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Social Work Speaks Abstracts

Deprofessionalization and Reclassification

Perhaps one of the most troubling realities for the social work profession in recent decades has been the weakening of professional education and credentialing among people called on to perform the duties of a social worker. The trend is a result of downsizing, devolution of government from social responsibility, cost containment through managed care, and competition with allied professions for direct services, as well as supervisory and administrative positions. In addition, as agencies face an insufficient supply of potential employees with BSWs or MSWs and a lack of interest of these individuals in working for public agencies, these agencies are emphasizing on-the-job training. Meanwhile, state employee unions have emphasized promotion based on experience rather than supporting professional education.

NASW opposes deprofessionalization and reclassification of social work positions, because these practices jeopardize the quality of social services. In advocating this policy position, NASW has achieved some important milestones toward reversing the trend of deprofessionalization and reclassificiation. These achievements include the inclusion of social workers as allowable payees under Medicare Part B, the establishment of standards for social services staffing in nursing facilities, and the creation of the National Center for Social Policy and Practice. Still, more must be done to improve the quality of social services by recognizing social work as a distinct profession uniquely qualified to provide leadership and services to address some of the most critical and seemingly intransigent individual, community, and societal problems of our day.

NASW encourages all public and private employers to provide non–social work employees access to an undergraduate or graduate social work education. Furthermore, NASW encourages schools of social work to offer curriculum content and field instruction relevant to practice, including practice in child welfare, child and adult protective services, and adoption and income maintenance programs.