By Sue Coyle, MSW
In October 2022, NASW revealed “Undoing Racism By Social Work Vol. 2.” The report emphasised NASW’s dedication to an anti-racist career and society. It acknowledged that whereas social work and social staff could also be ranging from a unique place than different professions, there’s nonetheless work to be completed, noting: “Given its century-long contributions to social justice and social welfare, the social work subject is in some ways far forward of different disciplines. Nevertheless, like all professions constructed inside our nation’s racist establishments, social work has a protracted method to go to beat its personal historical past of racism, discrimination and oppression.”
Moreover, the report detailed the outcomes of an April 2022 summit during which specialists from throughout the career met to debate methods during which social work can progress towards an anti-racist future. They highlighted six areas of focus for social work: schooling, coaching, coverage, analysis, workforce and apply. Every part included suggestions, in addition to initiatives inside the career which are working towards or can work towards the bigger aim of anti-racism.
This report serves not solely as a launching pad for the career to construct consciousness and take significant motion, but in addition as a basis for particular person social staff and social work organizations. Anti-racism in addition to different sides of variety, fairness and inclusion (DEI) have to be a focus for everybody inside social work if the career is to realize the aim of offering high quality, equitable providers from equitable workplaces.
The Want
Whereas it’s true that social work has lengthy endeavored towards social justice, welfare and reform, that doesn’t imply the career and people inside it are exempt from the necessity to work towards issues of variety, fairness and inclusion, as NASW famous in its Undoing Racism report. The truth is, the historical past of social work has many examples of exclusion.
“We’re referred to as to be culturally responsive practitioners,” says Arabella Perez, DSW, LCSW, the vp of DEI for NASW. “Nevertheless, earlier than we begin speaking concerning the systemic racism that exists in legislation enforcement [and other professions], we’ve to begin taking a look at our personal historical past.” Settlement homes—a key facet of social work’s historical past—excluded Black individuals, and indigenous populations have traditionally been mistreated by social staff, she presents as examples.
It’s not simply traditionally that people and populations have skilled lesser providers or lesser entry to providers. Regardless of finest efforts and intentions, as we speak there stays room for and the necessity for development inside the career—at each systemic and particular person ranges.
“I feel what occurs,” says Lynn Stanley, LICSW, govt director of the NASW New Hampshire and Vermont chapters, “is abruptly a social employee has a consumer and turns into painfully conscious that ‘Oh, that is completely different. This isn’t in my wheelhouse. I could not have the apply; I could not have the expertise; I could not have the information base to do job.’” They understand within the second that their consciousness and talent to ship inclusive and equitable providers isn’t fairly what they assumed.
By not having that stage of consciousness or readiness, hurt will be completed. “It’s tough, as a result of no person will get into the sector to do hurt,” says Jorge Santana, LICSW, co-chair of the JEDI (Justice, Fairness, Variety and Inclusion) committee for the NASW New Hampshire Chapter. “However we will do hurt with out intention.”
That hurt can happen on a person stage—coming from one social employee to at least one consumer or perhaps a inhabitants of purchasers—nevertheless it’s essential to notice that it could possibly additionally occur on bigger ranges. The necessity for DEI schooling, consciousness and motion isn’t nearly people and populations served but in addition concerning the social work workforce.
“Many DEI initiatives are sometimes directed to enhancing the supply of providers to clientele and thus fail to think about too the variety embedded inside our personal workforce. It’s simply as essential for social employee leaders and organizations to deal with systemic racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and many others., in our personal techniques and to solidify our broad dedication to the welfare of our personal workforce,” says Lee Westgate, MBA, MSW, LCSW-C, a speaker, instructor and marketing consultant, and school member at College of Maryland Faculty of Social Work. “Facilitating significant and systemic change isn’t potential if we fail to look at the methods during which we’re complicit in the exact same insidious patterns of discrimination and hurt.”
Santana agrees, including, “We must be wanting on the career critically. Earlier than we glance outward to guide, we should first look internally to see what areas we have to enhance.”
NASW members can learn the complete story in NASW Social Work Advocates journal after signing in here.
