SOCIAL WORK

SOCIAL WELFARE
SOCIAL SERVICES

DEFINITIONS
SOCIAL WORK

DEFINITIONS
 SOCIAL WORK -
RA 4373, JUNE 19, 1965
The profession which is primarily concerned
with organized social service activity aimed at
facilitating and strengthening basic social
relationships and the mutual adjustment
between individuals and their social
environment for the good of the individual
and of society by the use of social work
methods
(RA4373 June 19, 1965)
 SOCIAL WORK
Werner Boehm(1958, as cited by Mendoza, 2002) defined
Social Work by emphasizing its purpose which is,
“ to enhance the social functioning of the individuals,
singularly and in groups, by activities focused upon their
social relationships which constitute interaction between
individuals and their environments.

These activities can be grouped into three functions, namely,

restoration of impaired capacity,
provision of individual and social resources, and
prevention of social dysfunctioning.”
 SOCIAL WORK
(Di Nitto and McNeece, 1990)

“...social work is the professional

activity of helping individuals,
groups or communities enhance or
restore their capacity for social
functioning and creating societal
conditions favourable to this goal. “
 SOCIAL WORK
(FOOK, 2002)

Social work as a profession aims to

“create more caring, just and
inclusive social environments
(Fook, 2002)
 SOCIAL WORK
(DUBOIS & MILEY, 2011)

Social work is the profession charged

with fulfilling the social welfare
mandate to promote well-being and
quality of life.
 SOCIAL WORK
Social work is the professional activity of
helping individuals, groups or communities
enhance or restore their capacity for social
functioning and creating societal conditions
favorable to this goal.
Social work practice consists of the professional
application of social work values, principles and
techniques to one or more of the following
ends:
 SOCIAL WORK
(NASW, 1973, AS CITED IN ASHMAN, 2007)

Helping people obtain tangible services (those

involving provision of food, housing, or
income)
Providing counseling or psychotherapy to
individuals, families and groups
Helping communities or groups provide or
improve social health services
Participating in relevant legislative processes
 SOCIAL WORK
(IASSW & IFSE, 2001)
The social work profession 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 environment.
Principles of human rights and social justice are
fundamental to social work
 SOCIAL WORK
(GLOBAL DEFINITION, IFSW-IAASW)
“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 sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge,
social work engages people and structures to address life challenges
and enhance wellbeing.
The above definition may be amplified at national and/or regional
levels”.
(IFSW-IAASW definition and dicussed during the IFSW-APASW Regional
Conference, June 2013, Manila)
GLOBAL DEFINITION
 SOCIAL WORK
(GLOBAL DEFINITION, IFSW-IAASW)
• a practice-based profession and an academic discipline
• 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 sciences,
humanities and indigenous knowledge
• engages people and structures to address life
challenges and enhance wellbeing
 SOCIAL WORK
Mission:
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
The profession which focuses on individual well-being
in a social context and the well-being of society
Fundamental to social work is the attention to the
environmental,forces that create, contribute to and
address problems in living
 MORE DEFINITIONS
SOCIAL WORK
(CHANDRA, SUSHIL, 1954)
Social Work is a dynamic activity undertaken
b y p u b l i c o r p r i v a te e ff o r t i n t h e
implementation of social policy, with a view
to raise the standard of living and to bring
about social, economic, political and
cultural well-being of the individual, family
and the group with society irrespective of
its stage of social development
 MORE DEFINITIONS
SOCIAL WORK
(WALTER FRIEDLANDER, 1955)
Social Work is a professional service,
based on scientific knowledge and
skill in human relations, which assist
individuals, alone or in groups, to
obtain social and personal
satisfaction and independence
 MORE DEFINITIONS
SOCIAL WORK
(IFSW IAASE GLOBALE DEFINITION, 1957)

Social Work is a systematic way

of helping individuals and
g r o u p s t o w a r d s b e tt e r
adaptation to society. (IFSW/
IASSW Global definition, 1957)
 MORE DEFINITIONS
SOCIAL WORK
(WEGER, 2016)

(Perhaps) the most important

distinction between social work and
other helping professions is social
work’s emphasis on social justice
and advocacy for those society
oppresses or discriminates against
 MORE DEFINITIONS
SOCIAL WORK
(PINCUS & MINAHAN, 1973)
In their own definition of Social Work, Pincus and
Minahan (l973) stressed the linkages and interactions
between people and resource systems and the
problems that individuals and the systems may face, to
wit:

“Social Work is concerned with the interactions between

people and their social environment which affect the
ability of people to accomplish their life tasks, alleviate
distress, and realize their aspirations and values.”
FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL WORK
(PINCUS & MINAHAN, 1973)
These activities can be grouped into three functions,
namely,
1. restoration of impaired capacity,
(RESTORATIVE/CURATIVE/
REMEDIAL/REHABILITATIVE when there
is already a problem - to minimize/solve/remove
factors which caused the breakdown/disequilibrium;
put person back to normal healthy state of social
functioning
FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL WORK
(PINCUS & MINAHAN, 1973)
2. prevention of social
dysfunctioning. PREVENTIVE -
early discovery, control,, elimination of
conditions/situations which cause
disequilibrium, have harmful effects on
social functioning
FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL WORK
(PINCUS & MINAHAN, 1973)
3. DEVELOPMENTAL. Help individuals
make maximum use of their potentials
and capacities, and further the
effectiveness of social and community
resources (provision of individual and
social resources)
FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL WORK
(PINCUS & MINAHAN, 1973)
IN OTHER WORDS:
The purpose of SOCIAL WORK
is to HELP PEOPLE IN NEED
USING ANY ETHICAL
MEANS POSSIBLE
PURPOSE OF SOCIAL WORK
PURPOSE OF SOCIAL WORK
(PINCUS & MINAHAN)
• Enhance the problem solving and coping
capacities of people
• Link people with systems that provide them
with resources, services and opportunities
• Promote the effective and humane
operation of these systems
• Contribute to the development and
improvement of social policy
PURPOSE OF SOCIAL WORK

Enhance social
functioning of Link client systems
individuals, with needed
families, groups, resources
organizations and
communities PURPOSE
OF
SOCIAL
WORK
Promote social Improve the
justice through operation of the
development of social service
social policy delivery network

Definition of Social Work
Werner Boehm(1958) defined
Social Work by emphasizing
its purpose which is, “ to
enhance the social functioning
of the individuals, singularly
and in groups, by activities
focused upon their social
relationships which constitute
interaction between
individuals and their
environments.
R.A. 4373 (1965) - It is the
profession which is primarily
concerned with organized
social service activity to
facilitate and strengthen basic
social relationships and the
mutual adjustment between
individuals and their social
environment for the good of
the individual and society.
(Art. 1, R.A. 4373)
Beginning Thrust Changes in Its Focus Primary Purpose and
Function of Social Work
(Cite Situation)
Enhancing the social Focus on individual 1.Restorative/curative/
functioning of remedial as well as
individuals through rehabilitative
activities focused on
their social relationship Ex. Rehab of drug
dependents, Prov. Of
Medical & Livelihood
Assistance
1.  Regulation on the Concerned with 1. Social Work as a
practice of social
work& the operation
organized social profession.
of social work service activity 2. Casework, group
agencies in the Phils. work and
2.  Facilitate and community
strengthen basic social
relationship organization
3.  Facilitate mutual
adjustment between
individuals and social
environment

Definition of Social
Work
Pincus and Minahan
(l973) “Social Work is
concerned with the
interactions between
people and
their social environment
which affect the ability of
people to accomplish
their life tasks, alleviate
distress, and realize their
aspirations and values.”
(Di Nitto and McNeece,
1990) “...social work is the
professional activity of
helping individuals, groups
or communities enhance
or restore their capacity for
social functioning and
creating societal
conditions favourable to
this goal. “
Beginning Thrust Changes in Its Focus
Create a link between Linkages and
people and its interactions between
environment people (community)
and resource systems
and the problems that
individuals and the
systems may face
1.  Helping individuals, Focus on individual,
groups or groups and communities
communities enhance and their environment.
or restore their (Center based, community
capacity for social based, locally and foreign
functioning ; assisted projects & disater
relief.)
2.  Creating societal
conditions favorable
to this goal.
Primary Purpose and
Function of Social Work
(Cite Situation)
1. Broker
“Provide community
projects for the
people, by the
people and of the
people”
Capacitate
individual, group or
communities by
providing knowledge
and skills and create
opportunities
Ex. CIDSS
 Beginning Thrust Changes in Its Focus Primary Purpose and
Function of Social Work
Definition of Social Work (Cite Situation)

The social work profession Enhance wellbeing of Engages people and Network with
facilitates social change and people structure government
development, social agencies, NGOs,
cohesion, and the
POs and Civil
empowerment and liberation
of people. Principles of
society in delivering
social justice, human rights, social services for
collective responsibility and the people to
respect for diversities are enhance their
central to social work wellbeing
SOCIAL WELFARE
 SOCIAL WELFARE
As an organized function is regarded as a body of
activities designed to enable individuals, families, groups
and communities to cope with the social problems of
changing conditions.
Has a further function within the broad area of the
country’s social development. Social Welfare play a
major role in contributing to the effective mobilization
and deployment of human and material resources of the
country to deal successfully with the social requirements
of change, thereby participating in nation-building.
 SOCIAL WELFARE
Encompasses the well-being of all the members of
human society, including their PHYSICAL, MENTAL,
EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, and SPIRITUAL
WELL-BEING.
SOCIAL WELFARE: preventive and developmental
interventions that seek to support the minimum basic
requirements of the poor, particularly the poorest of
the poor, and reduce risks associated with
unemployment, resettlement, marginalization, illness,
disability, old age, loss of family care
 SOCIAL WELFARE
Also refers to: "system of institution, programs and
services that promote individual and societal well-being"
A nation's system of programs , benefits and services hat
helps people meet those SOCIAL, ECONOMIC,
EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH need that are fundamental
to the maintenance of society.
A full range of organized activities delivered through
public and voluntary agencies that seek to PREVENT,
ALLEVIATE, or CONTRIBUTE, to the solution of a
selected, set of social problems
 WHY SOCIAL WELFARE?

HUMANITARIAN/SOCIAL JUSTICE:
people have potentials to realize
themselves except that forces
hinder them; it is only right and just
for man/woman to help man/
woman
 WHY SOCIAL WELFARE?
SOCIAL CONTROL:
recognizes that deprived/disadvantaged/
needy individual and groups may strike
out individually or collectively against
what they consider as an alienating/
offending society
 WHY SOCIAL WELFARE?
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS to support increases in
the production of goods and
services, and other resources that
will contribute to economic
development
2 VIEWS OF SOCIAL WELFARE?
RESIDUAL:
as temporary, given during
emergency situations
INSTITUTIONAL:
as a proper, legitimate function of
society
 SOCIAL WELFARE
• ‘Everything for the good of
society’
• “organized concern of all for all”
• “the system of social services and
institutions to attain satisfying
standard of life and health”
 SOCIAL SERVICES
• Specific provisions/forms of
help/assistance given to people
based on their needs
• Cover all aspects of living:
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL,
etc.
 UNMET NEEDS
Unmet needs are met in three ways
1. Individual and group efforts (including voluntary
efforts)
2. Major social institutions: family, labor unions,
government
3. Social agencies: DOH, DSWD, DOJ, DA, DNR,
DOLE, etc.
• At all times, everywhere, there will always be people who
have needs and problems beyond their own capacity for
solution”
• SOCIAL WELFARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES: now a
legitimate function of modern, industrialized society
EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL WELFARE
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Foster care
Adoption
Day care
Probation and parole
Financial assistance programs (cash transfer 4Ps, BIG namibia)
Services to the homeless
Public health nursing
Sex therapy
Suicide counseling
Recreational services (boys scout)
Programs to Indigenous people
EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL WELFARE
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
School social services
Medical and legal services to the poor
Family planning services
Shelter for battered spouses
Protective services for child abuse,and neglect
Encounter programs and sensitivity training
Public housing project
Family counseling
AA - alcoholics Anonymous
Services to people with developmental disability
Rehabilitation services
SOCIAL WORK IN RELATION
TO SOCIAL WELFARE
SOCIAL WORK is the primary
profession that works within
the SOCIAL WELFARE system
and with those served by the
system
ELEMENTS OF A PROFESSION
SOCIAL WORK
 5 ELEMENTS OF A
PROFESSION
1. Purpose - the object of which something exists
2. Values - principles, standards, or quality considered
desirable
3. Sanction - authoritative permission or approval that
makes a course of action legitimate or legal (RA
4373)
4. Knowledge - familiarity, awareness, or understanding
gained through experience of study
5. Skills - proficiency with a set of techniques,
particularly in relation to a regular or systematic
way of accomplishing anything
 ATTRIBUTES OF A
PROFESSION
(FARLEY ET AL, 2006, MENDOZA, 2008)
 SYSTEMATIC BODY OF
KNOWLEDGE
The relevance of systematic body of theory or knowledge is
very crucial characteristics of a profession, that is why
preparation for a profession, unlike preparation for non
professional occupations, requires formal education in an
academic setting
The practice of a profession involves the application of
scientific knowledge learned during the course of professional
education: it is not a hit-or-miss, trial and error kind of activity
Social work, like all other professions, derives knowledge from
many different sources and in addition, builds its own body of
knowledge from practice
SYSTEMATIC BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
- 3 TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE
1. TESTED KNOWLEDGE – established through
scientific study (research)
2. HYPOTHETICAL KNOWLEDGE – has to undergo
transformation into tested knowledge, even if
tentatively such knowledge may be accepted
to explain certain facts
3. ASSUMPTIVE KNOWLEDGE – practice wisdom
abound in SW
 PROFESSIONAL AUTHORITY
Extensive education necessary as
source of professional authority
makes for respect for practitioner’s
competence
The authority ascribed to the
profession by reason of her
educational background.
 COMMUNITY SANCTION
Community gives it certain powers and
privileges:
a) control over training centers
b) admissions to the profession
(licensing)
c) standards for professional
performances (complaints to PRC, PASWI
 REGULATIVE CODE OF
ETHICS
Built-in regulative code, partly formal
and partly informal, which compels
ethical behavior on its members.
This code serves to check possible
abuses which can arise out of a
profession’s exercise of authority, and its
accompanying powers and privileges.
 PROFESSIONAL CULTURE
forma and informs rules, norms, values, symbols and language.

Social work is regarded by most people as a recognized

profession while others consider it as emerging or still
maturing. Social work is already a profession, it has too many
points of congruence with the model to be classifiable
otherwise, Social work is, however, seeking to rise within the
professional hierarchy, so that is, too, might enjoy maximum
prestige, authority, and monopoly, which presently belong to a
few top professions (Farley, et al, 2006)