Social Workers in the Improvement of Lives and their Challenges
RUNNING HEAD: SOCIAL WORKER
Social Workers in the Improvement of Lives and their Challenges
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1ST April, 2011.
Social Workers in the Improvement of Lives and their Challenges
Abstract
Just like all the other professionals a social worker has an important role to contribute positively to the society. However, in the course of their duties they are also likely to meet several setbacks and challenges that they have to overcome. This is in order to get satisfaction from their jobs.
Social work involves both professional plus academic application of knowledge to bring about social welfare, change and justice. This is in order to generally improve the worth of life by bringing out the potential of individuals, groups and the community as a whole. Social workers achieve this through performance of research, policy, organizing the community, direct practice as well as tutoring. With its endeavors to fight poverty and its associated problems, social work can be functional in various fields which include community development.
Introduction
Social workers have an important task in the ensuring those disadvantaged such as the elderly, mentally ill and children receive appropriate care in different facilities. They help people to cope with day to day lives which include personal, family and relationship problems. They also serve as a link between the school and families of the students by integrating the efforts of guardians, school officials, teachers and parents. Those involved in medical and public health give psychosocial support to vulnerable groups (Bureau of Labor statistics, 2010-11). For example, old age is mostly accompanied by illness and especially mental illness. At times this is taken as a normal process of ageing hence inadequate services are offered by physicians. They at times do not have their relatives who may be busy to take care of them and therefore become lonely and isolated. The following paper will address the role of social workers in addressing several cases, their challenges and how they overcome them to achieve success in their profession.
Requirements
For one to become a social worker a high level of education at least a four year bachelor’s degree in the course is required. This incorporates field instructions that equip one for the real assignment by giving hands on experience. Voluntary work in a social welfare agency can in addition provide the sense of what is involved in fieldwork.
Social workers provide their services in a variety of areas. These include schools offering family and child welfare, healthcare or medical centers, mental health, correctional and aging institutions.
History of Social Work
Social work supposedly began during the industrial revolution in Europe and United States where manufacturing industries were introduced. However those who worked as domestic help were devastated as they had to find work in the factories due to worsened living standards. There was subsequent overcrowding in the urban areas due to demand for jobs that resulted in underpayment especially of women and children, and poor working conditions. This prompted visitors from America who were out to prevent the sufferings of these people.
They became the first social workers as they offered material support, moral uplift, advice and even referred them to alternative sources of help. This is despite the fact that they were basically religion, and prayer based and intended to convert the people to Christianity. Despite these services, the visitors felt superior to the poor with the belief that it was due to their character flaw. It was after sometime that services offered through human welfare recognized that those they assist are victims of circumstances which are beyond their control hence material help might be of greater value to them than prayer.
Social work started resembling the current day state during the Civil War when the Sanitation Commission started offering services like those offered by Red Cross today (Prescott, 1992).
What they do
The activities involved in social work include delivering flowers to patients in health institutions, serving meals at a homeless shelter, tutoring in an elementary school and becoming the leader of a cheering group in a sports event. All these activities require some special qualities about a social worker in order to offer help and increase the quality of other people’s lives.
Where they Work
Some of them are employed by the state, county or the agencies run by municipal government where or interact with other professionals such as teachers, doctors, psychologists and lawyers in the course of their duty. They usually work in urban areas where there is great need for their services as well as the funding for such organizations. Others are employed by both nonprofit and for profit organizations, firms and institutions in the private sector. They might work in private practice and charge a fee for counseling services. This reflects the diversity of the populations with which they work. For example, a specialist in provision of care for the old and elderly may work in a nursing home or a senior centre (Prescott, 1992).
Fulfillment
Social work can give an individual satisfaction in the sense that he is recognized for his good works by the society, by getting the chance to stand up and be counted, he gets the opportunity to share skills with others, gets to know his neighborhood and other surrounding ones, gains leadership skills, feels needed, is able to be and deal with people from diverse backgrounds and areas. In addition one is able to create a difference in society hence gain the pride, teamwork and obtain the fun brought about by the various challenges experienced.
Challenges
Most people and especially the media dismiss the social workers and do not appreciate their work (Bramble, 2006).Additionally; since the work of a social worker is more than an occupation that is visible it is most of the times detested. The press for example has consistently hammered the social workers for the last twenty years. Numerous child scandals for instance have led to the blaming of social workers for overprotecting the children as well as vulnerable adults. On the other hand, they are also condemned for not putting enough efforts. Although it is thought that people changed their views on those who are disadvantaged in the society and with whom social workers work, most people associate them with the status hence the discrimination that comes with their work. However, they are not only discriminated outside the profession but also within the circles where the social workers themselves are weary about their task (Cree, 2003).
Conclusion
Most people who have witnessed and experienced a Social worker on duty can testify to the importance of their work in the society. This requires their appreciation and acceptance by all as well as contribution of funds to enable them go about their duties smoothly. In addition, it will motivate them to continue improving people’s lives in the society
References
Bramble, R. (2006). The nameless social worker. London: Janus Publishing Company Limited.
Bureau of Labor statistics. (2010-11). Social workers. Occupational Outlook Handbook , p. 1 & 2.
Retrieved 1 April 2011http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm
Cree, V. (2003). Becoming a social worker. Student Social Work Series. New York: Routledge.
Prescott, J. (1992). Career as a social worker. Chicago: Institute for Career Research.
