What Is the Definition of Social Work?

Social work is many things, like helping individuals improve their lives, assisting groups in accessing needed services and guiding communities to effect change. Professionals in the field of social work have a tremendous responsibility in their involvement with people.

Definition

Social workers help individuals, communities and groups to either enhance or restore their ability for social functioning.

Helping

Social work is a "helping" profession; the professionals in this field assess their clients and determine their strengths and needs, soliciting their ideas about what they want to accomplish.

Community

The social worker's "client" can also be a community, such as several at-risk youth needing an outlet for their energy and creativity. Here, the social worker assists them as they decide how to help themselves.

Services

Social workers help their clients access needed services; they can also help access "hard" services such as a food bank.

Human Development

Social workers have to understand human development from birth to death in order to better help his clients.

Societal Systems

The social worker should also understand the systems in our society; he will be better able to facilitate his clients as they establish their niche in these systems.

Resources

• Definition of Social Work
• Social Worker