaluable service to society. I know she went into the field because she's been helped by social workers herself, and because she has a strong personal ethic of empathy and a humanitarian compassion for others who may be walking the path she's already trod.
ReplyDeleteBut, I'd never really thought about the "existential core" of social work's commitment to ameliorating the human condition... especially the emphasis on freedom, choice, and our "right to [our] own mind and freedom so others cannot think for [us]" - a formulation resonant of Enlightenment, as Kant defined it: "emergence from self-imposed immaturity," where "Immaturity is the inability to use one's understanding without guidance from another."
So I wonder: would most social workers say their work involves offering "guidance"? Or that their job is to assist the process of maturation in those who need it, so that they can be more self-reliant and "mature" going forward?
Why do you think people go into this profession?
ReplyDeleteI think people go into this profession because it's a self-less and beneficial profession. We are born altruistic beings; it's in our nature to help others in need so they themselves can help others in need tomorrow. I think this profession fulfills that desire to help others and it also makes your day better when other people appreciate what you do for them, and gives someone more energy and happiness seeing others in better conditions (thanks to the social worker).
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ReplyDeleteI think people go into social work simply to be better in life and to help people become better people as well!
I see the people that do this job as some of the most important people in our society. I'm sure many people agree with me about this, but at the same time there aren't as many people that want to go into this profession than I would expect. Maybe I just don't talk to the right people or see the right numbers, but it feels to me that more people should be more vocal about how important social work is for society.
ReplyDeleteSection 13
ReplyDeleteSocial work is definitely a valid profession and is often overlooked and dismissed too easily. It should be more appreciated by the public. People go into this profession because they want to help others and make life more manageable.
Section 13
ReplyDeleteI surely think that social work is a valid profession. It helps society so much, yet it is still overlooked. I believe that those who go into this career really have a heart for others because their main objective is to help.
I definitely think that Social Work is a valid profession. A lot of families need help and sometimes are to afraid or just are to sick to ask for help, and individuals such as these can help and even prevent from their situation getting worse. A lot of children suffer when living with families that neglect them and people in this profession can make a difference for those children and help them survive. Its a great career field in my opinion,though it can be a very heart breaking one as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic and great information.