COMPONENT OF

SOCIAL
CASEWORK 3.)
PLACE/ AGENCY
THE SOCIAL AGENCY
The place which assists a person
with his social problem.
It is this organization

which employs social

workers to help the client.
 R.A. 4373
Ituses the term “social work
agency” implying that it is an
organization specifically set up to
provide social work services.
The unit, department, or division
which delivers social work
services is usually called a “social
service unit.”
 COMMON FUNCTION
Whatever the nature of their
organization or their specific
responsibility in the entire set-up, these
social agencies or units have one thing
in common: their function is to help
people with problems of social
functioning.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the
Philippines is a class by itself in that it is multi-functional.
 TYPES OF AGENCIES
Social agencies are classified into 3
according to:
1.) Sources of support
2.) Source of Professional Authority
3.) Special function or area of concern.
1.) SOURCES OF SUPPORT
The possible sources of support
of an agency are: taxes,
donations and contributions
from individuals and entities, or
a combination of the two.
A.) PUBLIC AGENCIES
Agencies supported from taxes.
Also known as Government
Agencies.
Government agencies are
created by law (e.g. DSWD)
B.)PRIVATE
AGENCIES
Agencies which derive their
means of support from
donations and contributions of
private individuals or groups.
Also known as Non-
governmental organizations, or
NGOs.
C.)SEMI-GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES
Derive support from the
government, usually through the
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes.
Best known among these is the
Philippine National Red Cross.
2.) SOURCE OF PROFESSIONAL
AUTHORITY
A.) Primary Agency/ Setting
One which carries full authority
and responsibility for its social
welfare purpose and functions.
It is manned by social workers,
and uses one or all the 3 direct
methods of social work
interventions.
2.) SOURCE OF PROFESSIONAL
AUTHORITY
B.) Secondary Agency/ Setting
One which is a part of another human
service or social organization.
 Social workers derive their authority
and responsibility form the host agency
(e.g. schools,jail, hospitals, courts,
industries, etc.)
3.) AGENCY FUNCTION OR
AREA OF CONCERN
Each agency, public or private,
defines certain areas of social need as
the particular field in which to give
service and in which it develops
expertness of knowledge and applies
special resources.
GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS COMMON
TO ALL SOCIAL AGENCIES (PERLMAN)

1. The social agency is an expression of

the values and will of a society or some
group in that society as to social
welfare.
It embodies a society’s decision to
protect its members against social
breakdown, prevent maladjustment, and
promote development.
GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS COMMON
TO ALL SOCIAL AGENCIES (PERLMAN)

2. Each social agency administers and

operates a program intended to meet
and alleviate the problem area with
which it is concerned.
Ways and means include factors as:
financial resources, knowledge and
competence, interests, support of
community, consistency, etc.
GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS COMMON
TO ALL SOCIAL AGENCIES (PERLMAN)

3. The social agency has a structure by

which it organizes, defines, and
delegates its responsibilities and tasks,
and issues operating policies and
procedures.
 Structure is the agency’s anatomy, framework that binds it
together as one body so that it can perform the function to which it
was created.
 Policies refer to the guidelines for actions – manual as reference.
GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS COMMON
TO ALL SOCIAL AGENCIES (PERLMAN)

4. The social agency should be a living,

dynamic viable organization which can
be understood and changed, and
developed to meet changing needs and
situations.
Has relevance to community.
Interdependent – operates in relation to
other social agencies.
GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS COMMON
TO ALL SOCIAL AGENCIES (PERLMAN)

5. Every staff member in an agency speaks

and acts for some part of the agency’s
function, and the caseworker represents the
agency in its individual help.
It is therefore important for social workers
to know and understand the agency, both in
blueprint and in operation. (some loyalty to
it).
GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS COMMON
TO ALL SOCIAL AGENCIES (PERLMAN)

6. The worker, while representing

his/her agency, is first and foremost a
representative of his/her profession.
The social agency is in itself an
instrument of the social work profession,
thus expected to adhere and respect
social work values and principles in its
practice.
The
End