Evolution of Social Work Profession: From Training Programs to Professional Associations

Dr. Muhammad Ibrar 1 4/13/2025

A profession includes an approved training program, a professional organization, related organizations and activities, and a body of skilled workers. If we turn the pages of history, we find social work has significant professional foundation. developments have played significant roles in relation to social work. Several organizations and 2 4/13/2025

By 1898 the New York Charity Organization Society took the initial steps in the direction of a professional school by holding a six weeks training course, designed primarily to increase the efficiency of social workers already in the field. This was the beginning of the New York School of Social Work. (The name was changed in 1963 to Columbia University School of Social Work.) 3 4/13/2025

For a discipline to become a profession, it is imperative that a professional organization be established. This has happened in social work. The first basic professional organization was the American Association of Social Workers, established in 1921, and which by 1954 had a membership of about 13,500 located in 132 local organizations, specialties and with memberships totaling more than 7,500, had also furthered the profession. chapters. Six other around professional social built work 4 4/13/2025

In the l950s representatives of these seven organizations met and established a single integrated Association of Social Workers, which is open to all trained and qualified social workers. This association was officially organized on July 7, 1955, at a special meeting of representatives of the seven predecessor organizations. organization, the National 5 4/13/2025

This association has grown in numbers and prestige so that by 1995 it had a member ship of 154,000 and is respected among professionally trained people in the various helping disciplines. The association has a code of ethics, and has issued policy statements on salaries, on the goals of public social policy, and on standards for social work personnel practices. It has made tremendous steps in helping with the recruitment of qualified personnel for social work training and practice. In 1986 the association had 55 chapters (each state, plus New York City, Los Angeles, the Virgin Islands. and Europe). 6 4/13/2025

The seven associations that participated in the formation of the National Association of Social Workers were the American Association of Group Workers, American Association of Medical Social Workers, American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers, American Association of Social Workers, Association Organization, National Association of School Social Workers, and the Social Work Research Group. Actually, the main activities of most of these groups have been absorbed by the National Association of Social Workers. for the Study of Community 7 4/13/2025

According to its bylaws, amended in August 1990, the association, to achieve its aims, shall at all times recognize and carry out a threefold responsibility: (1) to promote activities appropriate to strengthening and unifying the social work profession as a whole, (2) to promote the sound and continuous development of the various areas of social work practice whereby the profession contributes to the meeting of particular aspects of human need, and (3) to promote efforts in behalf of human well-being by methods of social action. 8 4/13/2025

A guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct business honestly and with integrity. A code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the business or supposed to approach problems, the ethical principles based on the organization's core values professional organization, how professionals are and the standards to which the will be held. 9 4/13/2025

A code responsibilities of or proper practices for an individual, concepts include ethical codes and honor codes. In Guidance, "Defining and Developing an Effective Code of Conduct for Organizations", the International provided the following working definition: code of of conduct conduct is a set of rules outlining the party or organization. Related its 2007 International Good Practice Federation of Accountants 10 4/13/2025

"Principles, values, standards, or rules of behavior that guide the decisions, procedures and systems of an organization in a way that (a) contributes to the welfare of its key stakeholders, and (b) respects the rights of all citizens affected by its operations. A written set of guidelines issued by an organization to its workers and management to help them conduct their actions in accordance with its primary values and ethical standards. 11 4/13/2025

Formation 1955 Type Professional Association Headquarters Washington, DC Location United States Membership 150,000 Official languages English Board President Jeane W. Anastas Key people Elizabeth J Clark, Executive Director Website www.naswdc.org 12 4/13/2025

The following ethical standards are relevant to the professional activities of all social workers. These standards are (1) Social workers ethical (Moral) responsibilities to clients (2) Social workers ethical responsibilities to colleagues (3) Social workers ethical responsibilities in practice settings (4) Social professionals (5) Social workers ethical responsibilities to the social work profession (6) Social workers ethical responsibilities to the society. workers ethical responsibilities as 13 4/13/2025

Primacy of Clients responsibility is to promote the wellbeing of clients. In general, clients interests are primary. Self right of clients to self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Informed Consent clients only in the context of a professional relationship based, when appropriate, on valid informed consent. Social workers should provide clients with an opportunity to ask questions. Competence represent themselves as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, license, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience. Primacy of Clients Interests Interests: Social workers primary a. a. Self- -determination: determination: Social workers respect and promote the b. b. Informed Consent : :Social workers should provide services to c. c. Competence : :Social workers should provide services and d. d. 14 4/13/2025

e. Cultural Social workers should understand culture and its function recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures. f. Conflicts alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional will and impartial judgment. Social workers should not take unfair advantage of any professional relationship or exploit others to further their personal, interests. Cultural Competence in Competence and human and Social behavior Social Diversity and Diversity: : society, Conflicts of of Interest Interest : :Social workers should be religious, political, or business 15 4/13/2025

g g. . Confidentiality should respect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence all information obtained in the course of professional service. Social workers may disclose confidential information when appropriate with valid consent from a client or a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of a client. Confidentiality and and Privacy Privacy: : The social worker 16 4/13/2025

h. Access provide clients with reasonable access to records concerning the clients. When providing clients with access to their records, social workers should take steps to protect the confidentiality of other individuals identified or discussed in such records. i. Sexual under no circumstances engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with current clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced. Access to to Records Records: : Social workers should Sexual Relationships Relationships: : Social workers should 17 4/13/2025

j. Physical engage in physical contact with clients when there is a possibility of psychological harm to the client as a result of the contact (such as cradling (embracing)or hugging clients). k. Sexual not sexually harass clients. Sexual harassment includes sexual advances, sexual requests, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Physical Contact Contact: : Social workers should not Sexual Harassment Harassment: : Social workers should 18 4/13/2025

l. Derogatory should not use derogatory language in their written or verbal communications to or about clients. Social workers should use accurate and respectful language in all communications to and about clients. m. Payment workers should ensure that the fees are fair, reasonable, and commensurate (equal) with the services performed. Consideration should be given to clients ability to pay. Derogatory (degrading) (degrading) Language Language : : Social workers Payment for for Services Services: : When setting fees, social 19 4/13/2025

n. Clients When social workers act on behalf of clients who lack the capacity to make informed decisions, reasonable steps to safeguard the interests and rights of those clients. o. Interruption should make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of services in the event that services are interrupted by factors such as unavailability, relocation, illness, disability, or death. Clients Who Who Lack Lack Decision Decision Making Making Capacity Capacity: : social workers should take Interruption of of Services Services: : Social workers 20 4/13/2025

p. Termination should terminate services to clients and professional relationships with them when such services and relationships are no longer required or no longer serve the clients needs or interests. Termination of of Services Services: : Social workers 21 4/13/2025

Respect colleagues represent qualifications, views, and obligations of colleagues. Social workers should cooperate with social work colleagues and with colleagues of other professions when such cooperation serves the wellbeing of clients. Respect: : Social with accurately workers respect should and fairly treat should the a. a. and 22 4/13/2025

b. Confidentiality confidential information shared by colleagues in the course of their professional relationships and transactions. c. Disputes should not take advantage of a dispute between a colleague and an employer to obtain a position or otherwise advance the social workers own interests. Social workers should not exploit clients in disputes with colleagues or discussion of conflicts between social workers and their colleagues. Confidentiality: : Social workers should respect Disputes Involving Involving Colleagues Colleagues: : Social workers engage clients in any inappropriate 23 4/13/2025

d. Consultation advice and counsel of colleagues whenever such consultation is in the best interests of clients. themselves informed about colleagues areas of workers should seek consultation only from colleagues knowledge, related to the subject of the consultation. Consultation : :Social workers should seek the Social workers should keep expertise and competencies. Social who expertise, have demonstrated competence and 24 4/13/2025

e. Referral refer clients to other professionals when the other professionals specialized knowledge or expertise is needed to serve clients fully or when social workers believe that they are not being progress with clients and that additional service is required. Referral for for Services Services : :Social workers should effective or making reasonable 25 4/13/2025

f. Incompetence who have direct knowledge of a social work colleague s incompetence should consult with that colleague when feasible and assist the colleague in taking remedial action. Incompetence of of Colleagues Colleagues: : Social workers 26 4/13/2025

Supervision who provide supervision or consultation should have the necessary knowledge and skill to supervise or consult appropriately and should do so only within their areas of knowledge and competence. Social workers who provide supervision should evaluate supervisee s performance in a manner that is fair and respectful. Supervision and and Consultation Consultation : :Social workers a. a. 27 4/13/2025

b. Education function as educators, field instructors for students, instruction knowledge and competence and should provide instruction based on the most current information and knowledge available in the profession. Social workers who function as educators or field instructors for students should evaluate student s performance in a manner that is fair and respectful. Education and and Training Training: : Social workers who or only trainers within should their provide areas of 28 4/13/2025

c. Performance have performance of others should fulfill such responsibility in a fair and considerate manner and on the basis of clearly stated criteria. d d. . Client reasonable documentation in records is accurate and reflects the services provided. Performance Evaluation responsibility Evaluation: : Social workers who for evaluating the Client Records Records : :Social workers should take steps to ensure that 29 4/13/2025

e. Administration should advocate within and outside their agencies for adequate resources to meet clients needs. f. Continuing Social work administrators and supervisors should take reasonable steps to provide or arrange for continuing education and staff development for all staff for whom they are responsible. Continuing education and staff development should address current knowledge and emerging developments related to social work practice and ethics. Administration: : Social work administrators Continuing Education Education and and Staff Staff Development Development: : 30 4/13/2025

Competence responsibility or employment only on the basis of existing competence or the intention to acquire the necessary competence. Discrimination practice, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical disability. Competence: : Social workers should accept a. a. Discrimination: : Social workers should not b. b. 31 4/13/2025

c. Private permit their private conduct to interfere with their responsibilities. d. Dishonesty, should not participate in, excuse, or be associated with dishonesty, fraud, or deception (cheating). Private Conduct Conduct: : Social workers should not ability to fulfill their professional Dishonesty, Fraud, Fraud, and and cheating cheating: : Social workers 32 4/13/2025

Integrity should work toward the maintenance and promotion of high standards of practice. b. Evaluation should monitor and evaluate policies, the implementation of programs, and practice interventions. promote research to contribute to the development of knowledge. Integrity of of the the Profession Profession: : Social workers a. a. Evaluation and and Research Research: : Social workers b. Social facilitate workers evaluation should and and 33 4/13/2025

Social promote the general welfare of society, from local to global levels, and the development of people, their communities, and their environments. advocate for living conditions favorable to the fulfillment of basic human needs and should promote social, economic, political, and cultural values and institutions that are compatible with the realization of social justice. Social Welfare Welfare: : Social workers should a. a. Social workers should 34 4/13/2025

Public facilitate informed participation by the public in shaping social policies and institutions. Public provide appropriate professional services in public emergencies to the greatest extent possible. Social engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that all people have equal access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human needs and to develop fully. Public Participation Participation: : Social workers should b. b. Public Emergencies Emergencies: : Social workers should c. c. Social and and Political Political Action Action: : Social workers should d. d. 35 4/13/2025

Social workers should be aware of the impact of the political field on practice and should advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social justice. 36 4/13/2025