International Social Work

1. International Social Work Definition, history, current and future roles Based on Chapter 1 of the book by D.Cox and M. Pawar Teaching materials prepared by Yvonne Ford

2. Confusion about Social Work • Charitable work? • Therapeutic one-to-one intervention? • Welfare state? • Dealing with urban problems?

3. Is SW related to: • Public policy? • Community development? • Social development? • Community reponses to welfare needs?

4. What is Social Work?! • What are your answers? • . • . • . • . • .

5. Is all this Social Work? • Focus on individuals (USA) • Mobilizing the masses to deal with social problems (China) • Social justice (Latin America) • Social development (Africa) • Building civil society (Eastern Europe) • Rural development (India)

6. SW can be difficult to define – what is the common thread? • global profession • common code of ethics • shared principles (Paragraphs 5-7, page 3)

7. Definition of Social WorkInternational Federation of Social Workers and International Association of Schools of Social Work, 2004 • SW promotes • Social change • Problem-solving in human relationships • Empowerment and liberation of people … in order to enhance well-being.

8. Definition (continued) • Social work uses theories of human behaviour and social systems. • Social work intervenes where people interact with their environments.

9. Definition (continued) • Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.

10. Core nature, many forms • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIiXaGGpOew

11. Social Work in Europe • is highly varied and often contrasts with SW in the UK and USA (paragraph 17, page 5) • SW is Europe contains indigenous roots that reflect the culture and social structure of each state. (paragraph 21, page 5)

12. In Germany… • Social Work has the narrower meaning of individualized casework • SW is carried out by workers who operate from community-based offices, hospitals, clinics or voluntary organisations. (paragraph 19, page 5)

13. Influence of USA and UK • Through training courses • Colonialization of countries – imported social structures, led by „westerners“ • Support and protection of classes who were important to the colonial system

14. Similarities in SW • Is in existence in many countries • Shares ethical base • Face similar problems • Profession has low status in some countries • Fear that SW is „in danger“ (paragraph 30, page 7)

15. Differences in SW • In emphasis from country to country • In strength of the profession • In details of education and practice • Specific responses to changing needs and changing resources, leading to changing methodologies

16. Who sets the agenda for SW? • Politicians? • Employers? • Social workers? • Local people?

17. Indigenization: the challenge • discover solutions, perceptions, coping strategies that exist in the local culture (traditons, practices) • Change formal curricula to incorporate these traditions and practices This process is also relevant for developed countries!(paragraph 38, page 10)

18. 3 areas of SW practice • 1 - State (government) defined • Delinquents, criminals, family welfare, child protection, adoption, welfare assistance • Strong elements of social control and protection

19. 3 areas (continued) • 2 – direct work with clients who have problems • Clinical social work, family therapy, marriage guidance, medical SW, psycho-therapies

20. 3 areas (continued) • 3 – community building • Social policy, social development, NGOs, • aim to improve the environments and societies within which people develop and live • Building a better world (Paragraph 42, page 10)

21. Priorities in Social Work • Trends and criticism • Question of balance among 3 areas • Neglected fields of practice • Ignoring certain groups of people • Factors affecting the choice of practice areas and the balance between them

22. Criticism • Social Work focuses too much of trying to remedy problems, doesn‘t deal with causes • Certain groups of people are neglected (e.g. refugees, „difficult groups“) • Certain problems are neglected (e.g. peace, poverty, rural areas)

23. All 3 areas should be served • Supporting the welfare state, providing casework to persons in need, and engaging in social development • The balance of these 3 areas will vary from country to country

24. Vision or reality? • „It appears to be true that social work, perhaps more than any of the professions, is necessarily responsive to the social, political, economic and cultural conditions of the countries in which it is practiced.“ (Kendall, paragraph 61, page 15)

25. Professionalisation of SW • Level of education (university?) • What global standards should be set?

26. Global SW organisations International Association of Schools of Social Work – IASSW http://www.iassw-aiets.org/ International Federation of Social Workers – IFSW http://www.ifsw.org/ International Council on Social Welfare – ICSW http://www.icsw.org/

27. Two further organisations • International consortium for Social Development http://www.iucisd.org/about.htm • Commonwealth Organization for Social work http://www.commonwealthsw.org/

28. International SW • May require a global approach, such as international policy or action • Also takes place at the national and local level • „in an era of globalization, much if not all domestic practice requires an international perspective.“ (paragraph 79, page 19)

29. Internation roles of SW • Promotion of SW education and practice globally and locally • Build an integrated profession (not dominated by any country) • Respond to global challenges • Work toward well-being of world‘s people (individual and collective) • Integration of perspectives:global, human rights, ecological and social development

30. Main questions: • How can SW contribute to the alleviation of the major social problems and areas of need that affect the world‘s people? • How can SW be introduced to the least developed countries and areas in the world?