Download The Quest for Professionalization

The Quest for
Professionalization
Social Work Develops from
“Everybody’s Business” to a
Profession
Evolved From Scientific
Investigation
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American Social Science Assn
(1865) spawned
Conference of Charities (1874) but
met concurrently
1879 split from parent and began
focus on practical work
1884 renamed National Conference
of Charities and Corrections
Charity Work Evolved from Social
Science
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moved from theory and research to
greater concern with methods and
treatment
COS folks realized specific skills &
knowledge needed to help people
COS and settlement house people
concerned with education and training for
social workers
Both groups were affiliated with National
Conference of Charities and Corrections
Beginnings of Professional Social
Work Education
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Apprenticeship in social agencies
was initial social work education
Attending National Conference
supplemented apprenticeship
Informal lectures and reading lists
were provided by agencies
People going into charity work took
courses in the new field of sociology
Social work and sociology
separated
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Sociologists found social workers
not sufficiently objective
Social workers thought sociology
was not sufficiently applied or
practical
Social workers saw their work
related to other disciplines as well
as sociology (law, economics,
biology)
Call for Professional Social Work
Education
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Mary Richmond read paper calling for
training school in applied philanthropy
New York Charity Organization Society
founded 6 week summer school
Later expanded to one year program
Became 2 year program in 1910
Later: Columbia University School of
Social Work
Other Schools
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University of Chicago (Hull House)
Boston
Bryn Mawr
Curriculum
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Initially stressed casework
Chicago stressed research, policy
and administration
Eventually move for university
affiliation
Need for involvement of other
disciplines and use of research to
inform policy decisions
Field work under faculty direction,
not just apprenticeship
Rise of Accreditation
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Need for standards arose
1920 Association of Training
Schools of Professional Social Work
1952 became Council on Social
Work Education
Required university affiliation 1935
Rise of Professional Journals
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Proceedings of National Conference
Fledgling publications became
Survey in 1907
Published until 1952, strongly
influenced development of
profession
Emergence of Social Casework,
Child Welfare, Social Service Review
Rise of Professional Organizations
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1917 National Social Workers’ Exchange
(employment bureau)
Opened membership to all interested
1921 became American Association of
Social Workers
By 1955 had merged with others and
become NASW
Other professional organizations
developed
1917
National Conference of Social Work
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New name of National Conference
of Charities and Corrections
State affiliates developed, and
Alabama had one of the earliest
Alabama Conference of Social Work
Continues to this day and meets in
each spring