Building an International Field of Practice
Social Workers Well-Equipped for International Work
Social workers' sensitivity to other cultures can be valuable
in the international arena.
By Sheryl Fred, News Staff
 |
| Illustration: John Michael
Yanson |
Counseling victims of the tsunami disaster. Helping immigrants
and refugees in the United States
receive the services they need. Empowering tribal communities
in India to fight for
their land rights. All of these are direct practice examples of
the international field of practice in social work, a career path
that has long been in practice but is only recently gaining attention
from the social work profession as a whole.
For years, a number of social workers have taken it upon themselves
to work for international development agencies and nongovernmental
organizations in direct services, administration, program planning
and development. They may provide aid overseas or to domestic
groups helping refugees and immigrants. Today, social work organizations
such as NASW and schools of social work are more readily recognizing
the international dimensions of social work practice.
"Social workers have a lot to offer the world," said
NASW Senior Policy Associate Leticia Diaz.
Having worked with USAID, the Peace Corps and the U.S. State
Department in numerous developing countries throughout the world,
Diaz said social workers are perhaps better equipped than many
professions to handle this type of work.
Click here for full story…>
>
From April 2005 NASW News. © 2005 National
Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News
articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of
copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies
made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising,
promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.
|
About
NASW