DEFINITION OF SOCIAL WORK

Morales and Sheafor (1983) identified four areas of consideration:

1. In each helping situation, the social worker is concerned with enabling or facilitating change.
Interventions to improve the quality of life may appropriately occur as part of the social work practice.
2. The social worker is in the business of helping people or social institutions, such as family, change to
enhance social functioning. It is not to focus on the whole person but on social relationships.
3. Applying the social systems theory, social work can be viewed as a profession that helps people
interact more effectively with their social environment. The focus is placed on the “interface or the
meeting place or the transaction of person and the environment” (William Gordon, as cited by Morales
and Sheafor, 1983).
4. In helping to achieve their goals of improved social functioning, the social worker must have handles
in fortifying and securing the necessary resources to attain the goals of the clients.
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Activity 1. Connecting with Social Work Welfare Agencies

Provided in the box is a list of Government Agencies and Non-Government Organization which has
Programs in alleviating people’s sufferings. What Goals of Social Work were employed? Give details
about the known programs and circumstances where each organization and agency are involved. You
may refer to the previous discussion for further details.

World Health Organization Sagip Kapamilya GMA Kapuso Foundation

UNICEF BayaniJuan Bantay Bata 163
Department of Social Welfare and Development

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Activity 2. Today, our world is suffering from health outbreak, COVID-19. Some lost his or her job, left
behind while, others were infected by the disease and died. Even in your households, the impact of such
outbreak can be felt. Observing and taking time to reflect under the circumstances that we are in, in
what way can you reduce the suffering of other people? Your personal insights are important.