The National Association of Social Workers was founded through years of meticulous planning as seven smaller organizations merged together in its formation. The leaders of these organizations - the American Association of Social Workers, American Association of Medical Social Workers, National Association of School Social Workers, American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers, American Association of Group Workers, Association for the Study of Community Organization, and the Social Work Research Group - began laying the groundwork for this merger in 1948 and the NASW was formally began in 1955. (VCU Libraries Social Welfare History Project, 2016) Today the NASW has the largest membership of any social work organization in the world, and …show more content…
Social workers are obligated to set clear boundaries with clients about the ways, means, and limits of electronic communication. They should communicate, and be sure that clients understand, that these methods of communication are meant only for professional purposes. Blurring the line of professionalism via contact through social media or other informal electronic means can result in dual relationships with the client, wherein the client perceives the social worker as a friend or associate instead of a service professional. Social workers also must be aware that having an active and open online presence that features aspects of their personal life, such as family photos on Instagram, a personal blog, or an open profile on Facebook, leaves them open to this dual relationship perception with clients. It also muddies the professional waters between the social work profession and the individual social worker. The worker must take pains to assert that all opinions expressed are their own, and do not reflect upon any employer, professional organization, or licensure board. The social worker must also be aware and sensitive to how their private opinions and belief systems may affect their ability to provide services to their clients. If the social worker …show more content…
However, there are benefits to both clients and social workers than can make the risk worthwhile. The use of technology can allow social workers to provide services to clients who would otherwise be impeded by geographical, socioeconomic, or physical barriers. Electronic services can often be provided at a lower cost to bother worker and client, and can allow the social worker greater flexibility in scheduling and time management (Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice, 2017). The use of electronic methods for continuing education, research, and discussion among peers is also beneficial to those in the social work
NASW Foundation. (2004). NASW Social Work Pioneers: Daniel O'Keefe (1914-1971). In NASW Foundation. Retrieved February 15, 2012, from http://www.naswfoundation.org/pioneers/o/okeefe.htm.
The social safety net has grown to include and protect a diverse group of people of all ages. Social workers have become vital to older persons who need long term care, persons struggling with addictions, and communities that are devastated by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and violent tragedies
The literature review is important to find credible, reliable, and relevant sources that fit the research problem. “To achieve its purpose, the literature review may examine issues of theory, methodology, policy, and evaluation that relate to the effectiveness of a policy or intervention” (Krysik & Finn, 2013, p.66). Annotated bibliographies and abstracts also provide information about different sources and this can be helpful for evaluating sources when doing a literature review. “An annotated bibliography includes a summary or evaluation of each of the sources” and when writing one it can help to establish if the sources used are relevant and apply to the research topic that is being investigated. (Stacks, Karper, Bisignani, & Brizee, 2013).
Professionalism in the social work field goes beyond licensure and expertise (Cournoyer, 2014). According to Cournoyer (2014), social work professionalism encompasses the concepts of integrity, self-efficacy and knowledge, self-understanding and self-control, and social support (Cournoyer, 2014). Embedded in social work professionalism is the person-environment perspective, which posits that our personal attributes, interactions and relationships with others, and environment influence a social worker’s practice. Cournoyer stresses that it is a social worker’s responsibility to acknowledge and regulate his or her personal biases, ideologies, and beliefs when working with clients in order to prevent them from negatively impacting the therapeutic
Identify and explain the three major sources of conflict and misinterpretations in social work practice: culture-bound values, class bound values, and language variables.
As a social work professional, you must take into account your own personal values before you can be an effective worker in this field. Social workers sometimes need to put their own values aside when working with clients who don’t share their same ideals. Clients are diverse and are not going to always have the same values that the worker has. Social workers need to be professional and adhere to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) guidelines when working with any client.
Social work is a multifaceted, ever adapting profession, which has had many purposes and identities through the years. It is imperative for the vocation to constantly evolve alongside the social climate and the new ways in which we identify and treat those who are in need of support. Social workers can be required to take on the role of counsellor, advocate, case-worker, partner, assessor of risk and need, and at times (as the government seeks to push social work further and further towards the health and education sectors) a servant of the state. The profession is dramatically subject to affection by societal change, thus demanding social workers have a duty to be up to date with the latest developments in understanding how and why people get to the point of requiring social work intervention, and how best to prevent and cater for it.
Advocating for vulnerable persons creates emotions and feelings that could lead to inappropriateness amongst clients. As social workers, we walk a very thin line sometimes in the aspects of helping a client. This makes it easy to stray away from policy and procedure and go with our own personal feelings. The consequences which can result from not establishing appropriate boundaries can be detrimental to my career as a social worker and to a client.
...rkers. (2013b). Social Work: Purpose & Possibility: NASW Membership Benefits & Services. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/nasw/join/membershipbrochure.pdf
Mishna, F., Bogo, M., Root, J., Sawyer, J., & Khoury-kassabri, M. (2012). "It just crept in": The digital age and implications for social work practice. Clinical Social Work Journal, 40(3), 277-286. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10615-012-0383-4
According to the NASW Code of Ethics (2008), the primary goal of social work is to, “…enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty” (NASW, 2008). Historically, the profession
NASW Code of Ethic states core values is embraced by social workers: Dignity and worth of the persons. As an aspiring social worker, it is my duty to, “Treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity” (The National Association, “n. d.”) Evaluating my own personal beliefs, and setting them aside, will allow me to put my best foot forward when pursuing my professional path and future
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has a historical mission of enhancing individual well-being, empowering all people with a focus on the oppressed and vulnerable while addressing environmental problems in living. Social workers strive for social justice, social change, service, the importance of human relations, integrity and competence. Social workers have a mandatory code of ethics provided by NASW in order to not violate any client and to fulfill the social work mission (NASW Delegate Assembly, 2008).
Technology has changed the existing cultural climate of social work practice and advocacy. Much of the manner in which technology has challenged social interactions is a direct result of the use of information technology for communication in innovative patterns and exchanges (Baker, Warburton, Hodgkin, & Pascal, 2014). Social work practitioners are developing their skillsets to embrace societal evolvement as a matter of adaptability. The power of technology brings about collective practice, increased awareness, promotes social justice, and elicits the changes intended by social work advocacy (Bent-Goodley, 2015). Although there is resistance in embracing technology, much of the strengths are in current and future technological
On July 7th I had an interview opportunity with the Oasis Shelter in Owensboro, Kentucky. This was one of the numerous opportunities that I placed on my possible field interest to receive an internship at. I met with the director of the Oasis shelter in Henderson, Kentucky that afternoon for the interview. The interview went well, and I informed the director that I was a Sociology undergrad student looking to expand my knowledge with domestic violence. Towards the end of the interview, the director informed me “we do not accept many Master of Social Work students because MSW’s are know it all. The student thinks they know more than individuals in the social work field with five or more years of knowledge.” I received the directors contact