Summary:
What is social work? Importance of social services, importance of social work, importance of research in social work, importance of social work in the community and much more.
“I am not just me, I am the voice of millions of my repressed sisters and brothers, who have been exploited, alienated, and tyrannized by the entitled bullies of the world through centuries – whether I live long or not, so long as I live, I’ll live for them – I’ll live for them, I’ll work for them, I’ll die for them.” ― Abhijit Naskar
Not everyone on this planet is blessed with abundance. Many are born into sheer misery, poverty, or bondage. They seem to be entrapped in a system specifically designed to work against them. They long for freedom or even a bit of relief, but there’s hardly anything they can do to alleviate their worries.
However, some have found a way out of their world of perpetual gloom. They have been fortunate enough to come across a few individuals who have worked selflessly and tirelessly to provide a good present with a future for such downtrodden classes of people. These individuals have given up their unnecessary luxuries for the betterment of all humanity. Such individuals are colloquially known as social workers. The present society thrives on the need and importance of social services for there is a large section of the populace that is in dire need of the same.
Some of us students are unable to survive without giving to others. But there are those who make it a life’s goal to help not just individuals, but whole communities for the greater good. They strive to bring equality, justice, and brotherhood among all sentient beings on the dirtball we call home. In other words, a social worker is someone who dedicates their life to helping individuals, families, and communities improve their quality of life through counseling, advocacy, and reporting.
Students are the nation’s future. In the near future, students will be those who create our nation. It is accurate to state that the future of our nation rests with the kids who are enrolled in classes today. When kids become adults and professionals, they will work to improve the nation. Therefore, these students should be able to interact socially, comprehend other people’s concerns, and work toward improving society as a whole.
When they assist with social services or take part in social work, students feel satisfied. The students believe they play a part in society. They believe that society depends on them, and they are content with this. Students frequently complain that their country is corrupt, that there is no system, and that it is not worth living in.
However, when students engage in social activities, they may believe that they are contributing to the good of the nation. They believe that their efforts are contributing to the nation’s prosperous future. They will be content in the knowledge that at least they did something to advance the future of the nation. It will satisfy their heart and mind.
They may provide direct counseling and assistance or work on behalf of the community to achieve legal justice or to highlight social injustice. Essentially, social workers help people change their lives for the better. Social workers are found in every facet of community life and although anyone can become a social worker in their own right, it is well-advised to rather have graduation in social work. The importance of research in social work stems up here, for the one with research in social work can better identify and solve issues that plague the society and the populace at large.
Being educated in the field of social work will make the social worker more competent and well-equipped to analyze and solve challenges. The degree will also teach social work theory, methods, and techniques that otherwise a person would have to learn through experience alone.
It is worth noting that one simply does not become a social worker by declaration any more than one can declare someone to be a physician or an attorney. Similarly, nurses share some of the components of the social work skill set, but that doesn’t make a nurse qualified to be a social worker any more than years of medical social work make a social worker qualified to give injections or prescribe medicines.
There are a variety of areas a social worker may choose to give their service in. They may work in administration and management, advocacy, community organization, child welfare, de-addiction, elderly welfare, developmental disabilities, healthcare, public welfare, research, and more. They also work in different areas of community life like schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, elected offices, private practices, prisons, the military, corporations, and numerous public and private agencies.
Social workers aim towards helping members of society who are vulnerable, oppressed, or marginalized. They work directly with, and on behalf of, a wide variety of populations. Some of the communities they work for include,
- Children and adolescents
- LGBTQA individuals’
- Medical patients
- Refugees and immigrants
- Couples and families
- Veterans
- Individuals who are incarcerated or in the criminal justice system.
- Individuals suffering from addiction.
They can fathom the importance of social work in the community and contribute to the same in myriad ways. Lastly, it is easy to confuse a social worker with a social activist. However, they are two different activities that pass by very closely and can sometimes intermingle. To clarify, a social worker is someone professional, gone through the training process, and has a degree in social work.
Meanwhile, a social activist is someone working for bringing change in society and can be any professional or a commoner with a cause to fight for. Fundamentally speaking, activism is the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.
On the other hand, social work is work carried out by trained personnel to alleviate the conditions of those in need of help or welfare. Also, not all social workers choose to be activists.
