Looking Toward the Future of Social Work Practice
First Steps Toward Building a Bold Agenda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18060/28757Keywords:
future of social work practice, population effects, communication effects, community effects, care organization effectsAbstract
Major changes are underway in American society and in social work practice itself. This paper overviews these changes, examines their potential for impact upon future social work practice, and outlines ways that the field can adapt to them. The intent is to stimulate broad discussions in the field about developing a bold agenda for social work practice in the future. The field of social work can respond to these changes by taking a series of key steps: transforming initial preparation; modifying supervision and internships; creating centers of excellence in social work practice; fostering opportunities to engage in policy development; deploying the Grand Challenges and their emerging solutions; and transforming how the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) defines standards for training and practice. To undertake these initiatives, a field-wide task force will be needed in the future to discuss, develop, and implement this bold agenda.
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