social welfare exam 1

Mary Richmond

• Charity Organization Society

• era: late 1800s - early 1900s

• level: Micro-practice

Mary Richmond and COS: philosophy

Scientific, systematic casework — assess individuals’ needs and match to resources efficiently

Mary Richmond & COS: what population was served

primarily served poor white urban families

Mary Richmond & COS: method

Assess-diagnose-treat; Social Diagnosis (1917); charity coordination

Jane Addams

• Settlement houses

• era: late 1800s - early 1900s

• level: Macro-practice

Jane Addams & Settlement Houses: philosophy

Poverty is structural; workers must live in community and advocate for systemic change

Jane Addams & Settlement Houses: who was served

Primarily poor urban immigrants and workers

Jane Addams & Settlement Houses: method

Community immersion, labor advocacy, legislative reform (child labor laws, etc)

Black settlement houses

• era: late 1800s - mid 1900s

• level: both micro and macro-practice

Black settlement houses: philosophy

Self-determination and community uplift for Black Americans excluded from white-run services

Black settlement houses: method

Building parallel institutions: schools, clinics, settlement houses

6 Core Values (National Association of Social Work)

Service

Social Justice

Dignity & Worth

Human Relationships

Integrity

Competence

Social Justice

Challenging injustice and pursuing equity

Dignity & Worth

Respecting inherent value of all people

Human relationships

Recognizing relationships as vehicles for change

Service

Elevating service to others above self-interest

Competence

Practicing within areas of expertise

Integrity

Behaving in a trustworthy manner

John Rawls: Justice as Fairness: Liberty Principle

Each person should have the greatest possible set of basic liberties (speech, assembly, voting, due process) compatible with everyone else having the same liberties

• relates to rights

John Rawls: Justice as Fairness: Fair Equality of Opportunity

Positions of advantage and authority must be open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity — not just formally open, but genuinely accessible

• relates to access

John Rawls: Justice as Fairness: Difference Principle

Social and economic inequalities are acceptable only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society. Inequality must work to everyone’s advantage

• relates to redistribution

Rawls: Principle of redress

Rawls also argued that undeserved inequalities (based on birth, luck, natural endowments) should be compensated for by society.

Applying the Difference Principle: three missions

• Prioritizing the Vulnerable

• Addressing systematic inequity

• Fostering social justice

Difference Principle: Prioritizing the Vulnerable/Least Advantaged

Focus efforts and resources on individuals and groups experiencing the greatest need and disadvantage

Difference Principle: Addressing systemic inequity

Advocate for structural changes and policies that mitigate underserved inequalities and promote fair opportunities

Difference Principle: fostering social justice

Strive to create a society where any existing inequalities ultimately serve to benefit the most marginalized members

Addressing Injustice: Micro-Level Interventions

Social workers directly support individuals by connecting them to immediate resources and providing therapeutic services, helping to mitigate the direct impacts of systemic injustice

• case management —> case manager

• clinical support —> clinical social worker

Addressing Injustice: Macro-Level Advocacy

Social workers also advocate for broad policy changes to address the root causes of injustice, ensuring that societal inequalities ultimately benefit the least advantaged, as per Rawls’ Difference Principle.

• economic justice —> community organizer

• systemic reform —> policy advocate

Examples of case management in practice (micro-level advocacy)

Connecting a client to housing assistance, food banks, job training programs, and advocating for school support for their children (ex: free lunch, tutoring)

Examples of clinical support in practice (micro-level advocacy)

Provide counseling for a client and their children’s depression and anxiety (for example), and offer family therapy to strengthen coping mechanisms and resilience.

Examples of economic justice in practice (macro-level advocacy)

Advocate for policies that ensure living wages, secure benefits, and robust unemployment situations for something like a client’s job displacement crisis.

Examples of systemic reform in practice (macro-level advocacy)

Champion affordable housing initiatives, expanded healthcare access, and worker protection laws to create a more equitable society for all

Social Worker Role: Case manager (micro-social practice) - general

Resource broker, care coordinator, case advocate

—> focuses on coordinating resources and practical support to address immediate needs and stabilize a client’s living situation

Tasks of a case manager (micro-practice)

• Assess client needs

• Maintain a least restrictive environment

• Coordinate care

• Promote client rights

Case manager task: assess client needs

Identify presenting problems, strengths, and barriers through comprehensive intake and biopsychosocial assessment

ex: identifying a client’s job loss, housing instability, depression, and children’s school struggles

Case manager task: least restrictive environment

Maintain clients in the least restrictive environment possible; advocate for client autonomy and self-determination

ex: helping a client to remain in their home rather than entering a shelter, supporting their independence and parenting role

Case manager task: coordinate care

Identify and connect clients to needed resources; coordinate care among service providers and community agencies

Ex: connecting a client to SNAP/ET, Medi-Cal, America’s Job Centers, and therapy for them and their children

Case manager task: promote client rights

Advocate for clients’ legal, civil, and human rights throughout the service delivery process.

Ex: advocating for a client’s rights to benefits, fair housing, and school accomodations for their children

Social Worker Role: Clinical Social Worker (micro-social practice) - general

A clinical social worker provides clinical interventions to address mental health challenges, foster emotional well-being, and build coping mechanisms.

Tasks:

• facilitate individual, group, or family therapy

• prevention strategies

• Bio-psycho-social assessment

• Evidence-Informed methods