Areas of Social Work Practice

The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and to help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A social worker should not only work with the client to help them navigate the injustice but to work towards changing that injustice.

Learners will be introduced to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and how to apply and utilize the code to navigate ethical dilemmas and decision-making processes. The NASW Code of Ethics includes these core values of social work:

• Service: helping people in need and addressing social problems;
• Social Justice: challenging social injustice
• Dignity and Worth of The Person: respecting every person
• Importance of Human Relationships: recognizing the central importance of relationships to a person’s well being and as a vehicle of change;
• Integrity: behaving in a trustworthy manner, and
• Competence: practicing within one’s area of competence and continually developing and enhancing one’s professional expertise.