State Definitions of Social Work Practice: Implications for our Professional Identity
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2017
Keywords
Social work definition, macro social work, professional identity
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1080/23761407.2017.1319775
Abstract
For over a century, the social work profession has been concerned with describing the unique and specific characteristics that define its core functions in society; however, the profession has yet to agree to a single definition of social work. In the absence of a unifying definition, 51 different statutory definitions of social work have been created by each state and the District of Columbia. Methods: Using qualitative methods, each statutory definition of social work was analyzed to gain an understanding of how social work is defined and understood across the United States. Results: Findings indicate that 57% of the statutory language blend the full range of micro to macro social work practice skills into their definition. However, even within these and those remaining, there are vast differences in definitions. Discussion: Implications for state licensing laws, are considered, along with how this impacts education, the work force, and professional identity.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, v. 14, issue 4, p. 266-279
Scholar Commons Citation
Hill, Katharine; Fogel, Sondra J.; Donaldson, Linda P.; and Erickson, Christina, "State Definitions of Social Work Practice: Implications for our Professional Identity" (2017). Social Work Faculty Publications. 141.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/sok_facpub/141
