What is the mission of the social work profession?

• Enhance individual and societal well-being
• Help meet basic human needs of people, especially those who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty
• Give attention to the client’s social context and environmental forces that affect problems in living
• Promote social justice: end discrimination, oppression, poverty
• Promote social change with and on behalf of clients
• Sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity
• Enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs
• Promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and other social institutions to individuals' needs and social problems.

What are the core values of social work?

• Service
• Social justice
• Dignity and worth of the person
• Importance of human relationships
• Integrity
• Competence

What strategies are used to fulfill these goals?

• Direct practice
• Community organizing
• Supervision
• Consultation
• Administration
• Advocacy
• Social and political action
• Policy development and implementation
• Education
• Research and evaluation

Reference:
National Association of Social Workers. (2006). Code of Ethics. Retrieved February 15, 2006,
from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp

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