Knowledge Philosophical Foundation of Social Work

KNOWLEDGE & PHILOSOPHICAL
FOUNDATION OF SOCIAL WORK

WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK?
REPUBLICT ACT 4373 (1965)

“SOCIAL WORK LAW”
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.
WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK?
2014 Global Definition of Social Work (Approved by the IFSW

General Meeting and the IASSW General Assembly in July
2014)
“Social Work is 1. practice-based profession and an 2. academic discipline that

promotes 3. social change and development, social cohesion, and the 4.
empowerment and 5. liberation of people. Principles of 6. justice, human 7.
rights, 8. collective responsibility and respect for 9. 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 well-being”.
BASIC CONCEPTS RELATED TO SOCIAL
WORK DEFINITION;
INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF:
RA 4373 (1965) SOCIAL WELFARE ?
“SOCIAL WORK
LAW) Broadest sense:
covers everything that
GLOBAL DEFINITION BY
THE IFSW & IASSW men do for the good
(2014)
of society.

SOCIAL WELFARE?
Gertrude Wilson: an organized concern of all people

for all people.
Walter Friedlader: organized system of social services and institutions,
designed to aid individuals and groups to attain satisfying standards of life and
health.
Elizabeth Wickenden: 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.

SOCIAL
FUNCTIONING
Rationale:
1. Defines the nature and scope of social work
2. Gives meaning and reason for being to the social work profession
3. Distinguishes social work from all other professions
4. Keeps workers focused on social work objectives and mission
5. Clarifies workers’ perspectives of social work tasks and functions
6. Guides workers in identifying effective tools and methodologies

SOCIAL FUNCTIONING…
Ability of an individual to meet role expectations

associated with a particular status or role
 A client’s ability to accomplish the activities
necessary for daily living and to fulfil major social roles
as required by a particular subculture or community
 The relation between the activity of people and the
demand from the environment
Social functioning problems are caused by any of the following:
1) Personal inadequacies 2) Situational - refer to the lack

– due to physiological of resources and opportunities
factors like poor physical in society, the existence of
resources or opportunities,
condition, wrong which, however, are beyond
attitudes, poor or the reach or coping capacities
unrealistic perception of of people, and the existence of
reality, ignorance, and an unjust or exploitative
situation in the workplace, or in
lack of skills. the community.

Person-in-Environment/Person-in-Situation
 The person responds within the context of the

environment
 The person is a product of his past experiences, is
being shaped by present socio-politico-economic
realities equipped with potentialities for becoming.
 The person’s environment is made up of both
internal and external elements.
External Internal
 Physical characteristics  Perceived situation as sensed and
of the environment interpreted in the mind of the
 Geographical location person
 Weather and climate  Thoughts and feelings about the
 Natural resources environment which uniquely
 Socio-political- define his/her situation
economic-cultural
conditions
The person as a Bio-psychosocial and Spiritual Being:
the person is a total being made up of several aspects
Biological – supports the Psychological – support the

biological integrity and person’s ability to mobilize his/her
functioning of the person. internal and external resources to
satisfy personal needs and avoid
internal and external threats.
Social – systems within

Spiritual – activities related
which a person lives,
relates, and is influenced. to the persons search for
meaning to life and
existence.

SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE
VIEWS ON SOCIAL WELFARE
1) Residual social welfare– 2) Institutional social welfare –

conceives social welfare structure sees social welfare as a proper,
as temporary, offered during legitimate function of modern
emergency situations and society.
withdrawn when the regular - That some individuals are not
social system (family, economic able to meet all their needs –
system) is again working properly. considered “normal” condition,
- often carry the stigma of “doles” and helping agencies are accepted
or “charity”. as “regular” social institutions.
Social Welfare Programs Categories:
1) Social security – refers to the
whole set of compulsory measures
instituted to protect the individual Examples:
and his family against the Social insurance, provident
consequences of an unavoidable funds
interruption or serious diminution
of the earned income disposable
for maintenance of a reasonable
standard of leaving.
2) Personal social services – refer to Examples:

service functions which have a Programs for counselling,
major bearing upon personal therapy and rehabilitation
problems, individual situations of Programs for providing access,
stress, interpersonal helping or information and advice
helping people in need, and the Institutional services
provision of direct services in Child protective services
collaboration with workers from Programs for the treatment of
government and voluntary agencies. deviants

3) Public Assistance – refers to

material/concrete aids/support
provided, usually by government
agencies, to people who have no
income or means of support for
themselves and their families for
reasons such as loss of
employment, natural disasters,
etc.

SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Social Services
refers to the programs, services and other
activities provided under various auspices, to
concretely answer the needs and problems of the
members of society.
- variety of programs among which were
social/public assistance, social insurance, child
welfare, corrections, mental hygiene, public
health, education, recreation, labor protection
and housing.
Assignment: Choose five (5) welfare
agencies and enumerate or list down
their services. To be checked on
Wednesday.
HISTORY OF SOCIAL WORK
Historical development perspective: evolution of social welfare in Europe, USA and Philippines

A. European Beginnings
• Charity – was motivated primarily by the desire of merits of good
deeds for eternal life.
• Early Christians helped one another when facing poverty
• Medieval church entrusted the administration of charity to the
bishops, local priests, and the deacons.
• Institutions for the poor were established in monasteries, serving as
orphanages – home for the sick, handicapped, and refugees.

B. English Social Welfare

Religious Foundation
• Medieval England: care of the poor was an activity of the church
• Main motive for almsgiving: salvation of the soul of the donor.
• Church devoted tithes and offering collected from parishioners for charity
Early Charities
• Relief to the destitute was first distributed by the priest of the parish
• 13th to 14th century: religious orders and church institutions relieved the parish churches
from most of the duties of caring for the poor
• 12th to 15th century: the work of the church was supplemented by the relief activities of
the guilds.

C. American Social Welfare

- founded on the concepts of the English Poor Law which remained the
basis for public welfare in the U.S up to the end of 19th century
- paupers, beggars, and vagrants were regarded as criminals. Were
regarded as a morally deficient person.
- the individual is primarily responsible for his welfare but that the
community should establish a basic measure of security in areas
beyond the individual’s control

D. Philippine Social Welfare

• Pre-Spanish Time
- Basic Concepts: Bayanihan and Damayan
• Spanish Time
- Basic philosophy: religion was the motivating force for charity
- Forms of Charity: almsgiving, charitable institutions and hospitals for
the poor
- Source of funding: religious orders, contribution and donation of rich
individuals, subsidy from the Spanish government

• Significant Developments
- Institutions established by religious orders:
- San Lazaro Hospital – indigent beggars
- San Juan de Dios Hospital – indigent and sick Spaniards
- Hospicio de San Jose – orphans and the aged
- Asilo de San Vicente de Paul – care and protection of indigent and
orphaned girls
- Santa Isabel – school for indigent girls
- San Juan de Letran - school for indigent boys

• American Colonial Period (1899-1946)

Philosophy:
- Birth of voluntary organizations for social welfare (Associated
Charities)
- Public welfare – the beginning assumption by the government of its
responsibility for social welfare
- “Parents patriae” – child welfare concept that it is the duty of the
government to place their children in better circumstances, whenever
the parents could not provide adequate care themselves.

• Japanese occupation (1942-1944)

- Private individuals, groups, and organizations undertook relief for prisoners of war, displaced persons, etc.
• War Relief and Rehabilitation
a) PCAU – Philippine Civilian Affairs Unit of the U.S army distributed relief supplies during the period of
liberation.
b) PRATRA – Philippine Relief and Trade Rehabilitation Administration – a trade establishing agency which
used its profits for relief.
c) Rice Wage Formula – connected with PRATRA w/ Irene Murphy, UN consultant on Social Welfare.
- Rice Wage Formula consisted of the number 145. According to Murphy team, it took the equivalent of 145
gantas of rice a month for a family of 5 to be able to meet its basic needs.
- Multiply the current price of rice by 145 and the result is the income in pesos needed by the family to live,
a month.
d) WRO – War Relief Office – for the relief and rehabilitation of indigent victims of war.

• Stabilization of Government Social Welfare

- SWA – Social Welfare Administration was created by
President Elpidio Quirino (Jan. 3, 1951)
- Government agency for social welfare

• SWA’s Programs:
1) Child Welfare
- Residential care
- Child aid and placement
- Probation and parole
2) Public Assistance
- For indigent war victims
- Victims of dissident operation
- Victims of natural disasters and calamities
3) OVR – Office of Vocational Rehabilitation – for the handicapped


• Creation of Department of Social Welfare

- June 15, 1968 – President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed RA 5416
creating the DSW…
- “Policy… it is the responsibility of the government to provide a
comprehensive program of social welfare services designed to
ameliorate the conditions of distressed Filipinos, particularly those
who are handicapped by reason of poverty, youth, physical and
mental disability, illness and old age or who are victims of natural
calamities, including assistance to the members of the cultural
minorities to facilitate their integration into the body politic.”

Programs:
1) Family and child welfare
2) Youth welfare
3) Rehabilitation of the handicapped
4) General assistance in times of disasters and calamities
September 8, 1976 – DSW’s name was changed to Department of Social
Services and Development

• 1980s
- Self-employment Assistance (SEA) – Ministry’s banner program
- “total family approach” – guided the program, put emphasis on food
production, and nutrition, and provided training in business
management skills.
• January 30, 1987
- President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive order NO.123
reorganizing the MSSD and renaming it to DSWD.

• DSWD’s major social programs:

- Family and community welfare
- Child and youth welfare
- Women’s welfare
- Welfare of the disabled including the elderly
- Emergency assistance for victims of natural and man-made disasters
Approach: “preventive and developmental, participative and client-
managed

• The 90s/early 2008

- Gave priority attention to Low Income Municipalities (LIMs)
- Involved in disaste’r management
- Used of crisis incident stress debriefing – a form of crisis intervention used with
victims of disasters
• October 10, 1991
- RA 7160 “Local Government Code” was passed
- National agencies devolve implementing functions together with its programs and
services, direct service workers, budget corresponding to the salary and funds of
the staff and programs, and assets and liabilities to the LGUs units starting in 1992.

• Retained Specialized Social Services

- center/institution-based services
- Community-based programs and services
- Locally-funded and foreign assisted projects
- Disaster relief and rehabilitation augmentation
Legal Bases of Social Work
RA 4373 (“The Social Work Law”)
“AN ACT TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL WORK AND THE
OPERATION OF SOCIAL WORK AGENCIES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES”
Section 1
(a) 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.
RA 4373
“AN ACT TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL WORK AND THE OPERATION OF
SOCIAL WORK AGENCIES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”
(b) A social worker is a practitioner who by accepted academic training and social
work professional experience possess the skill to achieve the objectives as
defined and set by the social work profession, through the use of the basic
methods and techniques of social work (casework, group work, and community
organization) which are designed to enable individuals, groups and communities
to meet their needs and to solve problems of adjustment to a changing pattern of
society and, through coordinated action, to improve economic and social
conditions, and is connected with an organized social work agency which is
supported partially or wholly from government or community solicited funds.
(c) A social work agency is a person, corporation or
organization, private or governmental, that engages
mainly and generally, or represents itself to engage in
social welfare work, whether casework, group work, or
community work, and obtains its finances, either totally
or in part, from any agency or instrumentality of the
government and/or from the community by direct or
indirect solicitations and/or fund drives and/or private
endowment.
Republic Act 5416: “Social Welfare Act of 1968”
Section 2
…it is the responsibility of the Government to provide a comprehensive
program of social welfare services designed to ameliorate the living
conditions of distressed Filipinos particularly those who are
handicapped by reason of poverty, youth, physical and mental disability,
illness and old age or who are victims of natural calamities including
assistance to members of the cultural minorities to facilitate their
integration into the body politic.
Republic Act 5416: “Social Welfare Act of 1968”
Section 3
The Department of Social Welfare; its powers and duties – … which shall develop
and implement a comprehensive social welfare program consisting of:
1. Preventive and remedial programs and services for individuals, families and
communities;
2. Protective, remedial and developmental welfare services for children and youth
3. Vocational rehabilitation and related services for the physically handicapped,
ex-convict and individuals with special needs; and
4. Training and research and special projects
Powers and Duties of DSWD:
• To develop, administer and implement social service programs
• To set standards and policies to insure effective implementation of
public and private social welfare programs
• To undertake research programs and studies on matters pertaining to
family life, the welfare needs of children and youth, the aged, the
disabled and other individuals, or groups with special needs
• To initiate and administer pilot social welfare projects designed to suit
local settings, problems and situations for possible implementation on
a nation-wide basis
• To credit institutions and organizations, public and private, engaged in social
welfare activity including the licensing of child caring and child placement
institutions and provide consultative services
• To license and regulate public solicitation and fund drives for charitable or
civic purposes
• To provide consultative services and develop training programs for personnel,
students and third country participation
• To insure proper dissemination of information relative to social welfare
programs and activities; to publish and issue technical bulletins on social
welfare programs
• To establish regional, provincial, city and municipal branches and
field offices of DSWD whenever and wherever it may be expedient or
necessary and to supervise branches
• To coordinate government and voluntary efforts in social welfare
work to avoid duplication, friction and overlapping responsibility in
social services
• To establish, administer and maintain such facilities as child caring
institutions and others, wherever and whenever it may be deemed
necessary
Republic Act 10847
AN ACT LOWERING THE AGE REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS TAKING THE
BOARD EXAMINATION FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, PROVIDING FOR CONTINUING
SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION, AND UPGRADING THE SUNDRY PROVISIONS
RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL WORK
Section 12
Qualification of Applicants:
a. Citizen of the Philippines
b. At least 18 years of age
c. Good health and good moral character
d. Have a bachelor’s degree or Masteral Degree or its equivalent in social
work from an institution, university duly accredited and legally constituted.
e. Have completed a minimum period of 1,000 case hours of practical
training in an established social work agency under the direct supervision
of a fully trained and qualified social worker
Section 26
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – all registered social
workers must provide proof of earning forty-five units of continuing CPD
courses given by CPD provider duly accredited by the CPD Council for
social workers as a requirement for the renewal of the professional
identification card of social workers.
ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROFESSION
1. SYSTEMATIC BODY OF THEORY
The skills that characterize a profession flow from and are supported
by a fund of knowledge that has been organized into an internally
consistent system.
Theory – serves as a base in terms of which professional rationalizes
his operations in concrete situation.
Because understanding a theory is so important to professional skill,
preparation for a profession must be an intellectual as well as a
practical experience.
SYSTEMATIC BODY OF THEORY
Or knowledge is very crucial characteristic of a profession, that is why
preparation for a profession 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.
Social work derives knowledge from many different sources
Types of knowledge which social work uses:
1. Tested knowledge
2. Hypothetical knowledge
3. Assumptive knowledge
Tested knowledge
- Knowledge that has been established through scientific study (research)
- Comes in the form of borrowed knowledge from different professions
and disciplines
- In practice, social workers apply learning from economics, public
administration, psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science,
law, medicine, etc.
Hypothetical knowledge
- Has to undergo transformation into tested knowledge
Assumptive knowledge
- ‘practice wisdom’
- The more experience one has had in practice, the more assumptions or
suppositions he tends to make related to his work
2. PROFESSIONAL AUTHORITY
This authority ascribed to the professional by reason of her
educational background gives the client a sense of security that the
professional has the capacity to help him with his problem.
The professional social worker should guide or assist her client ONLY
along her area of competence.
She should NOT exploit her client for her own end, especially since
her ‘superior’ position gives her a psychological advantage over her
client.
3. COMMUNITY SANCTION
The community sanctions a profession’s authority by way of
giving it certain powers and privileges. Profession’s control
over its
a. Training centers
b. Admission into the profession
c. Standards for professional performance
4. REGULATIVE CODE OF ETHICS
This code serves to check possible abuses which can arise
out of a profession’s exercise of authority, and its
accompanying powers and privileges.
The professional usually swears to a formal written ethical
code upon being admitted to practice.
5. PROFESSIONAL CULTURE
For social work, the network of formal and informal
groups within which it operates includes the
organizations that benefit from a profession’s
services; the education institutions which produce
and replenish professional manpower; and the
professional association which promotes professional
interests and aims.
SOCIAL WELFARE FUNCTIONS
PREVENTIVE
-Goes through the early discovery,
control and elimination of those
conditions which may impair
psychosocial functioning.
SOCIAL WELFARE FUNCTIONS
 CURATIVE
- identifies/controls/eliminates the factors in the interactional process
that have caused the breakdown or impairment of social relationships.
- 2 Aspects:
a. Rehabilitative – attempts to reconstruct and/or organize the pattern of
interaction that has broken down, been changed, or build new ones.
- tries to put back the person to a normal or healthy state of social
functioning.
b. Restorative/curative – aimed at rehabilitating clients whose functioning
has been impaired by physical, mental or social difficulties.
DEVELOPMENTAL
- Refers to the provision of social assistance and
services which will lead to the optimum
development and fulfilment of the client’s
potential.
- The aim is both to help the individual make
maximum use of his potentials and capacities
as well as to further the effectiveness of
available social or community resources.
EXERCISES
Supplementary Preventive
Feeding Function
Medical and
Curative Function
Health Service
Developmental
Skills training
Function
EXERCISES
Preventive
Counselling
Function
Services for the

Curative Function
handicapped
Rural and Developmental

developmental program Function
Preventive Function of Social Work
Services provided:
Includes life insurance services, public assistance, social
legislation, adult education, and prevention of diseases.
Deals with services relating to the prevention of problems like
insecurity, unlawfulness, ignorance, sickness.
Directed towards elimination of those factors in the social
environment or those deficiencies in the development of
personality that prevents the individual from achieving a
minimum desirable standard of socio-economic life.
Curative Function of Social Work
Services provided:
Medical and health services
Services relating to psychiatry, child guidance, child
welfare services, services for the handicapped or
disable in the form of protection and rehabilitation.
Aims: cure the physical, social, material,
psychological sickness of individuals in the society.
Developmental Function of Social Work
Services provided:
Socio-economic activities such as:
oEducation
oRecreational services
oUrban and rural development programs of integration
which are concerned with the development of individuals,
families, groups and communities.
PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF
SOCIAL WORK
•“Philosophical Foundation” –
encompassing term referring to the body
of principles on which are rooted the
professional’s attitudes and guides
professional conduct or behavior.
PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF
SOCIAL WORK
Components of a Profession:
VALUE
- That worth which man attaches to certain things, systems, or persons
within the realm of usefulness, truth, goodness or beauty.
- Formulations of preferred behavior held by individuals or groups…
their preference for certain means, ends, conditions in life, which are
accompanied by a strong feelings.
- Are actually the source of our attitudes and determine our
relationship with others.
PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL
WORK
KNOWLEDGE – refers to what is thought to be,
as confirmed by reality.
- Refers to what, in fact, seems to be, established
by the higher standards of objectivity and
rationality of which man is capable.
- Concerned with facts and information
SKILL
- Crucial to any profession
- Ability, expertness, or proficiency gained from practice and
knowledge (dictionary defined)
- Art is often used in place of skill
- Social work practice has been referred to as an ‘ART’ with scientific
and value foundation
- Professional Skill – refers to one’s ability to apply the knowledge and
values of one’s profession in her work with people.
SOCIAL WORK GUIDING PRINCIPLES (1961, F. BIESTEK)

a. Acceptance
- the starting point of the client-worker relationship
- based on the belief that every human being is born with inherent
worth and dignity
- requires that social worker extends unconditional love to those
seeking help.- love in this sense means critical love. (“agape”)
b. Individualization
- basic tenet of social work practice – “no two persons are alike”
because each personality is the product of genetics and the
environment.
- implies that social worker must be skilled in differential diagnosis

c. Non-judgmental attitude
- the worker does NOT use derogatory labels to identify his
clients
d. Purposeful expression of feelings/Controlled emotional
Involvement (client and worker)
- it is purposeful because the worker interposing relevant
questions or encouraging observations provides the direction
which will enable him to acquire better understanding and
more knowledge of the situation.

Purposeful expression of feelings/Controlled emotional Involvement

(client and worker)
- enables the social worker to gain deeper insights in the client’s problem
- on the part of the client: enables him to release, express his pent-up
feelings
- on the part of the worker: PROFESSIONAL NON-INVOLVEMENT refers to
the social worker’s way of reacting to the client’s purposeful expression
of feelings. – implies professional detachment.
- sensitivity – the ability to perceive or respond to the client’s expressed
feelings, attitudes or behavior.

e. Self-determination
- refers to the right and need of the client to make his own choices
and decisions in the process of receiving help.
- the person’s right to self-determination is limited by his capacity
for positive and constructive decision-making, by the framework of
civil and moral law, and by the function of the agency.
f. Confidentiality
- refers to the preservation of secret information concerning the
client which is disclosed in a professional relationship
- secrets include those feelings, events and aspects of a person’s life
EXERCISES
QUESTION # 1:
A close friend sees you at the birthday party and tells you she knows one of
your clients. She begins to talk about problems she knows your client and
her family are experiencing and then asks you whether it is true that your
client has attempted to commit suicide. Response to your friend requires
utmost care that involves what principle?
A. Confidentiality
B. Acceptance
C. Non-Judgmental Attitude
D. Controlled Emotional Involvement
EXERCISES
QUESTION # 2:
As a worker, the appropriate response you can give to the following
statement of your client involves one of the following social work
principles. (Client: “I am dying to know what you are thinking while I am
telling you about my problems. I guess you are wondering if I am a nut.”)
A. Acceptance
B. Confidentiality
C. Purposeful Expression of Feelings
D. Controlled Emotional Involvement
EXERCISES
QUESTION # 3:
If you were to work with a family undergoing some problems because of
the father’s philandering ways, you will be guided in your first encounter
with either the father or the mother. By this principle that it is premised on
the belief that every person has a reason and a will to make positive
changes in life.
A. Self-determination
B. Confidentiality
C. Acceptance
D. Non-judgmental attitude
EXERCISES
QUESTION # 4:
This principle requires utmost discretion on the part of the worker as to
information entrusted to him/her by the client.
A. Acceptance
B. Non-judgmental attitude
C. Confidentiality
D. Individualization
EXERCISES
QUESTION # 5:
This principle is derivative of the inherent worth and dignity of the
person, of the belief that he is endowed with reason and will.
A. Individualization
B. Acceptance
C. Self-determination
D. Value
EXERCISES
QUESTION # 6:
When Alexis treats her clients and their situations with respect, her
practice behavior reflects the social work principle of
A. Individualization
B. Acceptance
C. Self-determination
D. Value
PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL WORK
 Based on the belief than man has worth and dignity.
Implied in the values of Social Work are the following concepts
• The concept of human potentials and capacities
-- man can fulfil himself is premised on the belief that he is inherently
endowed with potentials and capacities.
• The concept of social responsibility
-- individual has the obligation to contribute to the common good, and
society, on its parts, has the responsibility to facilitate the
development of its members, gives a dual meaning of this concept.
PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL WORK
• The concept of equal opportunities
-- premised on the ideal social justice: fairness and equality.
• The concept of social provision
-- based on the premise that there will always be people
everywhere, at all times, with unmet needs or problems
which are beyond their capacity to solve.
-- Social provision – desirability of providing social resources
for the satisfaction of human needs for the goal of human
welfare.
ULTIMATE VALUE OF SOCIAL WORK:
“ rests upon a conviction that it is good and
desirable for man to fulfil his potential, to
realize himself and to balance this with equal
effort to help others do the same”
DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT MAN
NATURAL VS TRANSCENDENTAL
NATURAL TRANSCENDENTAL
• Man is part of nature • Holds that science can never fully
• Man can be studied and explain man, PARTLY due to our
understood scientifically ignorance, and PARTLY because
• Man is seen as highly complex, man has potential to transcend
requiring understanding of the natural order of things, to
multiple and complex social, choose, to create and be rational
organic, psychological and cultural
variables
MAN AS SOCIAL, ASOCIAL, ANTISOCIAL
SOCIAL ASOCIAL ANTISOCIAL
• Men aspire to live in • Men are discreet • Men are viewed as
good terms with individuals who come inherently self-seeking,
others, to be part of together to form egotistical, out to
and to contribute to groups, for their extend personal gain
group life, making mutual protection and at the expense of
personal goals safety. others
subservient to group
goals.
DEMOCRACY’S VIEW OF MAN
- Man is viewed as capable of reason, of rational
analysis and choice.
- It believes that social, biological, cultural and
psychological influences are powerful in determining
behavior, but that man can overcome these influences
and exercise choice.
- Forms the main basis for the values of social work
Values of Social Work
• Each person has the right to self-fulfillment

• Each person has the obligation to seek way
of self-fulfillment that contribute to the
common good
• Society has the obligation to facilitate self-
fulfillment of individual
Values of Social Work
• Each person requires for harmonious relationship of his
powers for satisfying his basic needs – physical,
psychological, economic, cultural, spiritual
• It is the individual’s obligation to satisfy his individuals
needs as much as possible in ways that contribute to the
enrichment of society.
• Social organization must make available devices for needs
satisfaction.
CATEGORIES OF SW VALUES
1. VALUES ABOUT 2. VALUES ABOUT 3. VALUES ABOUT
PEOPLE: they reflect SOCIETY: they PROFESSIONAL
how we view human pertain to the BEHAVIOR: they
nature and change.
conditions and reflect the kind of
Examples: inherent
processes in society performance and
work and dignity of
that would make it ethical standards
individuals,
possible for people social workers must
importance of human
adhere to in the
relationships, to achieve their full
practice of social work
diversity potential.
DOMINANT VALUES OF THE FILIPINO
1. Social Acceptance
•- being taken by one’s fellows for what one is, or believes he is, being treated in
accordance with his status.
•Can be facilitated the by the following intermediate values:
A) SMOOTH INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS (SIR)
-getting along with others in such a way as to avoid outward signs of conflict
Means:
•“pakikisama” – giving in, concession, following the lead or suggestion of another
•Euphemism – stating an unpleasant truth, opinion, or request as pleasantly as
possible
•Go-between (tulay) – a third party who will carry a message, assuage a bruise, or
prevent an injury

B) AMOR PROPIO
- term used to refer to the sensitivity
to personal affront and functions to
protect the individual against loss of
social acceptance
2. Emotional Closeness and Security in a Family
• Sacrificing individual interest for the good of the
family
• Parental striving to give their children an education
even at a great cost to themselves
• Older children sacrificing for the younger siblings
• Mothers sacrificing for the family
3. Authority Value
•person with firm authority must respected and
obeyed
•respect for traditions and rituals
4. Personalism
•attaches major importance to the personal factor
which guarantees intimacy, warmth, and security of
kinship and friends
•values related: trust, “kilala”, “walang pakialam”

5. Utang na Loob
• literary means debt of gratitude
• compels the recipient to show his gratitude properly by
returning a ‘favor’ to be sure that he does not remain in the
other’s debt.
6. Patience, Suffering, Endurance
• cultural belief that a person must suffer before he can gain
happiness

FINAL COVERAGE
THEORIES AND PERSPECTIVES IN
SOCIAL WORK
• GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY
- Has developed concepts about human systems that have
provided social work with useful model for practice.
- Provides social work with a tool for analyzing and
organizing data about clients, and offers many options
for intervention.
- Allows social workers to focus their attention on the
person-in-situation/environment interrelatedness.
SOCIAL WORK
SYSTEM
• Is defined as a whole consisting of
interdependent and interacting parts or
• Set of units with relationships among them.
• In social systems theory, all social units –
individuals, groups, and communities are
conceived of as systems.
THEORIES AND PERSPECTIVES IN SOCIAL
WORK
• ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THEORY
- States that human development cannot be isolated from but must be taken
within the context of the individual’s relationship with the environment,
that each individual’s environment is unique, and that the person’s
development is profoundly affected by events occurring in his environment
which is conceived as a set of nested structures, each inside the next.
Ecosystem perspective – views the person as a “system” within multi-level
systems
Ecological perspective – views the person as interacting with the
environment paying special focus on the interplay between person and
environment.
SOCIAL WORK
Each person’s environment is unique.
Two-fold focus:
(a) growth and development of the person
(b) improvement or amelioration of the
environment
WORK
• FAMILY SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE
- A social organization which focuses on the
functioning of actual families in their everyday lives.
- From a systems perspective: it is viewed as HOLON –
simultaneously a whole and a part of a larger
systems; concerned with the interactions within the
families and between families and the social
environment of which they are part.
WORK
• THE ANTI-OPPRESSIVE MODEL
- In social work, the anti-oppressive model aims to
function and promote equal, non-oppressive social
relations between various identities.
- Remains dedicated to principles of social justice,
which is also upheld in NASW values, by
acknowledging diversity within oppression.
WORK
• THE ANTI-OPPRESSIVE MODEL
- Analyses and advocates against macro & micro levels of
oppression and emphasizes on social justice and social change.
- anti-oppression deals with the negative experience of people
based on their race, their gender identity, sexual identity, their
physical and mental ability, their choice of religion, their class
background (whether growing up poor, working poor, working,
middle or upper class), their physical appearance (fat or thin),
and the list goes on.
WORK
• The Anti-oppressive Model
- Social work practitioners advocate against oppression by
promoting increased respect for the “inherent dignity and
worth of all people,” and “social justice” (NASW, 1996).
- Acknowledging NASW values, along with “the importance of
human relationships,” remains an integral part of building
empowering client-practitioner relationships (NASW, 1996).
THEORIES AND PERSPECTIVES IN SOCIAL WORK
• GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE

- GAD focuses on the principle that development is for all.
Everyone in society, female or male, has the right to equal
opportunities to achieve a full and satisfying life.
Gender
- refers to the specific set of characteristics that identifies the
social behavior of women and men and the relationship
between them.
• Gender and Development approach focus on the

socially constructed basis of differences
between men and women and the NEED to
CHALLENGE existing gender roles and relations.
• GAD focus primarily on gender division of labor
and gender as a relation of power embedded in
institutions.
• FEMINIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

- form of social work practice that takes women’s
experience of the world as the starting point of its
analysis and by:
focusing on the links between a woman’s position in
society and her individual predicament;
responds to her specific needs;
creates egalitarian relations in ‘client’–worker
interactions and addresses structural inequalities.

- Meeting women’s particular needs in a
holistic manner and dealing with the
complexities of their lives – including the
numerous tensions and diverse forms of
oppression impacting upon them, is an
integral part of feminist social work.

- Feminist social work arose out of feminist social
action being carried out by women working with
women in their communities (Dominelli and McLeod, 1989).
• Their AIM has been to improve women’s well-being
by linking their personal predicaments and often
untold private sorrows with their social position and
status in society.
GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
FRAMEWORK, CHARACTERISITCS,
ELEMENTS
• GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
- (U.S.) the CONCEPT of the integrated method of social work practice more
commonly known as “generalist approach”
- Was developed in 1960s because of:
(a) changes in social conditions;
(b) a more sophisticated understanding of the relationships between man
and his environment;
(c) and the effect of systems theories on the acquisition of knowledge in
social work.
GENERALIST

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Provides an integrated and multileveled approach for meeting the
purposes of social work.
This means that generalist social
Generalist Practitioners: workers
Acknowledge the a. work directly with client
a. interplay of personal and collective systems at all levels
issues b. connect to clients to
b. prompting them to work with a available resources,
c. intervene with organizations
variety of human systems –
to enhance the
societies, communities, responsiveness of resource
neighbourhoods, complex systems,
organizations, formal groups, d. advocate just social policies
families and individuals— to CREATE to ensure the equitable
CHANGES that MAXIMIZE human distribution of resources,
system FUNCTIONING. e. and research all aspects of
social work practice.
4 Major Premises
I. Human behavior is inextricably connected to the

social and physical environment.
II. Opportunities for enhancing the functioning of
any human system include
- changing the system itself
- modifying its interactions with the environment
- and altering other systems within its environment.
4 Major Premises
III. Work with any level of a human

system – from individual to society.
IV. Practitioners have responsibilities
beyond direct practice to work toward
JUST social policies as well as to conduct
and apply research.
DIRECT AND INDIRECT METHODS
DIRECT INDIRECT
1.Working with Individuals 1.Social Work
and Families (Casework) Administration and
2.Working with Groups Supervision
(group work) 2.Research
3.Working with
Community (Community
Organization)
APPROACHES IN WORKING WITH
INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES
Working with Individuals Working with Groups Working with Communities
and Families
I. Psychodynamic-
based approach
I. Developmental
Approach (Emmanuel 1.Locality
a. Psychosocial
treatment
Tropp)
a. Humanistic
Development
b. Problem-solving b. Phenomenological 2.Social action
c. Task-centered social
work
c. Developmental
II. Remedial Approach
3.Social
II. Crisis Theory and Crisis (Robert Vinter) planning
Intervention III. Interactionist
III. Cognitive Behavioral Approach (William
Theories and Therapies Schwartz)
INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES
 PSYCHODYNAMIC BASED-APPROACH
- Psychodynamic Theory – interacting genetic, biological, and socio-
cultural factors
A. PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT/APPROACH
- concern: both the inner realities of human beings and the social context
in which they live.
- emphasis: treatment must be differentiated according to the client’s
needs, hence the term “differential treatment approach”
- Help provided is to enable change to occur in the person or in the
situation.
B. PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH
- Elements of problem-solving approach:
• Person, problem, place, process
- Primary goal: help a person cope as effectively as
possible with problems in carrying on social tasks and
relationships which are perceived, felt as stressful, and
found insuperable without outside help.
C. TASK-CENTERED MODEL/APPROACH
- “technology for alleviating specific target problems
perceived by clients, that is, particular problems
recognize, understand, acknowledge and WANT to
attend to.
- ‘Task’ – what the client is to do to alleviate the
problem which makes task both an immediate goal
and at the same time the means of achieving the goal
of alleviating the problem.
CRISIS THEORY AND CRISIS INTERVENTION
Crisis Theory – based on the idea that there is no such things
as ‘problem-free’ state and life is a series of recurring
development crisis.
“Crisis” – upset in a steady state. There is a temporary
disturbance in one’s equilibrium characterized by
immobilization of problem-solving abilities and other
aspects of daily functioning.
Crisis Intervention – a process of actively influencing the psychosocial
functioning of individuals and groups, during a period of acute
disequilibrium.
- crisis-oriented, time-limited work, 2-6 weeks in duration.
- mode of treatment with any target population under stress
- should be available within 24 to 72 hours after application
application or referral for assistance
- Used in admission and emergency wards of hospitals, telephone
‘hotlines’ and ‘walk-in centers’, ‘women’s desk in police station’, ‘crisis
center for women and children, drug rehabilitation centers.
GROUPS
DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH (EMMANUEL TROPP)
- People are not seen as being sick or healthy, but on a
scale ranging from:
socially functional (adequate), to dysfunctional
(inadequate) to eufunctional (good functioning)…
continually able to move up this scale in a life long
developmental process of realization.
GROUPS
Developmental Approach (Emmanuel Tropp)
Themes:
a. It is humanistic: “a view of on one human being by another”.
b. It is phenomenological: “what is happening at present, whether in
the group or outside of it, or both.”
- focus on current group and individual behavior rather than on past personality
c. It is developmental: it sees people as being able to move forward in
a life long process of self-realization or fulfilment of potential in
social functioning.
GROUPS
REMEDIAL APPROACH (ROBERT VINTER)
- All about individual change THROUGH small groups.
- Focus: use of guided group process in treating and rehabilitating
individuals whose behavior is disapproved or who have been
*disadvantaged by society.
- *disadvantage population – physically/mentally handicapped, legal
offenders, emotionally disturbed, isolated/alienated persons.
- The group is conceived as a small system whose influences can be
guided in planned ways to MODIFY the client behavior.
GROUPS
INTERACTIONIST APPROACH (WILLIAM SCHWARTZ)
- key concept: mediating function of the social worker
- The function of social worker: mediate transactions
between people and the various system through which
they carry on their relationship with society
- The social worker is the third party whose skills are
mobilized in order to HELP the client and the system
overcome the difficulties.
COMMUNITY
LOCALITY DEVELOPMENT
- A process designed to create conditions of
economic and social progress for the whole
community with its active participation and
the fullest possible reliance on the
community’s initiative.
COMMUNITY
SOCIAL PLANNING
- Technical process of problem-solving with regard to
substantive social problems.
- Requires expert planners, through the exercise of
technical abilities.
- Planners – concerned with establishing, arranging, and
delivering goods and services to people who need
them.
COMMUNITY
SOCIAL ACTION
- Presupposes a disadvantage segment of
population NEEDS to be organized, in order to
make adequate demands on the larger
community for increased resources with social
justice or democracy.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF SW
PRACTICE – 4Ps
PERSON
(Person, Problem, Place, Process)
- “Client” refers to a person, family, or group, or community as the focus of
worker’s helping activity.
Types of clients
• Those who ask help for themselves
• Those who ask help for another person or system
• Those who do not ask help but are in some way blocking or threatening the
social functioning of another person
• Those who seek or use help as a means to reach their own goals or ends
• Those who seek help but for inappropriate goals
PRACTICE – 4Ps
• Initial contact between client and worker may
come in different ways:
a. Walk in: the client initiates the contact
b. *Referral: the client is referred to the
worker or agency by some interested or
concerned party
c. Reach out: the agency, through the social
worker reaches out to the (potential) client
and offers help
PRACTICE – 4Ps
PROBLEM
• “Problem” - A deficiency or lack of material means or personal
capacity (temporary or permanent) or of the knowledge or
preparation needed to carry out social roles.
• Problems in social functioning concern of social workers
• Nature of Problem:
- On interpersonal relationships
- In negotiating with systems in the environment
- In role performance
PRACTICE – 4Ps
The Problem in 3 Frames of Reference
1. Immediate problem – problem that the client is most concerned
about, which is causing the current difficulty and in terms of which
the client perceives the need for help
2. Underlying problem – the overall situation that created and tends
to perpetuate the immediate problem
3. Working problem – those contributory factors that stand in the way
of both remedy and prevention and must be dealt with if change is
to take place.
PRACTICE – 4Ps
PLACE (AGENCY)
• A social welfare agency – a structured
framework within which the administrative
tasks are carried out.
• An instrument of society, established through
government initiative or through voluntary
efforts to achieve a social goal.
PRACTICE – 4Ps
PROCESS (HELPING PROCESS)
• The means through which an agency’s
purpose is achieved.
• The phase through which treatment is applied
to attain a change in behavior or in the
environment, or a problem is alleviated or
resolved.
SOCIAL WORK HELPING PROCESS
• The context in which problem-solving

process is used.
• Not just cognitive process since it involves a
relationship between two parties (the
worker and client system)
SOCIAL WORK HELPING PROCESS
I. ASSESSMENT
II.TREATMENT PLAN
III.PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
IV.EVALUATION
V. TERMINATION
ASSESSMENT
• A process and a product of understanding on
which action is based.
• It involves the collection of necessary
information and its analysis and
interpretation in order to reach an
understanding of the client, the problem, and
the social context in which it exits.
ASSESSMENT
• Ultimate purpose: provide understanding
necessary for appropriate planning.
• Major Social Work Tasks:
a. Information/data gathering
b. Problem definition/problem-for-work (based on
an agreement between the client and the
worker)
ASSESSMENT
a. Information/data-gathering
a.1 Primary source (client- individual, group, community)
a.2 Secondary source (significant others – parents, siblings, relatives, friends)
a.3 Existing data (records, reports, studies, evaluation)
a.4 Worker’s own observation
ASSESSMENT
Intake
• The process by which a potential client achieves the
status of a client.
Client’s part: involves the presentation of the self and
the problem or need as he/she is experiencing it.
Social Worker’s part: involves some assessment of the
client and the problem and whether or not the agency
is in position to help.
ASSESSMENT
b. The Importance of Defining a Problem
The way you define the problem will define what data are
collected and will dictate what are seen as appropriate
answers.
“Partialization”
The process of separating from so many problems which are
to be addressed first, and therefore will be the focus of the
helping relationship.
ASSESSMENT
Characteristics:
1. It is ongoing
2. It focuses on understanding the client in the situation
and in providing a base for planning and action.
3. It is a mutual process involving both client and the
worker.
4. There is movement within the assessment process.
ASSESSMENT
5. Both horizontal and vertical explorations are
important.
• Horizontal study of the client’s situation: a study
in breadth, identify all possible parts,
interactions and relationships
• Vertical: those parts identified as most important
to the situation/solution of the problem in
depth.
ASSESSMENT
6. Assessment identifies needs in life situations,
defines problems, and explains their meanings
and patterns.
7. Assessment is individualized.
8. Judgment is important in assessment because
many decisions have to be made
9. No assessment is ever complete.
PLANNING
- The link between assessment and intervention.
- “Plans” - Specific actions or steps to be undertaken in order to reach
the goals. (‘Helping Plan’, ‘Action Plan’, ‘Intervention Plan’)
“Goals” – are ends
- Desired or expected outcomes of an endeavour.
Example:
GENERAL GOAL:
At the end of two months (June 30), Romy will be able to relate with
his peers more positively.
Specific Objectives:
• Romy will at least be minimally participating in discussions and other
group activities on May 15.
• Romy will be able to fully express his thoughts and feelings both
positive and negative about himself, his peers, his family, etc. and his
situation by May 30.
• Romy will be able to disagree or object to his peers’ ideas or opinions
without resorting to obscene or abusive language by June 15.
• Romy will be able to express anger or resentment without
challenging/provoking his peers to a fist fight by June 30.
INTERVENTION
•Involves the rendering of all the

specific and interrelated services
appropriate to the given problem
situation in the light of the
assessment and planning.
EVALUATION
• Collection of data about outcomes of a program of
action relative to goals and objectives set in advance of
the implementation of that program.
• Types:
a. Summative evaluation – concerned with outcomes or
effectiveness
b. formative evaluation – looking at the process of the
work
TERMINATION
Most common reasons for terminating the client-worker
relationship:
a. When the goals set by the worker and the client have been
reached.
b. There has been very little movement toward the attainment
of the goals formulated.
c. When the client thinks that the worker has provided
sufficient help and it’s possible for the client to pursue
problem-solving on his own.
TERMINATION
d. When an agency doesn’t have the

resources needed by the client.
e. When the systems outside the client make
it difficult for the client to continue with the
helping relationship.
f. When worker must leave the agency
TERMINATION
Terms used in relation to the termination of the helping
relationship: Transfer and Referral:
“TRANSFER” – the process by which a client is referred by his
social worker to another worker, usually in the same agency:
• because the former will no longer be able to continue
working with the client
• because she thinks another worker is in better position to
work with her client’s problem.
TERMINATION
“REFERRAL” – the act of directing a client to

another worker/agency because:
• the service that the client needs is beyond
the present agency’s worker competence
• or the client needs the additional service
which the present agency cannot provide.
SOCIAL WORK TECHNIQUES
1. ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATION
Steps taken by the caseworker to change the environment in the client’s
favour by the worker’s direct action.
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
Encouraging the client to talk freely and express his feelings
3. CLARIFICATION
Understanding by the client himself, his environment, and/or people with
whom he is associated.
4. INSIGHT DEVELOPMENT
Involves carrying understanding to a deeper level
SOCIAL WORK TECHNIQUES
5. SMALL TALK
Refers to inconsequential conversation. Used by the social worker at the beginning
of a contact. Advisable only when there are no urgent matters to attend to and
there is no pressure.
* Dialogue – prolonged exchange of ideas and opinions.
6. VENTILATION
- Bringing to the surface the feelings and attitudes that need to be brought out
because these are affecting the psychosocial functioning of the person.
7. CONFRONTATION
*confront – come face to face with the hard facts of the situation – with reality, to
bring a person face to face with something.
GENERIC TOOLS IN SOCIAL WORK
PRACTICE
Tool - “anything regarded as necessary in the carrying out one’s
occupation or professions”.
 Interview - face-to-face meeting between two or more persons,
directed towards a purpose, such as to obtain information to give
instructions, and to help.
- It is a main tool used in Social Work practice.
- It is a set of verbal and nonverbal interactions which is usually
conducted between two people
Main purpose: to gather in information
GENERIC TOOLS IN SOCIAL WORK
PRACTICE
Tool - “anything regarded as necessary in the carrying out one’s
occupation or professions”.
 Interview - face-to-face meeting between two or more persons,
directed towards a purpose, such as to obtain information to give
instructions, and to help.
- It is a main tool used in Social Work practice.
- It is a set of verbal and nonverbal interactions which is usually
conducted between two people
Main purpose: to gather in information
SOCIAL WORK TOOLS
Case Recording and Documentation
- An account in writing of the progress of a client in a case as it moves
from the beginning of the problem-solving phase toward its eventual
solutions and finally to its ending or termination.
Communication
- Sharing or the exchange of thoughts between two or more persons.
• Verbal communication – transmitted in word which may be spoken or
written.
• Nonverbal communication – expressed in either one’s behavior.

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KNOWLEDGE & PHILOSOPHICAL

FOUNDATION OF SOCIAL WORK

REPUBLICT ACT 4373 (1965)

The profession which is primarily concerned with organized

2014 Global Definition of Social Work (Approved by the IFSW

“Social Work is 1. practice-based profession and an 2. academic discipline that

Gertrude Wilson: an organized concern of all people

Ability of an individual to meet role expectations

1) Personal inadequacies 2) Situational - refer to the lack

 The person responds within the context of the

Biological – supports the Psychological – support the

Social – systems within

1) Residual social welfare– 2) Institutional social welfare –

2) Personal social services – refer to Examples:

3) Public Assistance – refers to

B. English Social Welfare

C. American Social Welfare

D. Philippine Social Welfare

• American Colonial Period (1899-1946)

• Japanese occupation (1942-1944)

• Stabilization of Government Social Welfare

• Creation of Department of Social Welfare

• DSWD’s major social programs:

• The 90s/early 2008

• Retained Specialized Social Services

Services for the

Rural and Developmental

Purposeful expression of feelings/Controlled emotional Involvement

• Each person has the right to self-fulfillment

• GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE

• Gender and Development approach focus on the

• FEMINIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

• FEMINIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

• FEMINIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

I. Human behavior is inextricably connected to the

III. Work with any level of a human

• The context in which problem-solving

•Involves the rendering of all the

d. When an agency doesn’t have the

“REFERRAL” – the act of directing a client to

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