M3L1 Flashcards
The Discipline of Social Work
- Strongly associated with welfare and social programs
- Operates within legal frameworks for protecting and supporting vulnerable people
- Works to promote social change, problem-solving in human relationships and empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well being
The Discipline of Social Work
Evolved from domestic common sense care to professional care
- Origins traced back to the 1800s
- Initially performed by local churches and communities to help the poor
Linked to the Charity Organization Societies in 1877
- Viewed poverty as a character defect
- Aimed to discover the causes of poverty and eliminate it
Early social work interventions focused on meeting basic human needs
- Emphasized providing support, assistance, and resources to alleviate suffering
The settlement movement emerged next
- Linked individual well-being to external surroundings
- Included public education programs, creation of settlement houses, and pension programs
- Advocated for better neighborhood services, public health programs, and employment conditions
History of Social Work
- The early beginnings can be traced during the American colonial period where American social workers introduced its concepts and methodologies
- 1920s saw the beginning of formal education of Social Work by figures such as Concepcion A. Dadudalza
- 1947 saw the foundation of PASW (Philippine Association of Social Workers)
- Social Work education in the Philippines is a struggle between progressive ideas of change which is reflective of the country’s Neo-colonial struggle between western influences and native world views
- Social Work is both responsive and objective where it is based in people’s
experiences, conditions, sensitivities and the interest of the community and Filipino society at large
History of Social Work in the Philippines
Social work is a practice-based profession and academic discipline that promotes social change and development, sees social cohesion and empowerment and liberation of people. Utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems
Definition of Social Work
- Learning occurs by observing others and modeling your behavior
- Social workers use this theory to better understand whole models affect the behaviors and emotions of clients
- Aids social workers in forming interventions that would encourage clients to
engage in new positive behaviors
Theories commonly utilized by Social Work professionals
Social Learning Theory
- People are products of complex systems rather than acting in isolation
- Social workers use this theory to understand how their clients are influenced by the systems they’re a part of
Theories commonly utilized by Social Work professionals
Systems Theory
Example: identifying systemic breakdowns that are affecting behavior
- Personality develops in a series of stages
- Social workers use it to identify which stage of development their clients are experiencing so they can better understand the challenges they’re facing
Theories commonly utilized by Social Work professionals
Psychosocial Development Theory
- Idea that humans are biologically motived to seek gratification
- Social workers use this theory to explain the internal processes individuals use to guide their behavior (some of which may be unconsciously motivated)
- Social workers may also examine how early childhood experiences play a role in the current behavior of the client
Theories commonly utilized by Social Work professionals
Psychodynamic Theory
- Relationships are based on a cost-benefit analysis
- Social workers use this theory to understand their clients’ relationship such as why clients continue to maintain or abandon certain relationships
- This can also apply to techniques social workers use to connect with their client
Theories commonly utilized by Social Work professionals
Social Exchange Theory
- Helps explain why people make the choice they do by weighing risks, costs and benefits
- Suggests that all choices are rational because people calculate the costs and benefits before making a decisions
- Helps social workers understand the decision-making process and motivations of their clients
Theories commonly utilized by Social Work professionals
Rational Choice Theory
Levels of Social Work
- Works in all three levels
- Needs excellent interpersonal and intrapersonal skills in all social work positions
Generalists
Levels of Social Work
- Provides one-on-one, family and small-group services addressing a wide range of social issues
Micro Social Work
Levels of Social Work
- Called the “mixed method” model
- Works with* groups of people* (schools, prisons, hospitals or neighborhoods
- Focus:
- Sessions rather than individual counseling to assist clients across all systems
Mezzo Social Work
Levels of Social Work
- Encompasses policy-making, research and community based initiatives
- More likely to focus on and help address larger societal issues like homelessness’s substance abuse, healthcare and more
Macro Social Work
- Empower people
- Support a proactive position regarding social and economic policy development
- Uphold the integrity of the profession
- Establish linkages between people and societal resources
- Develop cooperative networks
- Facilitate the responsiveness of the institutional resource systems
- Promote social justice and equality of all people
- Contribute to the development of knowledge for social work profession through research evaluation
- Encourage the exchange of information
Goals and scope of Social Work
