MSW-5000 v1

American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (2014). Identifying and tackling grand challenges for social work.

The Grand Challenges for Social Work are designed to focus a world of thought and action on the most compelling and critical social issues of our day (American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, 2014). Each grand challenge is a broad but discrete concept where social work expertise and leadership can be The Grand Challenges for Social Work include the following: 1. Maximize productive and meaningful activity throughout life 2. Ensure all youth get a good and healthy start 3. Reduce isolation and loneliness 4. Stop family violence 5. End homelessness 6. Create greater healthy equity 7. Safely reduce our incarcerated population 8. Strengthen financial security 9. End racial injustice 10. Strengthen social responses to environmental changes 11. Reverse extreme inequality 12. Harness digital technology for social good (American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, 2014).

Joseph, R., & Shon, H. (2020). The appealability of the social work profession in the United States: Possible explanations. In Global Social Work-Cutting Edge Issues and Critical Reflections. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.91671

This chapter presents an overview of the social work profession in the United States, highlights the uniqueness of this discipline, and explains the rise in enrollment in the twenty-first century (Joseph & Shon, 2020). It is hypothesized that the appealability of social work is associated with (a) a quest for social justice, (b) a pragmatic path toward direct practice, (c) a commitment for social services delivery, and (d) a passion for empowerment (Joseph & Shon, 2020). Understanding the rationale behind the appealability of the profession is crucial for social work educators to meet the needs of their student body in a world deeply ravaged by contemporary social problems (Joseph & Shon, 2020).

Arieti, A. (2023, April 17). Understanding the 13 grand Challenges for social Work | UNR. University of Nevada, Reno. https://onlinedegrees.unr.edu/blog/social-work-grand-challenges/

Parker, J. & Doel, M. (2017). Professional social work. Chapter 1: Professional Social Work and the Professional Social Work Identity. Sage Publications.

Chapter 1 explores some of the contested meanings and developments in social work and in the understanding of professional practice. It briefly examines some of the history and sociology of professions and professionalism and considers their particular technical uses (Parker & Doel, 2017).

NASW. (n.d). Types of social work. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Facts/Types-of-Social-Work.

Social workers are found in every facet of community life, including schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, elected office, private practices, prisons, military, corporations, and in numerous public and private agencies (NASW, n.d). Some social workers conduct research, advocate for improved services, engage in systems design or are involved in planning or policy development. Many social workers specialize in serving a particular population or working in a specific setting (NASW, n.d).

Watson, L.D. & Hoefer, R.A. (2016). The joy of social work administration: An exploratory qualitative study of human service administrators’ positive perceptions of their work. Journal of Social Work Education. 52(2), 178-185.

Positive organizational psychology suggests that researchers should focus on the rewarding elements of work life, yet those in the fields of social work and nonprofit administration have not conducted research (Watson & Hoefer, 2016).This article describes an exploratory qualitative study of human service executives' perceptions of their work, focusing on what brings them joy in their jobs.

Ritter, J. A., Halaevalu F.O. & Vakalahi, P. (2015). 101 careers in social work, second edition. Part 1: The Profession of Social Work. Springer Publishing Company.

Part 1, Chapters 1-3 of the book discusses the profession of Social work and talked goes in to detail about social work education, core competencies, and licensure requirements.

National University (n.d.). NU Social Work Library Guide https://resources.nu.edu/socialwork

National University (n.d.). NU Scholarly and Peer-Reviewed Journals Library Guide https://resources.nu.edu/researchprocess/scholarlyjournals

National University (n.d.). NU Library Orientation Workshop Recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=219vAqw2LpA&t=15s