Module-I-Unit-1-Social-Work-As-Vocation-and-Career-Foundation-Concepts.docx.pdf
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A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION A Module in SW 01: Knowledge and Philosophical Foundation of the Social Work Profession by PRESCILLA B. VALLARTA, RWS, MSW...
A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION A Module in SW 01: Knowledge and Philosophical Foundation of the Social Work Profession by PRESCILLA B. VALLARTA, RWS, MSW DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK 1 A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION Copyright © 2020 by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced, repurposed, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying, reprinting, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of PLV and the individual developers of instructional materials (IMs) except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical and creative reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by the Copyright Law. For permission request, address your written correspondence whether printed or electronic to the Chair of the University Committee on Instructional Materials Development and Evaluation at the address below: Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela Tongco St., Maysan, Valenzuela City 2 A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION FOREWORD It’s a reality for students entering college to pick courses with promising future career opportunities and greater return of investments aside from self-matching interests, preferences, and inclinations. Social work is less considered and a no-no top pick being perceived as less appealing and catchy for the course title itself implies work and service to people direly in need. This module has two-fold aims primarily to educate and empower the mind of students enrolled in SW 01 and secondly to end up enlightened and enthusiastically passionate about pursuing a social work career. Intriguing question if social work is a career when anyone is capable to help thus no need for a formal training embodies Unit I in this module. What delineates the act of helping in social work to common charity work or philanthropic activity is explained in Unit 2. Unit 3 identifies and explains why and how social work is a multi-skilled interfacing or mediating profession utilizing socio-behavioral, eco-political, and environmental and cultural underpinnings of interventive repertoire in its helping process. While Unit 4 encompasses the diversity of practice domains social work operates and graduates employed. Lastly, the concluding portion of this module provides students a reflective internalizing self-examination experience to pursue or detour from taking a social work degree. This module provides and supports independent and self-paced learning of students in flexible mode within the prescribed timeline of easily accessible links to references, lesson activities, pre and post evaluative exercises to ensure learning outcomes are met or acquired. Thus, be a self-motivated, analytically driven, creative, resourceful, and empowered learner. This is your journey and hence be assured of our constant guiding support to productive and engaged learning. 3 A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION Table of Contents Topics Page/s Module I: Social Work As A Vocation and Career Unit 1 - Foundation Concepts 1 - 8 Unit 2 - Evolution Towards Professionalization 2 - 28 Unit 3 - Philosophical Foundation & Principles 29-36 Module 2: Social Work As A Change Process Unit 1 - The Knowledge Foundation of the Social Work Profession 37 - 53 Unit 2 - The Process of Planned Change Process and the Problem-solving Process 54 - 70 Module 3: Social Work Helping Models, Approaches and Techniques Unit 1 – The Helping Models in Work with Individuals 71 - 88 Unit 2 – The Helping Models with Groups 89 – 99 Unit 3 - The Helping Models with Communities 100 -107 Module 4: Practice Domains of Social Work Unit 1 – Social Work with Diverse Sectors 108-119 Unit 2 - Social Work with Other Disciplines 120-134 4 A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION Module 1: Social Work As A Vocation and Career Unit 1 – Foundation Concepts Topics: ❖ Definition of social work and social welfare ❖ Concept of social functioning ❖ The person-in-environment concept framework Brief Introduction: One of the sweetest things for us to hear from others is to be called by our name that sounds like music to our ears. Most practicing professions have either “ist”, “ian”, and “er” in their title as for psychologist and economist or physician and psychometrician and teacher or engineer respectively. These professions and those not in the categories like nurses are looked up to with distinct respect, recognition, and value of what they professed doing. What about a social worker? How come most students choosing a college career seldom pick social work as first preference in the list? This unit introduces what social work is and its relevant foundation concepts challenging students to develop a full grasp and appreciation of what social work does to people and society. Here are some ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS to guide your learning: 1. What is social work and how it is distinguished as a profession with other allied helping disciplines? 2. What foundation concepts are relevant to social work? Why and how? 3. How social work takes the stance as a mediating profession? At the end of this unit, you will be able to achieve these learning objectives: 1. Define and identify keywords or concepts explaining social work and social welfare. 2. Briefly explain and describe social functioning as a concept with examples. 3. Describe and interpret the person-in-environment framework for social work practice. 4. Develop comprehension and appreciation of the social work profession? 5 A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT TASK [DAT] PICK and SHARE! AB CD EF ❖ Which pictures describe and tell social work engages with as you know and understand? ❖ Encircle the corresponding letter you know social work intervenes with. ❖ Cross out the letter you know social work does not engage in. ❖ Briefly, explain your answer to the encircled or crossed out pictures you have chosen as follows; 6 A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION Picture A - shows/does not show what social work does because ______________. Picture B - shows/does not show what social work does because ______________. Picture C - shows/does not show what social work does because ______________. Picture D - shows/does not show what social work does because ______________. Picture E - shows/does not show what social work does because ______________. Picture F - shows/does not show what social work does because ______________. ❖ Write your answer in MS Word and submit online. ❖ Follow APA format in reporting. The “search” icon guides you to the pathway of independent learning discovery and exploration before you proceed to LEAD. The reference and reading materials below will help you start on or jumpstart to the next level of knowledge search. Here are the links; 1.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_fvzxlfQUY 2. Mendoza, TLM. (2002). Chapter 1. Social welfare and social work. (Revised edition). Megabooks Company. TOPICS and ILLUSTRATIONS : Definition of Social Work and Social Welfare I. According to the International Federation of Social Workers , social work is; 1. “a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment toward the liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility, and respect for 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 wellbeing.” Key concepts: an applied profession, promotion of social change, and development 2. “as a professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities to enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and to create social conditions favorable to their goals”. [NASW, 1983] Key concepts: professional activity, enhance, and restoration of social functioning.” Social work in other words; a. is a profession utilizing blended knowledge of human behavior, social sciences, political science, humanities, and economics to guide practice with people and 7 A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION society achieve change, growth, and development through their self-directed initiatives and concerted efforts. b. Intervenes between people and social conditions in the environment social work mediates to achieve mutual fulfillment, increases their self regulating capacity, and personal satisfaction of both harmoniously or humanely. c. Its process of helping crucially considers the interplay dynamics of the person’s well-being vis-a-vis the influencing complexity of surrounding systems and structures around. Social work believes that every individual is a BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL-and COSMIC or spiritual being. This composes who we are as created beings and therefore must be wholly treated and regarded in entirety with worth and dignity as illustrated in the image, (Rampages. US, 2016). Social work as a broad-based profession intervenes and utilizes an integrated approach to respond to the needs of people and society. The image illustration, (Univ. of Kansas, no year) shows areas or work settings the social work profession practices their craft. What is SOCIAL WELFARE? 1. As an institution It is defined by the National Association of Social Workers as a “nation’s system of programs, benefits, and services that helps people meet those social, economic, educational, and health needs that are fundamental to the maintenance of society”. Examples of social welfare programs and services are SAP [Social Amelioration Program], Pantawid Program, daycare services, nutrition and feeding programs, etc. Key concepts: a system of programs and services; meet encompassing needs of the population; and essential to maintaining society 2. As an academic discipline Is the study of institutions or agencies, programs, personnel, and policies that focus on the delivery of social assistance and protection services to individuals, groups, and communities. This definition illustrates, (Fantova, 2014) the array and organized structure of institutions, personnel, and wide-ranged policies, programs, services, and 8 A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION projects delivered to people and society in response to their needs for a better quality of life. Key concepts: a study of social arrangement and delivery of social protection II. Concept of Social Functioning Definition: According to Harriet Bartlett , it is “the relation between the coping activity of people and the demands from the environment”. Problems of people are by-products and consequences of an interplay of forces, factors, elements, and situations either within themselves or between them and others or from the environment they are unable to cope and resolve. This is the focus of social work’s dual functions to help people cope with life roles they must play as situations or environment demands on them. Problems in social functioning are either; 1. self-triggered like poor self-esteem, lack of skills, and other personal inadequacies 2. environment/situation triggered such as hostile or harsh environment, lack of opportunities or absence of resources and support, etc. 3. trigger factors from both the person and the environment like pollution and global warming. Mendoza, T.L. identified ways how social work intervention targets the enhancement of a person’s social functioning as follows; 1. change strategies directed toward the individual if personal inadequacies and pathologies hinder the person to cope with situational demands. 2. change strategies directed toward the environment if the person is troubled by situational inadequacies to cope demands within one’s ability and capacity. 3. Change strategies are directed to both. Person-in-environ III. ment concept Definition: The previous discussion has set forth the significant reciprocal influences and shaping roles between persons and the environment as the primary focus of social work. This context is referred to as PIE [person-in-environment] or person-in-life situation complex paradigm illustrated (SIM Univ, no year). According to William Gordon social work aims “to achieve the best match between each person and the environment, in which either person-behavior or environmental situation may deviate widely from a typical normative.” Further, William Schwartz said that, “the general assignment for social work 9 A MODULE IN SW 01: KNOWING AND EXPLORING THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION profession is to mediate the process through which the individual and society reach out to each other through a mutual need for self-fulfillment.” 10
