Social work policy practice is a crucial aspect of the social work profession. It involves using social work skills to propose and change policies in order to achieve the goal of social and economic justice1. This practice is integral to social work in all settings, including local, state, and national levels, as well as within micro, mezzo, and macro levels of intervention 1.

Social workers have historically played prominent roles in shaping national policies. They bring their person-in-environment perspective and ethical code to their work, addressing inequality and inequities 2. Despite this policy imperative, there is room for improvement in the extent to which social workers actively work to influence policy and address the policy implications of their work 2.

Strategies for social workers’ policy engagement include bringing social work’s professional expertise into policymaking processes, doing good and talking about it, presenting facts and figures, organizing the profession, networking, and “normalizing” policy engagement in social work 3.

In essence, social workers can become change agents by actively engaging in policy practice, advocating for just social welfare policies, and utilizing various strategies to influence policy. This allows them to make a significant impact on social and economic justice, thereby fulfilling the profession’s goals and mission 1,2,3

1.pearsonhighered.com   2 socialworkers.org  3.link.springer.com  4 academic.oup.com  5.academic.oup.com

Social workers help people handle day-to-day challenges and overcome behavioral, emotional, and mental health issues. According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), an organization that supports social workers and develops professional standards and social policies, social work’s primary mission is to enhance the well-being of all people, with a focus on those suffering the effects of oppression, poverty, and vulnerability. - Social Work Guide 

NASW Core Values in Social Work

Like most professionals, social workers adhere to a set of core values that guide their interactions with clients, help practitioners understand their obligations to their clients, and assist in resolving conflicts and ethical dilemmas that may arise. The six social work values contained in the code’s ethical principles provide the framework.

• 1. Service

  Social workers use the knowledge, skills, and values acquired through training and experience to address social problems and help people in need. Social workers place service for their clients above their self-interests, which may include offering pro bono assistance from time to time.

• 2. Social Justice

  Social workers are often tasked with challenging social injustices, particularly for clients living in poverty and facing such issues as discrimination and unemployment. Social workers must exhibit sensitivity to culturally and ethnically diverse populations and assist them in accessing resources, services, access to opportunities, and information that helps combat oppression.

• 3. Dignity and Worth of the Individual

  Social workers treat each client with dignity, care, and respect, while enabling clients’ abilities and opportunities to improve their own circumstances. Social workers also hold an obligation to the broader society and strive to resolve conflicts and remove obstacles through social responsibility.

• 4. Importance of Human Relationships

  The importance of human relationships guides social work and affects personal progress and societal change. Social workers take a purposeful approach to building partnerships that promote positive interactions, strong relationships, and well-being at the individual, family, social group, organization, and community levels.

• 5. Integrity

  Trust occupies a central and crucial role in social work. Clients and society alike benefit most when social workers act in concert with their profession’s ethical principles and standards, mission, and values. By adhering to ethical practices, social workers conduct themselves with honesty and integrity.

• 6. Competence

  Social workers carry a responsibility to act within their competency level and pursue continuous professional development. The NASW provides numerous resources for social workers to increase their professional knowledge, enhance and apply their skills, and contribute to the knowledge base of social work.

The NASW Code of Ethics 

What is the Social Work Code of Ethics?

The 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly approved the social work Code of Ethics, with revisions made in 2017. Codified as a resource for social work values and professional conduct, the code consists of four sections: a summary of the core values and mission of social work; a guide to navigating ethical dilemmas and issues; a description of the ethical principles that inform social work practice; and an outline of the ethical standards binding social worker conduct.

The Code of Ethics sets a high standard of conduct for social workers and provides the basis for the public and profession to hold social workers accountable.

The Importance of a Code of Ethics in Social Work

The NASW places social work ethics at the profession’s core and lists six purposes of its Code of Ethics:

• Identification of core social work values
• Summary of broad ethical principles and specific ethical standards that should be used to guide social work practice
• Identification of conflicting professional obligations and ethical uncertainties
• Provision of ethical standards to which the public can hold social workers accountable
• A pathway for new social workers to the profession’s ethical principles and standards, mission, and values
• Articulation of standards to which members of the profession can hold social workers accountable

The Code of Ethics applies to all practitioners, along with students, who learn about social work values while pursuing their bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees on campus or through distance education.

Sure, here are some examples of social work practice models:

1. Narrative Therapy: This model is often employed to provide objectivity to a client and the current issues they’re facing¹. It’s a collaborative talk therapy approach that helps clients address issues by taking narrative control over their own life stories².

2. Crisis Intervention Model: This model is typically used when a client is experiencing a severe or critical issue¹. It’s a seven-step treatment plan for clients in a state of acute mental health crisis².

3. Task-Centered Practice: This model is focused on specific tasks that need to be accomplished in order to alleviate a problem¹.

4. Integrative Social Work: This model combines different theories and models to fit the client’s needs¹.

5. Solution-Focused Therapy: This model emphasizes solutions rather than problems and encourages clients to think about the future and what they want to change³.

6. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This model helps clients understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected and how they can manage or change negative thought patterns to improve their mental health⁴.

Each of these models provides a different approach to helping clients, depending on their individual needs and circumstances.

Learn more:

1. saybrook.edu  2. thebestschools.org  3. socialworkguide.org  4. onlinemswprograms.com  5. socialworklicensemap.com