Introduction
Social work was a profession during the delivery of a lecture in 1915 by Abraham Flexner. Regarding those periods, social work had no uniformity in training and practice, which Flexner claimed is the essential prerequisite for any discipline aspiring to a professional status. His speech triggered monumental changes in social work education and training, which was highly contentious.
Social work changes
The social work community was forced to improve its training programs, credentialing and evidence-based practices by Flexner’s criticism. Social work education has also significantly broadened and standardized at the bachelor’s and master’s levels due to licensing requirements with credentialing, which help legitimize this field into a professional one. Nevertheless, despite these developments and conceptual advances, there are still differences between micro-level clinical social work focused on empowering individuals rather than macro-level reform aimed at systems change. Specialization has also, in part, separated the profession. Social work must also be more uniform among the various clinical counselling, community development, policy advocacy, and other specialties. Instead of micro versus macro hierarchies, what is required in the field is a both/and approach that connects individual clinical support to broader initiatives for social policy reforms toward equity.
Reactions to Flexner’s Speech
It was angered by the insulting devaluation of contributions made by social workers. It inspired reform by denouncing standardized training or licensing requirements and Flexner’s 1915 declaration that social work was not a profession. Although he was factually correct in his depiction, this annihilated the worth of substantial work. His speech promoted reforms that instituted social work education alongside standard bachelor’s and master’s programs, which raised the credentials. Professional associations also implemented better training standards, new credentialing programs and licensing regulations (Sophia & Blackledge, 2017). Using this performance, the speech eventually assisted in promoting crucial changes that proved to be broadly significant towards legitimizing social work as a profession. Nevertheless, his concentration on legitimacy should have considered the other skills and duties currently valued in that profession.
Bridging the Micro-Macro Divide
The social work practice’s perpetual problem is finding a balance between interventions for individual clients and efforts at societal change. Flexner’s speech transformed clinical casework into a victim of beliefs that social change impacts were absent, yet micro and macro need not be mutually exclusive (Moya et al., 2018). The integrated approach is dealing with peoples’ needs at the same time as structural reforms. If trained, social workers can evaluate how social and economic environmental factors limit clients’ choices, therefore targeting interventions at both micro and macro levels. The demise of clinical and policy work hierarchies will ensure that social workers, irrespective of specialization, appreciate their collective responsibility to push for societal changes.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Contemporary social work attempts to reflect the heterogeneity of communities and provide equal opportunity in accessing resources and services. This world is the opposite of Flexner’s era, which had none. The range of his speech was almost completely limited to the problem of legitimacy, and he paid no attention whatsoever to racial, gender or socioeconomic representation in early profession (Moya et al., 2018). Contemporary social workers should eliminate such deficits by combating prejudices and barriers and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition to the benefit for disadvantaged people, creating a reputation of credibility in serving vulnerable populations also results from such an approach. These ethical values should be continuously controlled by policy and curriculum evaluation since social work has to maintain a profession that seeks justice and makes the world more tolerant.
Conclusion
Even though Flexner’s speech was severely criticized, it led to significant reformations in the social work profession. However, his desire for legitimacy ignored the broader social implications and responsibilities. In the future, social work has to ensure that it proceeds with a shared set of professional standards, one which is founded on values relating to the quest for justice. Sustained development is a middle road between individual clinical support and systemic reform.
References
Moya, E. M., Chavez-Baray, S. M., Martinez, O., Mattera, B., & Adcox, C. (2018). Bridging the Gap Between Micro and Macro Practice to Address Homelessness in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region: Implications for Practitioners and Community Stakeholders. Reflections (Long Beach, Calif.), 24(1), 102–118. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5967658/
Sophia, S., & Blackledge, J. (2017). Social Worker Perceptions on Education for Generalist and Social Worker Perceptions on Education for Generalist and Specialist Roles. https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1714&context=msw_papers
Tosone, C. (2016). Clinical Social Work Practice and Education: What Would Flexner Think Now? Journal of Social Work Education, 52(sup1), S28–S37. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2016.1174649
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