International social work - Essay Example

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK Introduction International Social work is a profession within social work that seeks to improve the well being of individuals and the society (Ealey, 2001). According to the Council on Social Work Education, the main purpose for this profession is to promote humanity and respect for human diversity (Fawcett, 2011). It also involved the prevention of the conditions that limit human rights and eradication of poverty as well as enhance quality life for all. Social workers play a key role in the provision of social services as well as engage in activities that influence social policies. In addition, they have the capability to look at various aspects of a problem. This may be from a personal to the societal perspective. Social workers serve clients by providing therapy and education; they also provide counseling services and linking clients with the suitable public or private resources. It is therefore important to raise awareness about the need for social workers as well as nurture professionals in this field (Grey & Webb, 2010). Discussion Social work began in the 19th century in the United States. It has been dedicated to train its practitioners professionally to become effective in doing their work as well as overcome the many social challenges that include poverty eradication, aging problems, and disruption of family life. The United States has the same social economic conditions that other countries are facing like the increasing growth of the younger generation, an aging population, loss of jobs, depletion of natural resources, human rights issues, poverty among others. In addition, social work educators aim at serving the profession future through the education of competent professionals at the baccalaureate, then master’s and doctoral level. The social workers programs that are accredited include 463 at baccalaureate level, 17 in candidacy, and 191 at the master’s level. Moreover, the workers try to come up with innovative approaches that help address the social, political, and economic situations of the marginalized areas. Moreover, they are involved in activities that improve the living standards of people. Additionally, they create an impact of the neoliberal policies on the fragile sectors of the society and the social injustices they may cause. The United States employs more than ten thousand social workers that are professionals. Research shows that more than 40% of the volunteers that deal with disaster mental health trained by the Red Cross are professional workers. Consequently, hundreds of social workers work in the national as well as the local offices. This includes two senators and seven U.S representatives. Today, organizations that have shown interest contribute to the vitality and the influence of social work profession. In addition, there are social work groups that involve in education and research as well organizations that specialize in healthcare leadership, child welfare, prisons, and courts among many other settings (Borrman, 2007). The American social welfare are found in the English Poor Laws. In the 19th century after the demise of feudalism, the poor were seen as a threat to the social order. This is the reason the government came up with the poor laws and organized systems that helped in the provision of care to them. In addition due to industrialization people migrated from the rural to the urban centers in search for jobs. The migration to urban areas throughout the western world led to the increase of social problems. At the same time, the rescue societies came on board to provide support and help in the reduction of poverty, diseases, and mental illness among other afflictions (Cox & Pawar, 2006). A new system was introduced in the late 1800 in the provision of aid to the social ills. Jane Addams the founder of the U.S settlement house movement developed houses in the poor marginalized areas for the volunteer middle-class social workers to improve of the low-income neighbors surrounding them. The early social workers provided the poor with the legal, educational, as well as health services. In addition, by the year 1913, the number of settlements that spread across the nation to improve the lives of the poor increased to four hundred and thirteen. By the 20th century, many schools of social work were established. In addition, after the civil war, there was rapid expansion of industrialization and the individual and community needs increased at an alarming rate. Moreover, new manifestations of racism came up and a rapid increase of immigration took place. New settlements were developed including those founded by the African American to provide services that were denied by the segregated agencies. The settlement activities expanded and led to the creation of national organizations like the Women’s Trade Union League, the National Consumers league among others. The settlement leaders also played a key role in ensuring that the social movements of that time maintained peace, encouraged civil rights and temperance. Additionally, settlements like the Chicago Commons developed programmes that provided education to the members. The profession of social work has grown at a fast rate and this is due to the economic and social changes that America is facing over the years. Social work still maintains its focus on the advocating for the needs of the most vulnerable segments of the society as well improving the well being of individuals and the community at large. Today, research shows that social workers are the largest percent of professional workers who work in the field of mental and family health services. Estimates show that by 2005, there were more than 600,000 social workers whose mission is to enhance human well being and help the needy meet their basic human needs. They put more emphasize on the empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed and those whose living standards are poor (Hugman, 2010). Social work in the United States has begun to take advantage of the opportunities in the 21st century and are learning and sharing internationally. Consequently, many resources support international social work education in the United States. These include all the materials needed for international social education, international development organizations that are available in the provision of social work as well as the development of partnership activities. In addition, the number of social workers continue to rise in the United States, leading in social justice by developing private and charitable organizations that serve individuals and communities need. As the American Citizens feel the need to give back to the society, many have enrolled in social work and this has become the most diverse healthcare field. In addition, opportunities in social work continue to grow at a fast rate compared to other professions. There are four levels of social work education in the U.S, all which are offered at the post secondary programs only. Social works may be degree holders, master’s degree recipients, Baccalaureate and social work PhD’s. In the early years, social work profession was provided by a few organizations and institutions that were devoted for the purpose of serving and helping the less fortunate people in the society (Hollis & Davis, 2006). Social workers and other community development specialists are facing some demands on international social work education. For instance, the environmental issues faced by social workers in the world. In the Unites States, no strong move advocates for teaching of environmental social work. There is a great concern in the way people utilize the available resources (Lavallete & Ferguson, 2007). Social workers need to mobilize and act on behalf of the other communities that have the greatest risk of losing their livelihoods due to the poor management and use of natural resources. Moreover, social workers are dealing with concerns like poor health of people due to the pollution of the environment and toxic waste dumping in communities. In addition, there is also a decline of water resources and other environmental hazards like lead paint. Research shows that studies to deal with the environment are lagging behind therefore making it difficult for the awareness and interests of the environmental issues. In addition, there is the concern of increase of chronic diseases like cancer. Most people especially the aging ones are becoming more prone to the chronic diseases. On the other hand, the youth are mostly suffering from diseases like aids. This therefore makes it difficult for the social workers to do their job effectively, as the sick are fighting for resources in the hospitals. Moreover, people’s living styles have changes and it is becoming hard for the social workers to manage and control diseases like obesity. Fast foods are growing at a fast rate and everybody seems to be eating fast foods. As much as it is cheaper to have the take away foods, it is very unhealthy and leads health related diseases (Link, 2005). Since the beginning of civil rights movements, racism is and will continue to be one of the major concerns in America. People still organize hate groups that often criticize others and what they do. The National Association of Social Workers define racism as the practice in which one group perceived to having power over others by many reasons like race, culture, nationality among others. Social workers in the U.S say there is a progress when it comes to racism but it still exists and a lot has to be done for changes to occur. Social workers are still striving to address racism as well as challenge the social injustice. Social workers on the other hand are expected to access the needed information, services, providing equality, and opportunity especially when making decisions for all people. Social workers should also be in the forefront in continuously acknowledging, recognizing, and addressing issues to deal with racism at an individual, societal, and institutional level. They are also are expected to promote competent work as well as do the research methodologies in areas faced with social injustice. Some of the media channels do not support social work because they regard social work as an occupation that can fit anyone. In addition, social workers are mostly known to work with the poor but in the real sense, they can work with community development firms, criminal justice, and international human rights among other firms. In addition, social workers do not gain the same respect as journalists in the media while addressing issues to deal with poverty and discrimination. Moreover, some of the agencies that deal with social work are not paid well therefore making social workers to be paid poorly. Most people are unaware of social work and therefore making this profession lack value. More emphasis and awareness should be done by the government to ensure that more people enroll in these programs as well as involve themselves in helping the need and challenged people in the society. In addition, the citizens of America are unaware of the social work practice available in the nation. Therefore, the agencies that deal with social work and the government should ensure they promote policies that are socially just and services at the community, national and international level ( Lawrence, Lyons, Simpson, & Huegler, 2009). Lastly, these concerns need to be addressed at the national level to ensure that all persons are in charge and people are aware of social work. More students should be enrolled in these programs to ensure that the needy people in the society are well taken care of. The United State of America and the United Kingdom both advocate for social work education with the emphasis of helping the poor. In addition, they both practice the selective model where social work is selective for those people who choose to be social workers. In addition, they both have quality codes that assure the provision of standard education. In addition, they affiliate social work education with higher institutions only. Social service programs have expanded in both the private and public sectors. In addition, the number of social workers has increased significantly. The number of workers who have trained professional in social work education is also seen to increase significantly in both states. In addition, some of the challenges faced by the social workers in the two states are similar for instance a rapidly growing and aging population (Watts, 1995). Some of the differences revolve around language and culture found in the two states. The language of social workers is different and confusing between the two countries. In addition, various term are used interchangeably. The term social work, social care, social services are all used interchangeably in the UK. Some of the words have a similar objective but all mean the same thing. For instance, the U. S refers to golden handshake, which is commonly used in the UK as Loan Forgiveness Programmes. Moreover, the United States through the Council on Social Work Education accredits both the undergraduate and graduate studies. Their policies are all round and include all people in the society. On the other hand, the United Kingdom provides Diplomas for social work and maintains anti-discriminatory standards. Moreover, social work began early in the United States and became a profession during the twentieth century compared to the United Kingdom. Between the first and the second world wars, social work schools were widely established first in Latin America then the United Kingdom. Since then, social work education has spread to other parts of the world like Asia and Africa. Another difference is seen in schools and social work where social work training in the United Kingdom is part of the curriculum of social studies offered in universities and colleges. On the other hand, in the Unites States, there are post graduate divisions for social work education (Lishman, 2012). Moreover, the number of enrolment by students in social work education in the United States is higher compared to the low numbers of enrollment in the United Kingdom. Consequently, some of the characteristics of training in the United Kingdom are the provision of theoretical as well as practical training. This can be done after the completion of theoretical courses or can be done concurrently with the classroom work. However, in the United States, laboratory agencies are provided for with few students for training but most of them are trained in selected and available agencies in the community. In addition, there is supervision in practical fieldwork where a trained social worker is responsible for the training session (Gore, 2003). Conclusion In summary, social work education is gaining awareness with more programs being created to reach out people globally as well as educating students through various traditional and non- traditional approaches to social work (Healey, 2003). The main strategy for social work education is to expand the education of social work to meet the needs of the growing population in the society. The revolution of Information technology is also helping spread to huge masses of people about social work education. As many schools offering social work place their students in international settings, and the faculty exchange programs between their affiliated schools this helps increase the number of students in the field of social work education. The future of this profession is bright as long as people are made aware of the programs associated with social work education. It is important for people to help one another and through this profession; a needy person is helped and celebrates life again). References Banks, S. and Nohr, K. 2012. Practising Social Work Ethics Around the World, Abingdon: Routledge. Borrmann, S. 2007. International social work: Social problems, cultural issues and social work education. Opladen: Barbara Budrich. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) - International ... (n.d.). Retrieved May 21, 2015. Cox, D. and Pawar, M. 2006. International Social Work: Issues, Strategies and Programs, Boston: Sage. Ealey, L.. 2001. International Social Work: Professional Action in an Interdependent World, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Fawcett, B. 2011. International Perspectives on Mental Health, Basingstoke: Palgrave.  Gray, M. and Webb, S. (2010) International Social Work, London: Sage. Gore, M. 2003. 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