2019 Articles

Social Workers of the World Unite

Buck, Lesley

Social workers begin their professional careers in graduate school. In preparation, students need to educate themselves with regard to relevant social and political issues. The NASW Code of Ethics stresses the profession’s ethical obligation to actively work on behalf of the goals of social justice and social change. Graduate social work programs fall short of preparing students for the progressive role the profession requires. Social workers are uniquely positioned to converge various fields relevant to social change. Furthermore, social work is a political activity, as it either serves the status quo or the concerns of client populations. Students are required to reconcile the ethics of the profession and their graduate training through engaging in political and social action.