Social Work Speaks Abstracts

Role of Government, Social Policy, and Social Work

Although social agencies and social work professionals can help shape policies and practices, the nature of the services delivery system and the legitimacy of social work as a profession is established by public social policy, and in many ways the current policy is antithetical to social work values. There is a shift from blaming victims to punishing them. The category of “undeserving poor” has expanded to include almost everyone, even those formerly protected, such as children, veterans, elderly people, and people with mental and physical illnesses. Restructuring and limiting government responsibility has profoundly altered the availability and the delivery of social work services and the role and status of social work as a profession. NASW’s position is that the federal, state, and local governments must play a role in developing policies and programs to expand opportunities, address social and economic justice, improve the quality of life for all people, and enhance communities. Among other issues, these policies and programs should address entitlements to help eliminate poverty; access to comprehensive health care; adequate minimum wage; adequate, affordable housing; and quality education for all.