Study Guide for Abolition and Social Work

Introduction to Abolition and Social Work

• Definition: Abolitionist principles in social work seek to radically reimagine care for communities beyond policing and criminalization.

  • Context: The growing call for systemic change emerged in response to the large protest movements in 2020 that highlighted the disparity faced by marginalized communities in the U.S.

Historical Context and Background

• Movement for Black Lives: Years of activism, including resistance to state violence, have built towards an increased focus on mutual aid and abolition.

• Role of Social Work: In the aftermath of social uprisings, the profession's engagement with policing was scrutinized both as an alternative to police practice and as part of a broken system.

• Founding of NAASW: The Network to Advance Abolitionist Social Work was created to challenge the compatibility of social work with policing and push for community-centered safety practices.

The Evolution of Abolitionist Social Work

• Previous Movements:

  • Social Workers Against Criminalization (SWAC): Formed in 2015, this group aimed to address social work's role in criminalization, especially post incidents of police violence against Black individuals.

• Advancements: NAASW aims at a new social work model that is inherently anti-carceral and informed by a growing abolitionist movement.

Defining Abolitionist Social Work

• Contested Term: The term "abolitionist social work" is still in early stages and comes with debates regarding its meanings and implications.

  • Key Concepts: Connecting abolitionist political principles with practical applications in social work.

  • Long-term Goals: To integrate abolition in social work theory and challenges professional norms.

Principles of Abolitionist Social Work

• Commitment to Anti-Carceral Practices:

  • Definition: Anti-carceral social work rejects the ideology and partnership with systems replicating societal control and oppression.

  • Framework by Leah Jacobs and Mimi E. Kim: It emphasizes social work's recognition of its own historical roles and against punitive models.

• Anti-Oppression Approach:

  • A commitment to uphold dignity and care for individuals of all identities particularly those marginalized due to systemic hierarchies.

• Anti-Capitalist Values:

  • Influenced by thinkers such as Ruth Wilson Gilmore, an abolitionist framework is rooted in fighting the core societal structures perpetuating violence and inequality.

• Decolonization Commitment:

  • Learning from Indigenous rights movements, it promotes sovereignty and the dismantling of colonial legacies.

• Deprofessionalization:

  • Social work's historical gatekeeping must give way to community self-determination and accessibility to resources and power.

• Analysis of Systems Over Individuals:

  • Shifting focus from individual pathologies caused by societal structures to systemic analysis of suffering and injustice.

• Solidarity Over Charity:

  • Social work that centers relationships and communal support rather than transactional charity, emphasizing interdependence and collective power.

• Building Life-Affirming Institutions:

  • Advocating for communities that promote wellness and reject punitive measures.

• Self-Determination and Autonomy:

  • Empowering communities through autonomy rather than control.

• Nonpunitive Approaches to Harm:

  • Understanding that punitive responses do not address harm effectively and promoting healing justice methodologies as alternatives.

Implementing Abolitionist Social Work

• Frameworks for Engagement:

  • Assessing strategies relative to their status with the state:

  • Against the State: Work aimed at dismantling the harms of state systems must focus on abolishing institutions of incarceration.

  • Outside the State: Creating supportive community structures that do not rely on state services (exemplified by mutual aid and transformative justice).

  • Inside and Around the State: Understanding the complexities of working within state systems while attempting to limit their oppressive impacts.

• Assessing Abolitionist Alignment:

  • A resource developed by various abolitionist organizations includes questions to analyze the alignment of a strategy with abolitionist goals.

  • Key Questions include accountability to affected individuals, the potential for material relief, the impact on system legitimacy, and the focus on structural issues.

Models and Organizations Promoting Abolitionist Principles

• Noteworthy Organizations:

  • Example organizations exemplifying abolitionist principles include:

  • Adalah Justice Project - Focused on Palestinian rights and activism.

  • Creative Interventions - A transformative justice organization aiding in addressing harm without reliance on punitive systems.

  • Justice Committee - Advocating against police violence and supporting impacted individuals and families.

  • Movement for Family Power - Working against the punitive foster system and asserting family integrity.

Conclusion

• Future Directions: The advocates in NAASW are eager to push for continuous dialogue in the social work field toward the abolitionist horizon, developing principles and grassroots movements.