Social Work definition

The Social Worker

Social Work Practice

SOCIAL WORK DEFINITION according to following:

R.A. 4373, otherwise known as the Social Work Law (1965)

- “as a profession that is primarily concerned with organized social service activity aimed to facilitate and
strengthen basic relationships in the mutual adjustment between individuals and their social environment for the good
of the individual and society, and by the use of social work methods”

Philippine Association of Social Workers (PASW, 1977)

- “the profession which fosters, facilitates and strengthens basic social relationships in order to achieve the full
development of the individual and society by the use of social work methods”

International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Work

- “The social work promotes social change, problem-solving in human relationships and the empowerment and
liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems, social work
intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments.

United States Council on Social Work Education

- Social work seeks to enhance the social functioning of individuals, singly and in groups, by activities focused
upon their social relationships which constitute the interaction between man and his environment.

Global Definition of Social Work

- Is a practice based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social
cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective
responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work underpinned by theories of social work, social
science, humanities and indigenous knowledge. SW engages people and structure to address life changes ad
enhance well-being.

Concept of Social Work

- Concerned with man’s adjustment to his environment, a person or a group in relation to a person’s or their
social situation.

Recognized as a profession with the passage of R.A. 4373 in 1965 sponsored by Maria Kalaw Katigbak, a woman senator,
(amended last August 10, 1967, R.A. 5175)
THE SOCIAL WORKER

- Is a practitioner who by accepted standards pf training and social work profession experiences, possesses the
skill to achieve the objectives defined and the set by the social work profession through the use of the basic
methods of casework, group work and community organization.

Generic terms:

WORKER

- Refers to the social worker, the person who, by sustained mental or physical efforts, performs tasks, and
activities designed to help the client overcome an obstacle or difficulty and achieve a result or an end.

HELP

- Is what the worker does to assist the client by giving him assistance or supplying what is needed so that he can
advance towards an objective or accomplish an end or a goal.

CLIENT

- Is the person or group of persons who engage the services or help of the worker, the individual, family, group, or
community.
SOCIAL WORK RACTICE

- The activities carried out by the social worker in varied institutional settings, communities and private practice.
The workers address a full range of human problems involving individuals, families and groups.
- Primary Setting: social agencies whose programs and services are the direct purview or scope of social work, e.g.
DSWD, CARITAS, Hospicio de San Jose.
- Secondary Setting: agencies, institutions and organizations whose primarily function is to provide services other
than social welfare but which employ social workers to support, strengthen, or complement their own services
such as hospitals, schools, housing agencies, and even regional trial courts which include under their jurisdiction
family, children and youth affairs.
SOCIAL WELFARE

 Primary field of Social Work Practice

 Is a set of institutions and agencies established by society to provide various kinds of social support to people
who may need them
 Organized system of social services and institutions designed to aid individuals and groups to attain satisfying
standards pf life and health and personal and social relationships which permit them to develop their full
capacities and to promote their well-being in harmony with the needs of their families and communities.
 Gertude Wilson: Characterizes social welfare as an organized concern of all people for all people.
 Walter Friedlander: the organized system of social services and institutions, designed to aid individuals and
group to attain satisfying standards of life and health
 Elizabeth Wickenden: Social welfare includes those laws, programs, benefits and services which assure or
strengthen provisions for meeting social needs recognized as basic to the well-being of the population and the
better functioning of the social order.
 Encompasses the well-being of all the members of human society, including their physical, mental, emotional,
social, economic and spiritual well-being.
 Denotes the wide range of activities which a society undertakes to ensure the mutual support of its members in
the interest of the cohesion and well-bring of the community.
 Social Welfare Act of 1968 which created the Department of Social Welfare (the word Development was added
much later).
SOCIAL SERVICES

 Referred to a variety of programs among which were social/public assistance, social insurance, child welfare,
corrections, mental hygiene, public health, education, recreation, labor protection and housing.

SOCIAL AGENCY

 Whether under public or private auspices, a social agency is a major provision for helping people with their
problems. An integral part of a community’s institutionalized network of services for its members. The
professional social worker in the Phils. Is usually employed by a social agency.

SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES

- Is a structure framework within which the administrative tasks are carried out. It is an instrument of society,
established through government, initiative or through voluntary efforts to achieved a social goals.

Types of Social Welfare Agencies:

1. Governmental or Public Agencies

- Organization supported by public funds or taxes. Example: LGU, DSWD, PAO. OWWA, Bahay-Pag-asa
2. Private or Voluntary Agencies
- Organizations supported by private contributions or donations or income from services. Example: Gasa sa
Gugma, Parian, Seven Spirit
3. Semi- organizations or quasi-governmental organization
- Organizations that received some form of subsidy either in cash or in kind from the government. Example: SOS
Children’s Village

Characteristics of Public Agencies:

1. They are created through any of these: constitutional mandate, legislative act, executive order, presidential
decree, or letter of instruction.
2. Their existence functions and programs are created by law or executive order, hence, may only be changed or
modified by law or executive order.
3. Their organizational structure is bureaucratic and less flexible than private agencies.
4. They must conform with government procedures, especially the accounting and auditing of funds, property, and
other resources.

Characteristics of Private Agencies:

1. They are organized as a form of response of private organizations to meet people’s need in the community.
2. They may be national chapters of international organizations such as the Red Cross, Young Man Catholic
Association (YMCA), World Mission and others.
3. They may have been established by sectarian or non-sectarian organizations.
4. They are governed by their own charter, constitution and bylaws, and by a governing board.
5. Their organization structures do not generally follow a bureaucratic pattern and therefore are more flexible in
their policies and programs that enable them readily respond to people and community needs.
6. Private agencies can pioneer and initiate demonstration projects which may subsequently be turned over to the
government. The latter can adopt the program or a larger scale with more available resources and organizational
capacity.

Two Views or Conceptions of Social Welfare

Residual Formulation