Transcript Social Work: A Maturing Profession

Social Work:
A Maturing Profession
Chapter 20
Criteria of a Profession
 Five distinguishing attributes of a profession:
– Systematic theory
– Authority
– Community sanction
– Ethical codes
– A culture
Historical Background
 The first beginnings of a school of social
work were in New York City in 1898.
 Before 1910 there were schools of social
work in the five largest cities in the United
States.
 By 1996 there were 117 programs in the
United States offering appropriate master’s
education.
Council on Social Work Education
 The basic aims of the council are to support,
strengthen, and improve social work
education and to increase the number of
qualified social workers.
 The Commission on Accreditation of the
Council on Social Work Education accredits
social work education program both at the
bachelor’s and master’s level.
National Association of Social
Workers
 For a discipline to become a profession, it is
imperative that a professional organization be
established.
 In the 1950’s representatives of seven
organizations met and established a single
integrated organization, the National Association
of Social Workers.
 This association was officially organized on July 7,
l955.
 Currently the Association has 160,000 members.
NASW
 A major development sponsored by NASW has
been the establishment of the Academy of
Certified Social Workers (ACSW)
 ACSW certification requires a MSW degree plus
two years of experience.
 Another area of interest to NASW is licensing.
 In 1945 in California the first voluntary registration
for MSW’s in social work was enacted.
Code of Ethics
 The Social Work Code of Ethics which serves to
help social work practice emphasizes basic values
and standards of conduct.
– The social worker’s conduct and comportment as a
social worker
– Ethical responsibility to clients
– Ethical responsibility to colleagues
– Ethical responsibility to employers and employing
organizations
– Ethical responsibility to the social work profession
– Ethical responsibility to society.
Schools of Social Work
 In 1996 Master of Social Work degrees reached
an all-time high, amounting to about 15,000.
 The basic program for the master’s degree
includes the three core areas of human behavior
and social environment, social services and social
policies, and the methods courses.
 Fifty-one graduate schools have introduced
doctoral programs.
 A current movement exists to change DSW
programs to Ph.D. programs.
Research
 Since the 1960’s social work has blossomed in the area of
research, which is basic to professional development.
 Most schools of social work have one or more research
projects or grants they are sponsoring.
 Another contribution is the work being done by the more
than 14,000 students who graduate each year with their
MSW degrees.
 About 250 doctoral dissertations are being completed each
year.
 These studies are making contributions toward new
knowledge about human behavior and social work
education and practice.
Private Practice
 Private practice of social workers is on the
increase.
 Most social workers in private practice are
involved in it on a part time basis.
 The term vendorship may be applied to the
practice of payment by a third party (and
insurance carrier).
Salaries and Jobs
 Present salaries for most MSW graduates would
be in the range of $25,000 to 30,000 a year and
for those who have been in practice about ten
years, $30,000 to $50,000.
 Some social workers in private practice now make
$75,000 to $150,000 annually.
 The 1995 Social Work Almanac reports a NASW
sample study of its members which showed that in
1993 the average salary of those in direct services
was 31,729 and the median salary was 29,000.
The Changing Nature of Work
 Social work practice and education have been influenced
by changes in America’s economy, especially in terms of
patterns of employment and unemployment.
 According to some experts, the U.S. economy is shifting to
“the new, ruthless economy” characterized by more
inequality, a shift in power from labor to capital, and the
proliferation of low-wage employment.
 Some believe this will lead to “severe poverty” because it
will be more difficult for low-income people to move into the
middle class while the chances of middle-class Americans
moving into poverty will increase.
Changing Nature of Work
 A second factor affecting social work in the
21st century is the reorganization and
transformation of work.
 The technological revolution will throw
millions into unemployment because new
industries have not been developed to hire
these displaced workers.