Social Work is a massive practice, with many different paths and avenues you can take to help take care of an individual, neighborhood, or even whole community. They are increasingly confronting the many social problems that the world comes with, from poverty, domestic violence, adoption, discrimination, disability, and many more complex changes. It is their job to try to make the world a better place in any way they can, from one individual to international, spanning across countries. Today I will be going over one of my favorite paths of Social Work, which is very overlooked and not talked about as much as it should International Social Work. With this field being new and on the rise. Popularity, many people have a question about what even International Social Work and what the whole path entails.
For International Social Work, the term first came to light in 1943 from a man named George Warren, who mainly used the term to describe the social work practice in agencies engaged in international organizational efforts (Xu, Q. 2006). It is a practice requiring specific skills and knowledge to help social workers work in international agencies. The practice is moving towards addressing all the social problems that come from modern-day international pressure and events, not just the traditional primary practice we always think about when picturing social workers. International Social Workers usually do something other than everyday social work activities that we would picture in our mind. Most of their work comes from crossing national boundaries and heavily relies on contracts and exchanges between countries (Sanders, 1984; Sanders & Pedersen, 1984). Lyons (1999) says that the international social work practice runs even more profound, saying that it even includes cross-border practice and serious efforts to influence policy and practice on an international scale.
The rationale for Selecting the Topic
Individuals face various problems globally, and social work is a leading activity that helps mitigate these adversities’ impacts. Exploring this topic will give us a deeper understanding of the influence of social work globally and the various policies guiding the various activities involved. In particular, from infancy to senior years, social workers are there to help those in need. Therefore, understanding human psychology and behavior, as well as social, financial, and cultural institutions and their interplay, is essential for social workers to do their jobs effectively. Helping people get the resources they need, counseling and psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups, assisting communities in the provision or improvement of social and health services, and even taking part in the legislative process are just some of the many tasks that social workers perform.
Historical Perspective on how International Social Work Emerged
The field of social work was first established in Amsterdam in 1899 and quickly expanded across Europe and America at about the same time. In the 1920s, it spread to other parts of the globe, including South America, the Caribbean, India, and sections of Africa such as South Africa. Organizational push for social workers and social work educators came from the 1928 and 1929 founding of the International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Work, respectively. These two large organizations have taken the lead in bridging the gap between international social work and international development agencies. Internationally, social service providers have been involved and will continue to play a crucial role in advancing humanitarian aid, post-disaster development, rebuilding, and social and economic advancement.
As the field of social work expands internationally, more and more attention is being paid to it as a whole, as a single profession with many diverse branches throughout the globe.
Policies Guiding the Field of Practice
Those working in the field of human services today must have a global perspective to contribute to the worldwide spread of social and economic justice. Thus, the set rules and guiding principles offer Courts and social workers with IFSW’s framework to limit the possibility of certain legal jurisdictions ordering incorrect evaluations or interventions across borders. Employers must safeguard social workers’ safety and not ask them to work overseas illegally or unsafely. Social work is guided by various laws ranging from statutory laws and regulatory laws. In particular, under the regulatory law, numerous rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other federal and state agencies control social work practice. This includes human services, child protection, and mental health programs. Agencies at the federal and state levels can issue binding rules within the legal framework. On the other hand, under the statutory policies, many federal and state laws impact social workers. Examples include legislation requiring social workers to report suspected child and elderly maltreatment and other vulnerable individuals.
Population Served and a Profile of their Unique Needs
International social workers mainly serve vulnerable populations, including children, the homeless, illiterate individuals, and even military veterans. In particular, when it comes to conducting studies for the medical or social sciences, everyone under 18 is considered a protected category and a vulnerable group. Because of power imbalances and developmental limitations, children are at risk when participating in research. This is because children lack the independence and decision-making competence to provide informed permission to engage in research and comprehend and accept research risks. Another special group is the military veterans. However, when studying the effects of mental or physical illness, it is easy to forget about the community of veterans. The Veterans Administration claims that veterans’ willingness to provide informed permission for a research study or experiment may be impaired by their experience of sacrifice, obedience to authority figures, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The health problems, death, and homelessness rates among veterans are greater than among the general public, making them vulnerable. Additionally, there is a heightened danger of adverse health consequences among the homeless population, making this community vulnerable. And lastly, illiterate people are also considered vulnerable, as people with less knowledge are more prone to believe and spread false information because they are more susceptible to it.
Social Workers’ Setting
The social worker’s motivations are the starting point for all social work practice. Appreciation for the client is fundamental to social work education. As social creatures, humans need the guidance, nurturing, and protection of others for their healthy development, which social workers are well aware of. A social worker’s practice is grounded on recognizing the interconnectedness and interdependence of individuals within their social environment. The context in which a person resides dramatically influences how a social worker may best use their skills and expertise. According to the context, social workers may utilize one of two unique approaches. Multiple settings are used for social work practice, but the two most common are primary and secondary organizations. Primary settings are governmental and private social welfare organizations where licensed social workers play a central role as directors or managers.
Knowledge and Specialization for the Social Workers
Social workers are required to have the ability to conduct impartial assessments of each case by gathering information via observation, interviews, and research. A social worker’s ability to make educated judgments, locate the most valuable resources, and develop the most effective strategy for assisting clients is directly correlated to their ability to think critically and without bias. There are five primary types of knowledge that may be used to classify a social worker’s professional expertise. This includes theoretical, empirical, procedural, practice-based, and personal knowledge. There is a significant amount of overlap between these areas, despite the fact that each type is not a separate category.
Social Workers’ Activities and the Agencies they Work In
Social workers are constantly engaged in a wide variety of tasks, including but not limited to identifying individuals and communities that need assistance, analyzing the needs, circumstances, strengths, and support networks of clients in order to define those clients’ objectives, and so on. In addition, social workers assist their clients in adjusting to changes and difficulties that occur in their life, such as being sick, getting divorced, or losing their jobs. The social workers constantly perform their duties at rehabilitation centers, schools, healthcare facilities, hospices, and penal institutions, and they often collaborate with experts who work in other social service programs. They could assist youngsters struggling with behavioral issues, families living in poverty, or victims of domestic violence.
Examples of Micro, Mezzo, or Macro Practice Used in the Provision of Services
Generalists in the field of social work, like those in any discipline, need solid interpersonal and introspective abilities. Those who specialize in social work at the macro level may also work with communities and governments at the micro and mezzo levels.
Micro
Psychotherapy and individual therapy are also covered under the micro framework, as is military social work when a social worker assists military duty personnel in coping with the obstacles that come along with military life and accessing the benefits they are entitled to. Social workers on the front lines safeguard some of the most defenseless members of society, including young children, persons with mental disorders, victims of domestic abuse, and older adults, in a variety of settings and contexts throughout their lives.
Macro
Examples of macro social work activities include social work research, community-based education programs, policy analysis and lobbying, non-profit management and administration, and organizational development. Public sector organizations and charities often employ this social worker.
Mezzos
Mezzo social workers serve communities, organizations, or other sub-national entities. For instance, social workers of the intermediate level may be found working at institutions such as universities, healthcare facilities, community centers, and even jails and prisons. Mezzanine-level clinical social workers can organize patient care and make mental health diagnoses in a hospital environment. Furthermore, depending on the specifics of the mezzo’s license, they may also deal with criminals or victims in the criminal justice system or facilitate groups for those recovering from drug misuse.
Conclusion
When done well, social work may be a powerful agent for positive social change, community growth, and individual and group self-determination. Understanding human growth and behavior and the interplay of social, economic, and cultural institutions is essential for social workers. For the sake of the world’s most vulnerable people, we should promote the field of social work on a worldwide scale. It is essential to reinforce the numerous rules and guidelines to guarantee that all relevant areas are thoroughly investigated and that the service is of the highest quality.
References
Xu, Q. (2006). Defining international social work: A social service agency perspective. International Social Work, 49(6), 679–692. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872806069075
write