The Quest for Professionalization

1. The Quest for Professionalization Social Work Develops from “Everybody’s Business” to a Profession

2. Evolved From Scientific Investigation • American Social Science Assn (1865) spawned • Conference of Charities (1874) but met concurrently • 1879 split from parent and began focus on practical work • 1884 renamed National Conference of Charities and Corrections

3. Charity Work Evolved from Social Science • moved from theory and research to greater concern with methods and treatment • COS folks realized specific skills & knowledge needed to help people • COS and settlement house people concerned with education and training for social workers • Both groups were affiliated with National Conference of Charities and Corrections

4. Beginnings of Professional Social Work Education • Apprenticeship in social agencies was initial social work education • Attending National Conference supplemented apprenticeship • Informal lectures and reading lists were provided by agencies • People going into charity work took courses in the new field of sociology

5. Social work and sociology separated • Sociologists found social workers not sufficiently objective • Social workers thought sociology was not sufficiently applied or practical • Social workers saw their work related to other disciplines as well as sociology (law, economics, biology)

6. Call for Professional Social Work Education • Mary Richmond read paper calling for training school in applied philanthropy • New York Charity Organization Society founded 6 week summer school • Later expanded to one year program • Became 2 year program in 1910 • Later: Columbia University School of Social Work

7. Other Schools • University of Chicago (Hull House) • Boston • Bryn Mawr

8. Curriculum • Initially stressed casework • Chicago stressed research, policy and administration • Eventually move for university affiliation • Need for involvement of other disciplines and use of research to inform policy decisions • Field work under faculty direction, not just apprenticeship

9. Rise of Accreditation • Need for standards arose • 1920 Association of Training Schools of Professional Social Work • 1952 became Council on Social Work Education • Required university affiliation 1935

10. Rise of Professional Journals • Proceedings of National Conference • Fledgling publications became Survey in 1907 • Published until 1952, strongly influenced development of profession • Emergence of Social Casework, Child Welfare, Social Service Review

11. Rise of Professional Organizations • 1917 National Social Workers’ Exchange (employment bureau) • Opened membership to all interested • 1921 became American Association of Social Workers • By 1955 had merged with others and become NASW • Other professional organizations developed

12. 1917 National Conference of Social Work • New name of National Conference of Charities and Corrections • State affiliates developed, and Alabama had one of the earliest • Alabama Conference of Social Work • Continues to this day and meets in each spring