scholarly journals Reemergence of Policy Practice: A Journey Back to our Roots

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine V. Byers

Many people and events have contributed to a renewed focus on policy practice in social work and social work education, culminating in the inclusion of policy practice as one of the ten core social work competencies in the 2008 Council on Social Work Education EPAS. Robert Schneider, founder of Influencing State Policy, was a key player in elevating policy practice, particularly at the state level, in light of the increasing devolution of social policy decision-making to the states. Other social workers and educators created opportunities for policy scholars and practitioners to collaborate, including Leon Ginsberg and the Policy Conference that he and others initiated. Now a new generation of policy practitioners will continue to educate social workers in policy practice skills in the pursuit of social justice

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 1045-1063
Author(s):  
Jessica Donohue-Dioh ◽  
Jacqueline Wilson ◽  
Stephani-Nicole Leota

This article examines one of the most dangerous personifications of white supremacy, the Woke Vigilante - the “liberal do-gooder” and the social work profession’s role in their creation. White supremacy is frequently named to identify overt racism and discrimination by hate groups, ultra conservatives and increasingly throughout the government. There is another breed of white supremacy which lies beneath the surface and believes itself to be an ally, this is the Woke Vigilante. Unexamined social work education provides the right ingredients with the moral authority to turn white social workers into Woke Vigilantes. This conceptual article highlights the ways in which social work education currently addresses competencies of diversity and difference, as well as social justice. The authors then present a persuasive argument for white academic social workers to alter course and promote teaching and practice skills which incorporate social justice skills at all levels of practice, in other words social justice meta-practice skills. The danger of white supremacy when it is disguised as the Woke Vigilante may be best captured by Malcolm X when he spoke of the white liberals who disguise themselves as friends to the Black man only as a means to benefit their own self-interest without genuinely asking or listening to that which the Black community actually wants (X, 1963). Social work is all too familiar with the white liberal and must consider this a call to action, as well as a forewarning against further perpetuation of white hegemonic societal structures giving license to white do-gooders eager to go into Black communities and effect change. Authors present a resolve for white social workers to adopt the role of the Woke Disrupter.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-127
Author(s):  
Annie Pullen Sansfaçon ◽  
Marion Brown

This article presents the results and theorization of a 4-year Grounded Theory project that sought to understand the processes and dynamics involved in the professional adaptation of internationally educated social workers now practicing in Canada. In-depth interviews with 66 participants, who undertook social work education outside of Canada and have subsequently settled to practice in the country, were conducted. Results highlight that the social work educational background of the professionals not only offers key conceptual, theoretical, and analytical foundations needed to adapt knowledge and skills to practice abroad, but also provides tools to navigate and negotiate professional adaptation processes as a whole. We conclude that ultimately, social workers may adapt well to their new work contexts because of the transferability of social work skills, knowledge, and values to new practice settings, thus facilitating interventions with services users and also their own process of professional adaptation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasreen Aslam Shah

Social work is a professional and academic discipline that committed to improve the quality and prosperity of individuals, groups, and communities through scientific knowledge, policy, community organizing, direct practice and teaching. Pakistan is very fortunate to have a good start of professional Social Work; the first social work training began in the year 1953. Social work education in universities started in 1954 and its aim is to provide trained social workers equipped with the basic knowledge and skills to assist government and private agencies in the development and implementation of social welfare programs. This study presents an overview of the brief history, current issues and future opportunities of social work education in Pakistan. This study emphasizes some of the significant issues that cause concern, such as the social work education and practice appropriate for Pakistan society, teaching and learning, fieldwork and supervision, certification and licensing for social workers. It’s important to talk about some issues of concern and the direction in which a strong and sound social work education can be developed.


1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora S. Rice ◽  
James R. Dudley

In this recent study, 55 percent of the BSW students surveyed at a medium-size southeastern, public university stated that spirituality significantly influenced their decision to become social workers. Ninety-eight percent identified themselves as having a vital spiritual identity that included the belief in God or a universal spirit. Yet, until recently, social work education has all but ignored the relevance of spirituality in the lives of students and clients. This paper will present an assessment exercise designed to help students explore spiritual issues along with the responses of students to the exercise. Finally, the implications of this exercise for social work education will be discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dara P. Bergel

In the year 2020, at least 60,000 to 70,000 social workers will be needed to work with the elderly. However, insufficient numbers of social work students are choosing to participate in the field of aging. This article discusses reasons, barriers, and the importance of increasing gerontological interest in BSW students. It provides curriculum-enhancing suggestions to expand student and faculty interest in aging education and the gerontological social work profession in the context of the Council on Social Work Educational (CSWE) Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).


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