The global social work definition: Ontology, implications and challenges

Social work has little tradition as an academic discipline or as a profession in Albania despite the high need for well-trained social workers. Social work in Albania had practically not existed in the past, neither before the WWII nor during socialist regime. It was the deep political and economic changes of the post socialist phase and the support of government and non-government stakeholders, like the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Emigration and Ex- Persecuted People as well as the Grand Valley University, Michigan, which paved the way for the establishment from scratch of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Tirana in 1992. Two other schools of Social Work were also established in two public universities, one at the University of Shkodra (2005) and another at the Elbasan University (2004). The Albania’s adherence to the Bologna Declaration brought a new reform, initiated in 2005, in which the Departments of Social Work were actively involved and played a critical role to adjust the curricula according to the EU standards.
 However, social work is neither a straight forward academic discipline nor a clear-cut profession. Social work is both, above all it is the safety net of society. The concept of social work derives from the needs of society, which in the end turns towards social mobilization, participation and inclusion. The global definition of social work, set out by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and approved by its general assembly in 2014, defines Social Work as follows:
 “Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing”. (http://www.communitycare.co.uk/what-is-the-role-of-social-workers).
 Besides the overall social structure of the society and the legacy from the past, Social Work can’t be developed outside the context of education system in one side and social protection and care system on the other. Hence, this paper brings in some information, which by describing the status of Social Work Education in Albania, tries to further explore its multi-faceted dependency on system of policies and social legacy from the past, alike.
 Keywords: Social Work, Social-Exclusion, Social inclusion

Background Emergency departments (EDs) are vital access points for individuals with acute health issues and vulnerable groups affected by social determinants such as homelessness, poverty, domestic violence, substance use, and mental health disorders. Social workers are crucial in addressing these factors and enhancing healthcare efficiency. However, evidence on their effectiveness in EDs remains limited. This study retrospectively evaluates the impact of social work interventions on patient outcomes and healthcare utilization. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study among patients aged ≥18 years consulted to the social work unit at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital ED between February 2019 and February 2024. Data from electronic records, social work assessments, and follow-up systems were analyzed. Demographic and clinical data, consultation reasons, interventions, and outcomes were assessed. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used (p < 0.05). Results A total of 714 patients were included (48.0% male; median age: 56 years). Main consultation reasons were housing needs (24.9%), domestic violence and sexual abuse (11.1%), substance use (2.7%), and psychosocial issues (28.0%). Interventions included psychosocial support (40.8%), resource referral (24.4%), crisis intervention (25.1%), and family contact (25.1%). Patients receiving interventions had lower hospitalization rates and more organized discharges (p < 0.05). Incomplete assessments were more frequent during night shifts (p < 0.001). Conclusions Social work interventions in EDs enhance patient care quality and optimize healthcare utilization, particularly in managing housing instability, violence, psychosocial issues, and addiction. Strengthening 24-hour coverage, multidisciplinary integration, and standardized models are key strategies for improving outcomes. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects. Key messages • Social work interventions improve emergency department care quality and healthcare efficiency. • Expanding 24-hour social work services and integration enhances patient outcomes.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are widely recognised as being very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In some manner, climate change will impact on the livelihoods of most individuals in the twenty-first century. Some of the risks for small islands are risk of death, injury, ill-health or disrupted livelihoods in low-lying coastal zones due to storm surges, coastal flooding, and sea level rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that in small islands, which have diverse physical and human attributes, community-based adaptation has been shown to generate larger benefits when delivered in conjunction with other developmental activities. One of the adaptive responses suggested is to improve the efficacy of traditional community coping strategies; this can be facilitated by social work intervention at the macro-level. The role of social workers in SIDS can impact on sustainable development and towards improved livelihoods of a country’s human resources. According to the Council on Social Work Education, the purpose of the social work profession is to promote human and community well-being. This purpose is put into practice through a quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty and the enhancement and quality of life for all persons. Key strategies by which social workers can promote sustainable development include building relations with communities, helping individuals to deepen their understanding of sustainable development, and assisting them to develop and work towards goals and objectives that lead towards the integration and improvement of economic, social and environmental outcomes.

With the collapse of the steel industry in the 1980s, economic devastation hit the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, region. Social Work Intervention in an Economic Crisis strives to deepen understanding of the impact of the economic tragedy in the Pittsburgh region and to present social workers’efforts to enhance recovery. This case study serves as a model for social workers, human service educators and agency personnel, public health professionals, community organizers, policymakers, economic strategists, and researchers in social work, public health, sociology, anthropology, and political science to design and implement human service interventions for similar communities using techniques of action research, community organization, and demonstration projects.Social Work Intervention in an Economic Crisis shows readers relatively simple and highly effective ways of assessing the social-economic situation in their given geographical area. This allows professionals to be in touch with their surrounding communities and estimate the clientele to be served, their particular needs, and their abilities to access services. Chapters in Social Work Intervention in an Economic Crisis describe the responses of local institutions; the roles of informal and formal support networks; and the economic devastation inflicted upon individuals, households, and whole communities. To this end, Hide Yamatani, Lambert Maguire, Robin K. Rogers, and Mary Lou O’Kennedy take the socioeconomic “pulse” of six communities, launching a longitudinal monitoring effort that can be replicated elsewhere for long-range planning and intervention; Martha Baum, Barbara K. Shore, and Kathy Fleissner address the special problems women face; Mary Page and Myrna Silverman focus upon the elderly and their families; Phyllis D. Coontz, Judith A. Martin, and Edward W. Sites look at fathers facing altered childrearing; and Lambert Maguire and Hide Yamatani discuss youth facing altered economic opportunities. With this knowledge in hand, readers acquire skills for: using action research to assess how economic tragedy affects people’s lives mobilizing appropriate actors to engage in intervention learning from community groups and leaders about their concerns to work with them rather than for them recognizing the properties of community cohesion versus fragmentation as they affect efforts of renewal identifying individuals and families suffering most under economic devastation realizing the limits of micro-level intervention generating macro policies at the state and federal levels disseminating findings from action research and intervention/demonstration efforts Finally, Social Work Intervention in an Economic Crisis offers proposals for new societal mechanisms that might reduce the impact of future recessions. The findings and policy proposals set forth in this book help households and institutions deal with the effects of economic change which continue to afflict many families and small communities in the 1990s.

On first centenary of professional social work education in United States, there are several ways of celebrating social work's contribution to society. We can remember profession's pioneers and praise advances made in theory and research. Alternatively, we can examine everyday practice and what clients say they value about our efforts. This latter approach reveals importance of indirect social work's unsung hero (Grinnell, 1973). Historically, indirect work has referred to clinical social worker's intervention in clients' environments and collaboration with others in bureaucracies or clients' social networks in an attempt to alleviate clients' difficulties. Grinnell and Kyte (1975) succinctly defined two components of indirect work. The first is concrete assistance, that is, provision of practical or tangible help whereby social worker uses resources or opportunities that exist or are potentially available for benefit of (p. 314). The second is sociopsychological intervention, that is, the modification of attitude or behavior of significant others within client's social . . . environment (p. 314). Direct work, in contrast, has referred to what is achieved mind upon mind, to use Mary Richmond's phrase, through relationship between client and social worker. Indirect and direct work frequently appear in tandem. For example, social worker may collaborate with other professionals in client's presence (Weissman, Epstein, & Savage, 1983). Why Examine Indirect Work? A historical analysis of indirect work traces thinking of many social work theoreticians and therefore enriches our understanding of profession. In addition, an examination of indirect work has conceptual, ethical, and practical relevance. I will argue that indirect work helps define conceptually social work's professional jurisdiction - that is, an area in which social workers exhibit both competence and expertise (Abbott, 1988). Ironically, social work literature has neglected indirect work and, sadly, history reveals that some practitioners have also. This neglect is worrisome given that social work's ethical mandate is to meet people's basic human needs and to give special attention to environmental forces (NASW, 1996, p. 1). Contemporary social problems, for example, fragmented medical and welfare services, require indirect work. Social work has made some progress in classifying distinct components of indirect but there is a need to develop practice principles grounded in empirical research. In addressing these themes, this article traces development of idea of indirect work through works of Flexner, Richmond, Reynolds, and Hollis and comments on social work's ambivalence toward this work. The article also discusses research on indirect work and clients' views of it. In addition, article examines modern portrayals of indirect work that include wider political arena and offers recommendations for practice and research. Indirect Work: History of an Idea History reveals recurring themes and ideas. A few years ago, Andrew Abbott, sociologist, stated that probably vast majority of what people with title 'social worker' actually do in United States is indeed connecting together services provided largely by other professions and other institutions (Abbott, 1995, p. 559). How similar is this depiction to one made by Abraham Flexner some 80 years earlier? Flexner In 1915 Flexner, a prominent developer of medical training programs, delivered a lecture entitled Is Social Work a Profession? at annual session of National Conference of Charities and Correction (a precursor of National Conference of Social Work) (Flexner, 1915). The question addressed in Flexner's speech may have been premature, as social work was in an embryonic stage. Settlement houses had existed for more than 25 years (Addams, 1990), but professional social work training was relatively new. …

This research aims to explore how adventure therapy can be incorporated into social work interventions with young people and to evaluate the effectiveness of this work by conducting adventure therapy-based psycho-educational group work. In the first phase of this qualitative research, the aim is to understand the needs of 14 social workers in order to use adventure therapy in their interventions and thematic analysis is used to analyze the data. In the second phase of the study, an adventure therapy-based psycho-education group study is conducted with 12 social workers according to the needs identified in the first phase. The effectiveness of this study is evaluated and a descriptive analysis of the data is conducted. Current research has shown that physical, environmental, structural, legal, academic support, and cooperation are needed to incorporate adventure therapy into social work interventions. Additionally, it has been suggested that social workers who receive training in adventure therapy activities will be able to work more effectively with young people. The study revealed that, when working with young people and conducting outdoor interventions, it is necessary for social workers to understand young people and be able to carry out outdoor activities. They must also be able to assess the existing conditions, opportunities and resources in institutions.

The number of adolescents living with HIV is increasing globally. Within the United States, there are over 40,000 youth, 13–24 years old, living with HIV infection. Adherence to antiretroviral medication among this population is critical to promote health and decrease the risk of secondary HIV transmission. However, only approximately one-third of adolescents adhere to their HIV medications. Social workers are in a unique position to help support adolescents and their families with medication adherence. The authors describe a case study of the introduction of social work services to a cohort of high-risk youth who previously did not have access to a pediatric social worker. Three case examples are included to illustrate the wide array of family needs and strengths as well as social work interventions used to promote medication adherence as measured by immune functioning and viral load. Significant improvements in CD4 counts and viral loads were found following the implementation of social work services. Findings indicated that individualized social work interventions can improve medication adherence and the subsequent health of adolescents living with HIV.

The twin pressures of containment and change have plagued social work since its origins in the late 19th century. The profession can boast of a long history of progressive activism directed to individual and social change. At the same time, observers within and outside social work have often accused the profession of serving as a handmaiden of the status quo. This contradiction has made the social work profession a site of ongoing struggle. Although often difficult, the battles the profession has endured have ensured that social work practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities is neither handed down from above nor written in stone. Rather, the design of social work as we know it reflects internal and external political struggles. The presence of this tension becomes critically important, because with it comes opportunity for change. The centennial gives occasion to celebrations, critical reviews, and future visions for the profession. In this spirit, this article reviews the history of activism in social work in a framework of the relationship between social work and social reform as an arena of struggle. Most histories of social work present the story chronologically. I use the history to bring the activist struggles in social work into bold relief. More specifically, I have developed three parallel narratives centered on social work as an arena of struggle: (1) the largely untold history of activism in the profession during the 20th century, (2) the effect of the process of professionalization on social work activism, and (3) the ways the changing political climate shaped the relationship between the profession of social work and its impulse for social reform. The Prochange Mandate in Social Work Social work's commitment to both individual and social change stems from at least three sources: (1) the mandates of our professional organizations, (2) the professional literature, and (3) the long history of activism among social workers themselves. Professional Mandates Since the mid-1960s both the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) have recognized social work's role in social reform. The 1994 CSWE Curriculum Policy Statement (CSWE, 1994) and the 1996 NASW Code of Ethics continue to call for action to improve social conditions as one way for social work to honor its primary obligation to individual and community welfare. Review of the Literature Many social worker scholars have articulated social work's commitment to social reform (Galper, 1975; Haynes & Mickelson, 1997; Mahaffey & Hanks, 1982; Withorn, 1984). Systems, transactional, person-in-situation, empowerment, and other practice theories emphasize the relationship between social conditions and the quality of life for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The theories assume that individuals grow, change, and develop a sense of mastery best when they can gain self-insight, have real choices, and secure access to the resources and power needed to realize these goals. The theories recognize that communities thrive when governments promote individual and collective responsibility, equal opportunities, and social solidarity. In brief, social work scholarship suggests that, although a focus on individuals is critically important, it may not be enough (Payne, 1991; Simon, 1994). History of Activism The third foundation of social work's commitment to social reform stems from the long history of activism among social workers themselves. Social work activism has had many strands. As is the case in any large group of people, the politics of social workers range across the political spectrum. During the past 100 years, the most visible and documented activism of the organized profession has tended toward liberal reform. The goals of the activist members, however, have ranged from liberal to radical, leading to both collaboration and conflict. …

Social Work in mental health implies an articulation of health with the social aspects and people's and communities' lives, in the dimensions of interaction and sociability. That is why the concept of Social Determinants of Mental Health contributes to base intervention. The concept of Multidimensional Social Work encompasses multiple aspects, and the issue of the identity of Social Work in technological society brings to light two tendencies, the positivist and the humanist. Social Work falls into the field of Human Rights, both civil, social and economic rights, redistribution and social justice, as well as cultural rights, identity and recognition, central to people with mental health problems. The role of social workers in mental health is part of the context of government policies, in which the intervention of Social Work will be analyzed, as well as the constraints that neoliberal health policies pose to the profession.

The issue of violence phenomenon is noticeable within our environments, and has leans strongly on the foundations of gender bias, customary cum as well as traditional stance, which are deeply aligned with the orthodoxly patriarchal template that rules in many communities and societies, such as Nigeria. Utilizing the quantitative approach and adopting the survey research design, this study examines the public a cross cultural analysis of intimate partner violence and the social work intervention measures as panacea in addressing the menace. The population of the study consists of both dating and married couples and social workers. Employing the simple random sampling method, a sample of 80 couples and 20 social workers, giving a total of 100 participants were selected from Edo and Delta States of Nigeria. Two test score were correlated and their responses were subjected to Pearson moment correlation formula to obtain the reliability co-efficient of 0.86. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistic; mean and standard deviation at 2.5 criterion mean in order to determine a cross cultural analysis of intimate partner violence and the social work intervention. Findings reveal that intimate partner violence has deep cultural influences of family background, religious beliefs; up-bringing and negative cultural opinions about females, widespread social cultural impacts of physical injuries, mental, emotionally or psychologically influences on victims and their children. In addition, much need to be done, as social workers can help in early intervention for sufferers of IPV with a wide range of services including legal intervention, cultural supportive services; awareness campaign and counselling services to put an end to the scourge of intimate partner violence.

This article aims to define and describe social work (social policy) as a social control tool. This article analyzes and studies social work’s implications as a social control tool on social, cultural, economic, and political aspects. This article also illustrates social control’s implication on the political, social welfare, Social work, and social work implications as a social control tool in social work future research. The author uses the method of critical thinking by shed lighting the sociologists’ definitions of social control, the purposes of social control, and its forms in the community. The author aims to raise awareness among social workers about the importance of their role to defend the profession of social work to meet people’s needs and maintain social stability. They may do so by playing a mediate role between achieving government policy plans and meeting people’s needs by using the government needs to social workers’ services as an opportunity to apply the social work profession and empower people in need to easy access to the community resources and meet their needs and maintains social stability and economic prosperity.

Digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness are critical components of women’s empowerment in the digital age. Despite the growing reliance on digital technologies, women often face unique challenges, including limited access to resources, socio-cultural barriers, and a lack of targeted educational programs. This study explores the intersection of digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, and women’s empowerment through a social work lens. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 150 women across diverse socio-economic backgrounds through surveys and in-depth interviews. The findings reveal significant gaps in digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness, particularly among marginalized women. Social work interventions, including community-based education and advocacy, are proposed as effective strategies to address these gaps. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the role of social work in promoting digital empowerment and cybersecurity resilience among women. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed. Keywords: Cybersecurity, Social Media, Digital Literacy, Women Empowerment, Social Work

As people grow older and lose capacity to maintain activity in securing food for themselves either because of functional disability or financial incapacity, there should be a meso and or macro support services to ensure food security amongst them. In Ghana, evidence show that most older people report food insecurity, necessitating a need for a reflection on how social work professional (with its core mandate) can innovatively and culturally promote food security for older adults in Ghanaian context. Deploying descriptive qualitative analysis, this study presents the qualitative findings of older adults’ experiences of food insecurity across three regions of Ghana. Overarchingly, the analysis identified three major themes related to food insecurity experience recurrent to all or most of the participants. The themes include 1) sources of food items for older adults; 2) perspective on accessibility to food; 3) finances determining older adults’ food accessibility. Results are discussed in relation to existing literature and social work implications. Social work profession in Ghana can adopt innovative and culturally sound approaches, including ‘nnoboa’ in ensuring food security for older adults. The findings contribute to the evidence base for social work, elaborating the in-depth understanding of the experiences of food insecurity in old age. How to cite using ASWNet style Asamoah, B. (2023). How food insecurity experience among older adults can provide evidence for an innovative, system-led and culturally-sound social work practice interventions in a communal Ghana. People centred – The Journal of Development Administration (JDA), 8(4), 00. Social Work and Development Student Conference (SWDSC), 16 June 2023. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jda.v8i4.6 Visit journal website: https://jda.africasocialwork.net

Identifying common patient dynamics is useful for developing social work practice sensitivity in health social work. This article draws on findings from a study of women who terminated desired pregnancies because of fetal anomalies and identifies dynamics that may be applicable to many health settings. Data suggest that women have expectations that submission to medical care, particularly high-tech medical care, should ensure a positive outcome--in this case a healthy baby. Analysis of data reveals the presence of an implicit contract that the women hold with the medical system,"Mother Nature," or society. The analysis carries an implication that health social work should help patients develop realistic expectations about health care. The presence of implicit contracts may have further implications for liability and litigation. Social work roles and interventions are addressed.

Social work education has a long and successful history of developing change agents through bachelor of social work, master’s of social work, and PhD programs, but these programs often create boundaries limiting the reach and infusion of social work perspectives. With rapid changes in social, economic, and political contexts, students from all academic concentrations need to understand how community action and social change improves society. Using systems and community practice frameworks, this article provides an in-depth case study of one university’s model of an undergraduate multidisciplinary minor bridging social work philosophy with other academic disciplines. We explore the model and its development, with specific discussion of the lessons learned in creating and sustaining a multidisciplinary minor, its effect on students, and its implications for social work.