It occurred to me recently that it might not be obvious why SJS focuses more on politics rather than social work content. SJS is not against social work content, we think it is important and try to work it in as much as possible. I come from a point of view that asks what isn’t social work. After almost 3 years of studying for my MSW, I can easily rattle off what is being taught as “social work”, but I have come to see that the ideology of the profession extends far beyond the artificial boundaries it has created for itself. This is especially true in politics.
Stony Brook’s School of Social Welfare is an excellent program. Politics and Policy are at the heart of the curriculum. Anyone who has taken a Class with Dr. Farrington Or Dr. Blau can attest as much, but I want to take this deeper. I have heard that in the good ole’ days social workers could choose a path to concentrate on. Yet, even at the School of Social Welfare, micro classes and micro internships, outweight the time spent on politics and policy. There is no option to swing the balance toward an education that prepares social workers for a career in the macro arena. Why is social work dominated by micro practice?
In New York, the social work licensing board requires students to complete a certain curriculum in order to obtain said license. In addition, there simply are not enough macro social work positions. Who should be held accountable for this; should we blame New York State? I am afraid the blame falls squarely on top of the profession itself. I understand the need for the licensing board, but social work has allowed itself to be defined by outside bodies, leaving its internal advocacy efforts at a minimum. Have we forgotten that this is a profession started on the ideals of macro practice? It’s sad that social workers need to advocate just to obtain the autonomy to define their own profession, but this is the harsh reality. Social work leadership is far removed from the lives of its practitioners. Although the NASW is identifiable, it is not a daily part of the lives of social workers or their practices. There is no movement with which to identify, nor a centralized structure to creates the power needed to define the profession internally.
There has never been a time where social workers were more needed in the political landscape. The parties are polarized and stagnant; the platforms are outdated and failing. SJS concentrates more on Policy and Politics because we recognize that social workers already have outstanding training in micro practice and will generally continue to sharpen their skills throughout their careers. What we are missing is the forum to enhance our policy skills post graduation even as we continue to grow into our micro practice. These are not mutually exclusive goals. Micro and macro practice continually intertwine with each other. To concentrate on one without addressing the other leads to our current crisis; social workers have the skills but not the capital to realize our lofty ideals. If SJS becomes a destination for news about social work, our mission has completely failed. Our vision of SJS is news BY social workers, because we continue to believe that there is no aspect of human life that does not involve the principles of our profession.
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Well said Matthew! When I was started graduate school 17 years ago……the choice was Direct Practice or Management. At that time I chose Direct Practice and I still would as I want a very hands on approach to working with clients.
If I choose to go into Mangement or a Macro element in social work in the future, I would still want to be hands on with clients-that is the core of social work.
Politics to me is very corrupt and cut-throat and I do not know many social workers, BSW or MSW graduates that have that mentality or chracteristic in them-if they did, I do not think they would have gone into social work to begin with.
I do believe BSW and MSW graduates can be macro professionally, but most that I know started of micro. Social work to me has become way to clinically oriented which is not how the profession began-it was very grassroots in orientation and I think it is time to return in some ways to this.
I agree with Mathew 100%. I had clinical training, and the direction Social Work is moving towards, I think, is that of filling in for Psychologists. I still don’t understand the importance of the Clinical and the three years I have to endure to make a few more bucks and have yet another examination. I do know that it has to do with billing and it’s tragic that not one Body out there really represents Social Worker’s interests. If I wanted to be a Clinician I would have gone into Psychology not Social Work. I feel more and more that I wasted a graduate degree because I will not be doing what I want which is macro social justice. I cannot get a job, so I cannot pay for the schooling I had unless I do go into clinical area. I think it’s valuable but not the most valuable part of social work. We have gotten so far away from the origin of social work! The policy makers active in the Social Work arena just don’t have the punch, the humph that it takes to deal with our corrupt political culture. I find it sad that our national headquarters are a small room in the APA’s big shiny building in downtown DC. Where does the money that is paid into the NASW go? I am not in any way doubting the integrity of anyone but I do question why Social Workers are divided and confused and more importantly, without a coherent national policy. What applies in California does not apply in NY or Maryland or even Florida. The exams are very clinically inclined, etc… I am competing in a field of Mental Health Practitioners, Marriage and Family Counselors and of course Psychologists. Is there any wonder that in certain parts of the country where there is a glut of professional clinicians, Social Workers get left out? We should be working in the communities, not in in a chair a la Freud! Another issue that I find annoying and that I unfortunately see too often in Social Worker boards and commentaries is the utter lack of attention people pay to the grammar, the sentence structure and the overall organization of their commentaries. People with Graduate Degrees should be able to write clear sentences with no grammatical errors (and I don’t just mean the its vs it’s) or typos. It reflects badly on our profession in general. To finalize, Mathew, what do you think can be done in concrete terms and in a way that will enable us to practice the beautiful calling that is that of being a professional Social Worker, one that distinguished us many years ago from “the ladies who lunch and do philanthropy” and which required radical steps by the then real Social Workers who wanted defined and clear delineation for the profession. Can we do that and still make a living wage? As an unemployed Social Worker that does not have the Clinical in the title I often repent having spent all the money and effort I did to not be able to find a job that will enable me to pay back my school loans. But I hope that one day soon I will be able to be part of the working force and the Social Workers who are clamoring we get back to the roots of our profession. Thank you
Manuela Mage, LMSW, ACW
Manuela, I so agree with you! If I wanted to do therapy on a full time basis I would have studied psychology NOT social work. We as a profession need to return to the origins of the profession and not be required to take an exam for macro work.
I did therapy with youth for 14 months and realized it is not what I wanted. I like case management which is more oriented to the social work profession I feel. I love group facilitation and support groups-one does not need to pass an exam to do either, but does need education, experience and supervision.
Part of it is a calling, having the right temperment and a willingness to make a difference. That to me is so much more important than passing an exam!
Different licensure tracks. Without a license, a profession carries no weight or legal standing amongst other professions. But not all licenses need be clinical- an admin or macro license can exist. In Maryland, there are 2 tiers of advanced licensure- an LCSW for the admin types, and LCSW-C for clinical….but you can guess where the jobs are….
The good thing if you want to be political- there is no degree in “Politician.” Social workers can be politicians- Barbara Mikulski in US Senate is good example. You just need to work your parties, get involved in grass roots organziing. That’s the great thing about US republic- if you want to be a politician and make policy, get involved, run for office. Don’t need a special degree for that.
Vikki, thanks for the kind words. Manuela, the solution is the consolidation of power within the profession. To do so you need a few things, one is a information dissemination system that brings social workers into the same space. This will help for mass organization and ease leadership. The next step an macro initiatives as a profession. Merely becoming politicians is not enough Michael, a social worker would still have to belong to a political party that does not hold the interests and platform of social work as primary. Social work needs a political party. In addition, the NASW must step up its role as a union, bringing in more then 30% of social workers nationwide and offered some benefits to joining the organization.
Out of all those things, the political party is my greatest hope. It can be based on the actual knowledge of policy and the empathy to understand where to direct and make changes. It can take everything that is great about social work and employ it, especially the code of ethics.
There are times when I feel ashamed of our profession and belive that we have lost our identity. As a profession we no longer seem to know who we are. We need to be a much stronger voice in the political arena and to speak up for what is right and just and to be a voice for those who have no voice-the profession needs to be an instrument of change.
We can get that back Tom, we just have to build something that lasts and brings everyone together
Social workers are part of society- to seperate us out as seperate political party would only marginalize the profession as a bunch of cranks. No profession has its own party- they use lobby groups to influence the process, and participate in the process as individuals. That is what social work needs to do. Remeber, too– different social workers believe in different approaches to help people. I firmly believe in Conservative values and libertarian views of government– I doubt that is the mainstream for most social workers, but for those of us in front-line DSS work is actually far more common than you’d think. But I wouldn’t join a pro-government program social work party, either- I’d actively oppose it.
I didn’t say the platform would be pro-government, I said social work party. You always assume you know what I have in mind:) I am thinking fiscally conservative without attacking woman, and minority groups. I hate the fact that being a social worker automatically makes people assume that I would support increased spending on social programs which clearly does not work. That is what we have become, it is rather sad. I think we can do better, and I don’t see any reason we can’t be a political party, social work is a rather special profession.
Cool! Sorry to misjudge you- so many social workers are socialists. Third parties are doomed to irrelevancy- that’s why my heart was Ron Paul, my vote was Romney. But– please don’t think social workers can’t influence politics. It’s as easy as voluntering in local campaigns, networking…and moving up. Don’t doubt that power- you got, I got it, EVERY social worker got it (even if my grammar sucked!!)
They cannot be doomed forever, and being doomed is not a reason not try. Just so you know my family owns a small business, much of views came from that perspective. Neither part has a clue about what small business needs, or they just don’t care…. Imagine social workers as savvy business men and woman, plus politicians actually following a code of conduct!
That’s why you have to participate, actively, in the party (Republican is best! HA!!) of your choice. We can make a difference- social workers are citizens and a part of society— nothing can take that away from us, and that is our true power.