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International Social
Work
Many current events—from the attacks of September 11, 2001,
to concerns over the world’s water supply—highlight the fact
that we are all world citizens. Whether we acknowledge it or
not, our problems and destinies are becoming increasingly interconnected.
Social workers have much to offer this global culture. Using
the skills and values of caring and empowerment, they are involved
in many important international activities here and abroad. Some
of these include:
- Counseling and aiding refugees;
- Facilitating international adoptions;
- Providing disaster relief in times of crisis;
- Developing, managing and staffing international
service-delivery programs like the Red Cross; and,
- Researching international issues with a focus on
improving people’s quality of life and addressing injustices.
Social workers play key roles in areas that might be considered
more typical of the profession. For example, they help to resettle
refugees, as did social worker Phillip “Skip” Kindy, who helped
to resettle 100 Tibetans in Madison, Wisc.; they’re involved
as program developers, managers and staff in many national and
international organizations that include a “social development” component.
Two examples are the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
whose aim is to protect and aid refugees in all phases of transit
and resettlement; and the United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF,
which deals with issues ranging from child health to child abuse
to emergency relief for children and women. In fact, the United
Nations’ social mission is considered one of its greatest successes,
and social workers have been instrumental in that success.
Social workers also address international issues through broad-based
statements and advocacy efforts helped to shape the focus of
last year’s Annual Social Work Day, sponsored by the United Nations. This
annual celebration and acknowledgement of social workers and
their roles with clientele across the globe was targeted towards
ways to mitigate the continued violence and injustices in the
world. At the meeting, Elizabeth Clark, executive director of
the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), noted that
social workers’ unique contributions help put United Nations
treaties, declarations and conventions on human rights into practice.
In the same way, the International Federation of Social Work
(IFSW) condemned in a statement the terrorist acts of September
11, but also called on Americans and the world community to examine
the possible underlying causes of terrorism, including poverty,
perceived inequity, and foreign policies that may help fuel terrorism.
As it becomes more obvious that the world’s problems are everyone’s
problem, it is likely that more and more social workers will
play a part in world affairs. Indeed, more American social work
departments see the enormous need for social workers in the international
arena and are adding specialties in this area. These efforts
won’t be wasted: Social workers’ unique skills and flexible approaches
to problem-solving can help develop human potential in places
where people have been oppressed and create peaceful, mutual
solutions to strife-filled situations.
References:
- Dodds, I. Time to move to a more peaceful and equitable solution.
- (2002, March). IFSW News.
Estes, R.J. (1997). World Social Situation.
In R.L. Edwards (Ed-in-Chief),
- Encyclopedia of Social Work (19th ed., 1997 Supplement,
pp. 343-359). Washington, D.C.: NASW Press.
Gibelman, M. (1995). What Social Workers Do (4th ed.).
Washington,
DC. NASW Press.
Groza, V. (1997). Adoption: International. In R.L. Edwards
(Ed.-in-Chief),
- Encyclopedia of Social Work (19th ed., 1997 Supplement, pp.
1-14).
Washington, D.C.: NASW Press.
Healy, L.M. (1995). International Social Welfare: Organizations
and
Activities. In R.L.
- Edwards (Ed.-in-Chief), Encyclopedia of Social Work ,
19th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 1499-1510). Washington, D.C.: NASW Press.
Midgley, J. (1995). International and Comparative Social Welfare.
- In R.L. Edwards (Ed.-in-Chief), Encyclopedia of Social Work
(19th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 1490-1491). Washington, D.C.: NASW Press.
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