The complexion connection: Ideal light skin as vehicle of adoption process discrimination vis-à-vis social work practitioners

Despite social work's stated commitment to abortion rights, research on this topic is not prolific within the discipline (Begun et al., 2016). If we are to live up to our ethical principles, this should be changed. The authors posit that increasing students’ exposure to and understanding of abortion is necessary in the preparation of competent social work practitioners. Using Begun et al.’s (2016) Social Workers’ Abortion Attitudes, Knowledge, and Training questionnaire, the authors expanded the survey by creating additional questions about social work curriculum coverage and training experiences, as well as further content on abortion. Findings indicate that most social work students believe abortion should be legal in at least some circumstances, and also that abortion laws should be less restrictive in the United States. Reported religion and political affiliation had significant effects on several of the abortion attitude statements. Only 7.2% of respondents indicated that abortion is regularly discussed in social work classrooms, and only 2.7% of respondents report they have received training on the topic of abortion in their field placement. The results suggest that social work curriculum coverage on reproductive justice is tenuous and inconsistent at best, leaving students to grapple without the necessary professional foundation.

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The Development and Initial Validation of the Empathy Scale for Social Workers

Research on Social Work Practice ◽

10.1177/1049731511417136 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 174-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Steve King ◽

Michael J. Holosko

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Social Workers ◽

Empirical Evaluation ◽

Self Report ◽

Master Of Social Work ◽

Initial Validation ◽

Social Work Practitioners ◽

Student Training ◽

Empathy Scale ◽

Work Knowledge

Empathy is a core principle essential to social work. Despite this emphasis, minimal empirical research of empathy has been undertaken by social work researchers. The purpose of this study was to develop and initially validate the Empathy Scale for Social Workers (ESSW). The ESSW is a 41-item self-report inventory designed to assess empathy in social work practitioners. The sample ( N = 271) consisted of social workers who had attained the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Findings revealed promising psychometric properties for the ESSW, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) demonstrated content, construct, and factorial validity. Results were encouraging and they lay the ground work for the continued development of the ESSW. This scale addresses a gap in social work knowledge regarding the empirical evaluation of empathy. Results have implications for social work as the scale may be used to assess student training needs and/or as a screening tool for social work supervisors and practitioners.

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Beyond the Code of Ethics, Part II: Dual Relationships Revisited

Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services ◽

10.1606/1044-3894.228 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 83 (5) ◽

pp. 483-492 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Sophie Freud ◽

Stefan Krug

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Social Workers ◽

Code Of Ethics ◽

Legal Protection ◽

Work Practice ◽

The United States ◽

Social Work Practice ◽

Dual Relationships ◽

Social Work Educators ◽

Social Work Practitioners

The authors, both social work educators, serve on an ethics call line committee that provides insights on how the provisions of the (United States) National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics (NASW, 1996) interface with the ethical dilemmas encountered by the social work community. In this paper, the authors highlight aspects of social work practice that they consider ethical, yet not easily accommodated by the provisions of the current Code. They also question the 1996 introduction of the concept of dual relationships into the Code and suggest that the Code adopt the less ambiguous term of boundary violations. Also recognized by the authors is the need for clear boundaries for the protection of clients against temptations that might arise in a fiduciary relationship, and for the legal protection of social workers. But, the authors argue, social work practitioners in certain settings, with particular populations, and in certain roles, inevitably face multiple relationships as an integral aspect of their work. The authors conclude that social work's adoption of the psychoanalytic constrains of anonymity, neutrality, and abstinence has detoured the profession from its original double focus on individuals and their society.

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Social workers’ attitudes toward human rights in a sample from Taiwan

International Social Work ◽

10.1177/0020872817725138 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 295-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hsin-Yi Chen ◽

I-Chen Tang

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

Social Work ◽

Social Workers ◽

Social Worker ◽

General Knowledge ◽

Educational Training ◽

The Social ◽

Social Protests ◽

Social Work Practitioners ◽

Self Administered Questionnaire

The human rights concept is that everyone is entitled to enjoy those rights inherent to being human, without distinction. However, should human rights be considered a self-evident value for the social work profession? This study was to explore how social workers in Taiwan perceive the human rights concept. Responses from 276 social worker participants were analyzed by using a self-administered questionnaire. This study showed that social workers had a general knowledge of human rights. Receiving human rights educational training and engaging in social protests were important variables in increasing human rights awareness for social work practitioners.

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Student-Directed Behavioral Community Interventions in Social Work Education

Research on Social Work Practice ◽

10.1177/1049731518755011 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 731-740 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Christoph Bördlein

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Training Program ◽

Behavior Analysis ◽

Social Workers ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Social Work Students ◽

Community Interventions ◽

Social Work Practitioners ◽

Social Work Interventions ◽

Work Education

Behavioral social work is the application of behavior analysis to the field of social work. There are behavioral social work interventions for individuals, groups, and communities. Nevertheless, behavioral social work is far from a widely adopted approach among social work practitioners. A reason for the underuse might be seen in the fact that most interventions in behavioral social work aim at individual clients and groups. Social work could further benefit from the application of methods taken from behavioral community interventions. Behavioral community interventions modify the behavior of a larger group of people (e.g., pedestrians using a crosswalk, cafeteria patrons, students using a university building) with antecedent- and consequence-focused interventions. The article describes a training program for social work students in behavioral community interventions. Results of two projects, undergraduate students designed and performed, are presented. Behavioral community interventions are recommended as a valuable part of the education of social workers.

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What Social Workers Should Know About Ethics: Understanding and Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

Advances in Social Work ◽

10.18060/124 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 1-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Elaine P. Congress

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Social Workers ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Code Of Ethics ◽

Ethical Dilemmas ◽

Sexual Relationships ◽

Dual Relationships ◽

Personal Agency ◽

Social Work Educators ◽

Social Work Practitioners

Recognizing ethical issues and dilemmas that arise in professional practice is crucial for social work practitioners, educators, and students. After a discussion about the limited, although growing, literature on social work ethics, the ten main tenets form the most current NASW Code of Ethics are presented. These topics include limits to confidentiality, confidentiality and technology, confidentiality in family and group work, managed care, cultural competence, dual relationships, sexual relationships, impairment and incompetence of colleagues, application to administrators and relevance to social work educators. In addition to understanding the Code of Ethics, social workers can use the ETHIC model of decision making for resolving ethical dilemmas. This easy to use five step process includes examining personal, agency, client, and professional values, thinking about ethical standards and relevant laws, hypothesizing about consequences, identifying the most vulnerable, and consulting with supervisors and colleagues. A case example involving confidentiality, HIV/AIDS and family therapy demonstrates how social workers can use the ETHIC model.

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