Chapter 1 (Introduction) Flashcards
Social justice
The premise that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities.
Why do social workers need to know about social policy?
Social policies are the frameworks that inform, limit, or advance social work practice and the goal of social justice.
How are social problems created in the United States?
United States social problems are created by (a) the interaction of our unique historical values and ideologies; (b) our economic structure; and (c) our legacy of discrimination and oppression against certain ethnic groups, individuals with varying sexual orientations, and women.
How are social policies limited in the United States?
Our historical ideologies, our economic system, and our legacy of discrimination/oppression—also inform and limit social policies that were created to address the social problems.
In what context do all social workers act and function in?
All social workers act within the context of a social policy field, empowered and constrained by the channels for action determined by others.
Why is the relationship between policy and practice reciprocal?
Policies drive practice; funding sources, client characteristics, content and amount of services offered—all these variables are found in policies designed by federal, state, or local policymakers. Simultaneously, practice guides policy change; social workers should know which policies are constraining and which fail to solve the social problems that limit the full potential of the individuals with whom they work.
What are the six major principles for The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics?
Being competent, having dignity, using integrity, believing in the importance of human relationships, providing service, and advocating for social justice.
