WHY SOCIAL WORK?
The profession of social work was founded on a set of core values and principles that still guide its unique purpose and perspective today. These core values include service, social justice, inherent dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. For more than 100 years, social workers have helped millions of people challenge their circumstances and change their lives, and pushed institutions to value and support persons in need.
According to the NASWICode of Ethics, social work core values are defined as:
Service Social work's primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems. Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. Social workers draw on their knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social problems.
Social Justice Social workers challenge social injustice. Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers' social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice.
Dignity and Worth of the Person Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person. Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethic diversity. Social workers support client self-determination, that is, the right of individuals to make choices about their futures.
Importance of Human Relationships Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships. Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change. Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process. They seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance well-being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities.
Integrity Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner. Social workers are continually aware of the profession's mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards and practice in a manner consistent with them. Social workers act honestly and responsibly and promote ethical practices on the part of organizations with which they are affiliated.
Competence Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise. Social workers continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills and to apply them in practice. Social workers should aspire to contribute to the knowledge base of the profession.
The full NASW Code of Ethics can be found on the NASW Web site at http://www.socialworkers.org/.
http://www.mvsu.edu/academics/colleges/professional_studies/departments/social_work/recruiting/why.php
Why Choose Social Work?
Social Work is a unique profession rich with meaning, action, and the power to make a difference. Social workers are devoted to helping people function the best they can in their environment. This heritage, in which social problems are seen as social concerns, gives contemporary social work its unique character among helping professions. Social workers help clients deal not only with how they feel about a situation but also with what they can do about it. Social workers provide direct services and work to promote social and economic justice.
Social Work has its own body of knowledge, code of ethics, practice standards and a nationwide system of accredited education programs. Professional social workers are equiped with the knowledge, skills and ethics necessary to serve individuals, families, organizations and communities.
Many individuals enter social work for the broad spectrum of career opportunities. Social workers are found in many places, including public agencies, private businesses, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, police departments, courts, and in private practice.
http://www.utexas.edu/ssw/future/why/
What Is a Career in Social Work Like?
Maybe you've heard the joke, "Social Work is the World's Second Oldest Profession." It makes the point that social workers have been around as long as people have needed others.
You may not know it, but you've talked with a social worker. Here you'll find out more about the social work profession. You'll learn how someone becomes a professional social worker, who trains them, and what types of things they do to help others.
You'll also learn about different types of social workers and why their specialties are important.
If you think the world can be a better place, you share a belief with social workers. Here you can find out more about what social workers do whether they work in Child Protective Services, as a School Social Worker, or as a Generalist.
You'll even learn a bit about Play Therapy and some of the tools social workers use in Play therapy.
Further down the page, you'll see some links to important resources web. I've included some for social workers, social work students, and those who want to know how to find a social worker.
Each section of this lens contains important information about the social work profession and what social workers do to help others.
If you can't tell by now, this lens is your connection to social work resources on the web.
Don't forget. If you like this lens, you'll be able to leave comments and opt in to follow the updates I make in the future.
http://www.squidoo.com/socialworkers
ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
In thousands of ways, social workers help people help themselves. People of every age. From every background. In every corner of the country. Wherever we’re needed, social workers help. Welcome to your source for professional career advice, inspiring stories and ways to connect with real social workers.
Discover all the ways that you can challenge injustice and enhance society as a social worker.
http://www.beasocialworker.org/