Social work facts for kids

Social work is a special job and a field of study. It helps people, families, groups, and communities meet their basic needs. The main goal is to make sure everyone feels good and lives well. Social workers use ideas from many subjects like psychology, sociology, and law. They work to understand problems, create plans, and help people improve their lives. They also try to make society fairer for everyone.

Social work happens at different levels. Micro-work means working directly with individuals and families. This could be like offering advice or helping a family find services. Mezzo-work involves working with groups or communities. An example is leading a support group or helping local agencies. Macro-work focuses on bigger changes. This includes speaking up for people, helping create new rules, or working with government groups. Some social workers also learn how to manage organizations that help people.

The idea of social work grew in the 1800s. It started from people helping others for free and from community groups. Before that, people in need often got help from churches or private charities. The Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression in the 1930s made social work more important. Many children were poor and had to work in factories. Social workers stepped in to help these children and their families.

What is Social Work?

Social work is a wide-ranging job that connects with many other fields. Different groups that support social workers describe it like this:

• The International Federation of Social Workers says social work helps people change and grow. It brings people together and helps them feel free. It's all about social justice, human rights, and respecting everyone.
• The Canadian Association of Social Workers explains that social work helps individuals, families, and communities. It helps people learn skills and use resources to solve problems. Social workers deal with personal issues and bigger problems like poverty.
• The [US] National Association of Social Workers states that social work uses special skills to help people get services. They offer advice to individuals, families, and groups. They also help communities improve health services and take part in making new laws.
• The British Association of Social Workers says social workers help individuals and families improve their lives. They protect people from harm and help them live on their own. Social workers support people, speak for them, and guide them to needed services. They often work with doctors and teachers.

How Social Work Began

A Marylebone slum in the 19th century

Social work as a modern profession started in the 1800s. It grew from three main ideas.

• Helping Individuals: One idea was to help people one by one. This started with groups like the Charity Organization Society (COS) in London, England. They focused on understanding each person's situation.
• Organized Help: Another idea was about organized ways to help people in need. This included early laws to help the poor. The COS also helped make these efforts more organized.
• Community Action: The third idea was about making changes for whole communities. Groups like the Settlement House Movement worked to improve living conditions. They believed that by changing society, they could reduce poverty.

Many new organizations also grew in the 1800s to deal with social problems. These groups set the stage for how social work is done today.

Social work first became a profession in 19th century England. This was because of big changes from the Industrial Revolution. Many people moved to cities, leading to widespread poverty and new problems. Because of this, early social work was closely linked to charity work.

Important people who helped social work grow include Jane Addams. She started the Hull House in Chicago and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. Mary Ellen Richmond wrote one of the first social work books. William Beveridge helped create the idea of a social welfare state.

Social Work in the United States

In the 1840s, Dorothea Lynde Dix worked to change how people with mental health issues were treated. She helped improve care for them. Even though social work wasn't a profession yet, her work inspired early mental health social workers.

In the early 1900s, people started to understand mental health better. After World War I, more help was needed. In 1918, the Smith College School for Social Work began. Students learned to be psychiatric social workers. After World War II, many mental health clinics opened. In 1963, a law was passed to help people with mental illness live in their communities instead of hospitals.

Later, in the 1980s, people with mental health conditions and their families started speaking up. They wanted better care and more understanding. This helped bring mental health care into regular medicine and social services.

Social workers also helped soldiers returning from wars. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), social workers offered counseling to soldiers. They helped with stress, sadness, and other challenges from being in war zones. Military and civilian social workers play a key role in helping veterans.

Social Work in Canada

In Canada, helping people with mental health issues has a long history. Native North Americans believed that mental problems meant a person had lost their balance with their community. They used natural and spiritual ways to help. These communities valued looking at a person's whole well-being.

The first official treatments for mental illness in Canada were in 1714 in Quebec. By the 1830s, charities and churches were active in social services. Hospitals for the mentally ill opened in the 1830s and 1840s. Social work training began at the University of Toronto in 1914. Before that, social workers learned on the job.

World War II changed how people viewed mental health. Many soldiers had mental health problems, which led to more research and new treatments. In the 1960s, there was a shift to helping people with mental health issues in their communities. Social workers focused on understanding social problems, not just individual diagnoses.

Today, each province in Canada has groups that oversee social workers. The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is the national group for social workers.

Social Work in India

Ancient Indian texts, like the Charaka Samhita (around 400-200 BC), described mental stability and how to care for people. The Siddha medical system in South India also had ways to treat mental health problems.

In the 1700s, hospitals for people with mental illness were built in cities like Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata). These were first for British soldiers and Indian military men. Later, laws were made to manage these hospitals. From the 1870s to 1890s, programs like "work therapy" helped people with mental illness. They worked in agriculture, which was an early form of rehabilitation.

In 1920, the term "asylum" was changed to "hospital" to show a more caring approach. In 1937, the first social worker job in mental health was created in a child guidance clinic. This was the first official record of social work in Indian mental health.

After India became independent in 1947, new hospital units were set up. Dr. Vidyasagar encouraged families to be involved in caring for people with mental illness. This helped reduce the negative feelings about mental health issues. In 1948, a master's course in medical and psychiatric social work began.

Over the years, more social workers were hired in hospitals and clinics across India. They helped with the social and emotional parts of treatment. In 1968, a two-year postgraduate course in psychiatric social work started.

In 1982, the Indian government launched the National Mental Health Programme. This program aimed to connect mental health care with general health services. By 1996, the District Mental Health Program started, bringing mental health care to local communities.

In 1998 and 2008, the National Human Rights Commission looked closely at mental hospitals. This led to better recognition of the rights of people with mental illness. In 2016, a new law, the Mental Health Care Bill, was passed. It ensures people with mental illness can get treatment, have their dignity protected, and access free medicines. Another law, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, also helps people with disabilities, including mental health conditions.

India still needs more mental health professionals. As of 2019, there were about 9,000 psychiatrists in the country. This is much less than what is needed. There isn't one main group that licenses social workers across India. However, social workers have greatly improved mental health care in the country.

How Social Workers Help

Social work uses ideas from many different subjects. These include psychology, sociology, politics, economics, and law. A key part of social work training is "field work." This means students get hands-on experience in real-world settings. This helps them understand how theories work in practice.

Here are some ways social workers help people:

• Helping Individuals: They work one-on-one with people to solve problems.
• Group Work: They lead groups to help people share experiences and support each other.
• Community Work: They help communities organize to improve their neighborhoods.
• Crisis Help: They step in during emergencies, like after a disaster.
• Mental Health Support: They help people with mental health challenges.
• Addiction Support: They help people dealing with addiction.
• Family Support: They work with families to improve relationships and solve issues.
• Advocacy: They speak up for people who need help getting their rights or services.

Being a Social Worker

Being a social worker is a professional job. It's like being a doctor or a nurse, but focused on social well-being. Social workers need to keep learning new things to do their job well. Their main goal is to help individuals, families, and communities live their best lives.

Social workers follow a set of steps to help people:

• Connecting: First, they build a trusting relationship with the person they are helping.
• Understanding: They gather information to understand the person's needs and challenges.
• Planning: They work with the person to create a plan of action.
• Acting: They help the person get the resources and support they need.
• Checking Progress: They regularly check to see if the plan is working.
• Giving Support: They offer encouragement and explore different options.
• Ending Help: They help the person become independent and connect with other support systems.
• Managing Programs: Some social workers also plan and manage programs that help many people.

Social workers follow important rules about how they do their job. These rules are based on six main values:

• Service: Helping people in need.
• Social Justice: Working to make society fair for everyone.
• Dignity and Worth: Treating everyone with respect and understanding their unique background.
• Human Relationships: Building strong, positive connections with people.
• Integrity: Being honest and responsible.
• Competence: Always learning and improving their skills.

The International Federation of Social Workers also has rules for social workers. These include respecting everyone's dignity, protecting human rights, and working for social justice. They also emphasize letting people make their own choices and keeping information private.

Social workers focus on helping individuals within their community and improving society as a whole. They work for social justice and social change. A "client" can be one person, a family, a group, or a whole community. Some social workers even go to countries affected by war to help families and survivors.

A growing area in social work is "social work administration." This involves turning social policies into actual services. It also means helping people manage their money better. This is called Financial social work. Social workers help people with low incomes learn how to save money and manage their finances.

Another area is Behavioral Social Work. These social workers use ideas about how people learn to help change behaviors. They focus on what's happening now and use facts to make sure their help is effective. They also consider different cultures when working with people.

Social workers also deal with "risk management." This means they try to lower any dangers while increasing the good things for their clients. They carefully think about the risks and benefits of their decisions.

Occupational social work is a field where social workers help companies care for their employees' well-being. They make sure company rules are fair and helpful.

In the United States, social workers are the largest group of mental health providers. There are more trained social workers than psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses combined.

Social workers can work in many different areas, such as:

• Helping people out of poverty
• Teaching life skills
• Organizing communities
• Protecting children and older adults
• Working in law and government
• Helping with addiction
• Supporting mental health
• Helping people with disabilities
• Managing disasters

What Social Workers Do

Social workers in mental health settings have many important jobs. They act as case managers, advocates, and therapists. Their main tasks are to promote good mental health, prevent problems, offer treatment, and help people recover.

Social workers might also:

• Offer Counseling and psychotherapy
• Manage cases and provide support
• Help during crises
• Teach people about mental health
• Help with recovery
• Coordinate care and check on progress
• Manage programs and services
• Do research and evaluate programs

Psychiatric social workers assess patients' social and emotional needs. They help patients and families talk with doctors and other medical staff. This makes sure everyone works together for the best care. Social workers are also key in helping people return home and to their communities after treatment.

Becoming a Social Worker

To become a social worker, you usually need a bachelor's degree in social work. Some countries also offer master's or doctoral degrees in social work.

Many places require social workers to be registered or licensed. This means they have met certain education and training standards. This helps make sure social workers are qualified and provide good care.

Social Work in North America

In the United States, social work programs are approved by the Council on Social Work Education. You need a degree from an approved program to become a licensed social worker. The first formal social work courses in the U.S. started in 1898.

The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) creates exams for social work licenses in the U.S. and Canada. However, there have been concerns about these exams. Studies have shown that white test-takers are much more likely to pass than people of color, older individuals, or those who speak English as a second language. This has led to questions about whether the exams are fair and truly test what social workers need to know.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has spoken out against these exams. They believe the exams show unfair differences based on race and age. Because of these concerns, the Council on Social Work Education no longer requires schools to use ASWB exam pass rates for their program approval.

Some states are changing their rules. For example, Illinois now allows social workers to get licensed by completing supervised work hours instead of taking the ASWB exam. Many experts believe that having experienced supervisors assess new social workers is a better way to ensure they are ready to practice safely and ethically.

Groups for Social Workers

Social workers have many professional groups that offer guidance and support. These groups can be international, national, or local. The main international groups are the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW).

In the United States, the largest group is the National Association of Social Workers. They have a code of conduct based on values like service, social justice, and respect for people. There are also groups for clinical social workers and those who work with communities.

In the UK, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is the main professional group. In Australia, it's the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). These groups help make sure social workers meet high standards.

Social Workers in Stories and Movies

Social workers have appeared in many books and movies. Sometimes, they are the main characters, showing how they help people.

Fictional Social Workers in Media

See also

In Spanish: Trabajo social para niños