Social Work

How ‘Social’ and ‘Work’ lead to an improved society!

The word ‘social’ comes from the Latin ‘socius’, which means friend or ally. The word in a larger sense refers to human society and its organization. The word ‘work’ comes from the German ‘weorc’, which means to complete a specific task and improve by varying degree. Social work therefore involves studying and improving the lives of people and societies. Social work spans micro and macro systems to address and resolve social issues. It hardly matters what the level or economic status of the person or group involved is. This eliminates the possible side-lining of the poor and sick. Social work does not work individually, but incorporates the contribution made by the other social sciences. The vital combination helps to improve the existent conditions and positively impact the response of a society.

Who are social workers?

Social workers are dedicated individuals driven by the passion to effectively address and resolve social problems, their causes and their human impact. These selfless workers work with individuals and within families and communities. The idea is to ensure social justice and enhance the quality of life of the person or group. Social work involves the structuring of steps to draw the full potential of each individual and community in society, making the world a better place. The social worker works towards correcting social ills within a comprehensive approach. The concept is linked with charity work.

The roots of social work:

The basic concept of charity is ancient and all the world religions advocate providing for the poor. In fact, charity used to be considered a responsibility and a sign of piety! Charity, in social work, includes forms of direct relief like money and food. Today social work is addressed by individuals working from within an organized system. The large scale migration that was the direct outcome of the Industrial Revolution ushered in many related social problems. The steps taken and measures applied to eradicate the ills of poverty led to an increase in social activism. Social work also has connections with the 19th century ‘missionary push’. The workers directed mission efforts to resolve problems like poverty, prostitution and disease. The ‘friendly visitors’ or social workers worked through direct relief and prayer.

The Settlement Movement:

In the settlement movement, the focus is on the causes of poverty and the effective application of research, reform, and residence. The workers whose services were pledged to the settlement movement provided services in education, law and health. However, interestingly, these programs ushered in changes in social policies. The workers in the settlement movement were so involved in their work that they adopted the cultures of those they were helping. This led to a fundamental question on whether social work is a profession or not? Soon, communities of social workers from within formalized processes began to show up, despite the argument that social work lacked specialized knowledge and theoretical and intellectual knowledge application.

Social work today:

Social work follows a methodology that is derived from an evaluation that is extensively researched and practiced. The application involves a thorough understanding of the complex interactions between communities, individuals and the environment. The work also involves measures that can influence and motivate people to tap their inherent capacity to effectively alter bio-psychosocial factors. Social work is designed along observations of human behavior and social systems. These observations help to analyse situations and influence constructive changes in individuals, societies and cultures across the world. There are professional social workers who earn a professional ‘Degree in Social Work’ and work within rules and regulations set by a license.

Social work is now a serious job that involves getting a Bachelor of Social Work Degree, a Master’s Degree or a Doctorate. The social workers are also called Social Services Assistants or Care Managers or Care Coordinators! Professional social workers strive to make social justice a reality well within reach and eradicate unequal social structures.