ProgressofHumanity

LatonyaRenich

EnglishIIIHonors
Mrs.Kopp
February26,2015

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LatonyaRenich
Mrs.Kopp
EnglishIIIHonors
26February2015
ProgressofHumanity
Adiversepopulationofcareersexistintodayssociety.Oneofthemostneededcareers
residesinthefieldofhealthandhumanservices.Socialworkgainedpopularityaspeoplebegan
realizingthatothersneededhelp.Agroupofwomenfirststartedtheideaofsocialwork.
Theyhadapushtohelppeople,causingthelittlesparkthatwouldsoonbecomeaflame.This
constructedthemeagerbeginningofsocialwork.Basedontheincreasedneedforsocial
workerstohelpmaintainstabilityinfamilies,socialworkhasprogressedgreatlyinitsrolein
societyfromwhenitfirstbegantonow.
Duringtheearly1900s,Soldiersreceivedwoundsthatneededextensivecaringforduring
ongoingwarsandbattles.Thewomenhadtostayathomewhiletheirmenwenttofight.This
didnotsitwellwithsomeofthemandtheybegantolookforawaytohelpthemen.Theybegan
makinguniformsandbandagesaswellasgatheringmedicinesandothernecessitiesthatwould
helpthesoldiers.Theywouldalsotendtothewoundedsoldiersbroughtback.Thismadeupthe
basisofsocialworkwhichfirstappearedin1914duringWorldWarI(Kerson,McCoyed).Many
ofthefoundersofsocialworkworkedwiththeAmericanRedcross,whichtookcareoftending
towoundedsoldiers.Itprogressedfurther,withanincreasedamountofsupportandvariations
intheservicessocialworkoffered,asthewardraggedon.Thewomenrespondedtobothsocial
andhealthissuesincommunity(Kerson,McCoyed).Astimewentonandthegovernmentlet

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morewomenintheworkplace,therebecamemoreofafocusonthesocialhealthofa
community.
FrancesKellorwasamajorsocialworkfigureduringWorldWarI.Shehadameager
startasachildandpeoplespeculatedthatthishadsomethingtodowiththereasonthatshe
pushedsohardforequalityandsocialreformforallpeople.AftershegraduatedfromCornell
UniversityLawSchoolinNewYork,shebeganresearchingunemploymentandfocusingon
waystohelpwiththenewwavesofimmigrantsfloodingintotheUnitedStates(Murdach,93).
SheworkedsidebysidewithPresidentTheodoreRoosevelttosolveproblemswiththewavesof
immigrants.EvenafterTheodoreRoosevelthadexitedthepresidentialoffice,theycontinuedto
worktogethertofindwaystoimprovesociety.AsthethreatofWorldWarloomedupon
America,Americanismragedthroughoutthecountry.ThispushedAmericaintowarand
Kellorseffortsatkeepingcontrolofthemovementfaileddramatically.Herideaofhowthe
immigrantpoliciesshouldworkconsistedofadifferentpointofviewthanwhattheybecame.
Thegovernmentcontrolledthepoliciesandshapedthemintowhattheywantedtobe.
Theworkthatmostpeopletalkabout,FrancesKellorcompletedbeforeWorldWarI.
Mostpeoplesawtheworkthatshecompletedafterthewarineffectiveorhavinglittletono
effect.AfterWorldWarI,shestartedfocusingonothersocietalissuesbecausethegigantic
wavesofimmigrantsslowedtoatrickle,sothatonlyafewimmigrantscameintoAmericaata
time(Murdach94).Asoneofthemajorfoundingmothersofsocialwork,FrancesKellorplayed
adrasticroleinshapingAmericasimmigrantpolicies.
Ascongressonceagaindiscussesimmigrationpoliciesingovernment,socialworkers
havecontinuedhopethatthegovernmentwilltakeFrancesKellorsideasofassimilatingthe

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immigrantsbyhelpingtheminsteadofusingforce,intoconsideration.MostAmericansresented
theideaofimmigrantscomingin.Quiteafewpeoplewantedtotakeadvantageofthenew
immigrantsandalotofthetime,theydidso.Mostofthenewimmigrantsdidnothave
Americanmoneyandthedealerswhomadechangewouldoftencheattheimmigrantsoutof
money.PeoplewhofollowedKellorsideashopedthatthepeopleofAmericawouldassimilate
theimmigrantsbymeansofhelpfulwaysandnotbyforcefulcheatingways(Murdach).
Americahaslessimmigrantsnowthanitdidbackintheearly1900s.However,theimmigrant
wavescreatedoneofthefirstsparksofsocialwork.
Thepublicingeneralhasshownadrasticincreaseininterestinsocialwork.Social
workershaveincreasedinthetypesofjobsthattheydo.Forexample,onesocialworkertookon
acasewhereafamilyhadcompletelynoideawhattodowiththeirautisticchild.Theydidnot
understandwhattheirchildneeded.Asocialworkernamed
CarolineDuimeringsteppedinand
gavethemadvicetohelpthemthroughit(Weidner,1).Shegavethempamphletsandshowed
themwhattheyneededtodo.Socialworkerstakeonnotonlythetaskofeducatingandhelping
strugglingfamilies,theyalsoresearchthehumanbrain.Socialworkersresearchpsychological
thoughtprocesses,whichhelpthemunderstandthebrainpatternsandhelpthemsearchfora
solutionwhentacklingcases(Faveretal,285).Themoreresearchasocialworkerdoes,the
betterabilitytheyhavetoactivelyhelpthefamilies.Themoreactivelytheycanhelpafamily,
thebettersocietyremainsasawhole.
Whenraisedinlovingfamilyenvironments,childrenbecomemorelikelytowantto
helpouttherestofsociety.Whenastudentwantstohelpsociety,theyturntomanypublic
healthcareers.Manypeoplechoosesocialworkastheirwaytohelpoutsociety.Inorderto

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earnadegreeinsocialwork,astudentmusttakepsychology,othersocialsciences,manyenglish
classes,andanyforeignlanguage.Foreignlanguageclassesdonotguaranteeaplaceasasocial
worker,buthavingtheabilitytospeakanotherlanguagemakesoneamorelikelycandidatefora
companytohire.Criticalthinkingandlogicclassesalsomakereallygoodclassestotakefora
persondesiringacareerinsocialwork(Stewart).Socialworkersusealotofcriticalthinking
skillswhensolvingcases.Theyhavetoanalyzetheproblemandcomeupwithasolutionwhile
takingintoaccountthefeelingsanddesiresofthepatientandthefamily.Theyusecritical
thinkingskillstocomeupwiththebestsolutiontotheproblemforeveryoneinvolved.A
studentthathasaninterestinbecomingasocialworkercanalsofindwaystovolunteerintheir
communityandworkwithpeople.Babysittingalsomakesahelpfuljobforoneinterestedin
socialwork(Stewart).Anyjobthatinvolvespeoplehasagoodsetupforapersondesiringto
becomeasocialworker.Interactingwithpeerspreparesthestudenttoworkwithmanydifferent
typesofpeople.Themorehumaninteractionapersonhas,thebetterqualitiestheywillhaveand
themoreconfidenceandabilitytheywillexudewhenhelpingwithpeoplesproblems.
Whenastudentwhowishestoearnadegreeinsocialworkgraduatesfromhighschool,
theymoveontocollege.Incollege,there
aref
ourlevelsofdegreesthatapersoncanearnin
socialwork.Inordertobecomeasocialworker,onemustcompletethebasicfouryearsof
college,whichearnsthepersonabachelorsdegreeinsocialwork.Mastersdegreeofsocial
work,whichmarksthenextlevelofdegreeinsocialwork,typicallyconsistsofsixyearsof
collegestudy.HavingaMastersdegreeallowsthepersontopracticesocialwork.However,if
onewishestogofartherthanaMastersdegree,theycanalwaysgetaDoctoratedegreeinsocial
work.Thisallowsthepersontoteachatthecollegelevel(Douglas).Whenteachingatthe

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collegelevel,theuniversityrequireshavingaDoctoratedegreeinthesocialwork.Thisproves
thattheyhavecompletedanumberofyearssuccessfullylearningandstudyingsocialwork.It
alsoprovidesthemwithanexcellentamountofknowledgeofhowasocialworkershouldact
andthink.
Asocialworkershouldneverhaveajudgementalattitude.Thisremainsoneofthemost
importantcharacteristicsofagoodsocialworker(Douglas).Havingtheattitudethatonesviews
remainconsistentlyrightorthatthewaysofothersseemwrong,willnotgetthesocialworker
anywhere.Thisattitudewillonlyseektomaketheirclientsangryanddisappointed.The
NationalAssociationofSocialWorkers
CodeofEthics
stronglysuggeststhateachsocialworker
stayawayfromexpressingpersonalbeliefsandinstead,meettheclientatthepointintheirlife
thattheyhavereached.Thiswillservetobettermeettheneedsoftheclientwithoutangering
themordemandingthattheyseethingsinthesamewayasthesocialworker.TheNational
AssociationofSocialWorkers

setforththe
CodeofEthics
inanefforttomakethepublicaware
ofwhatsocialworkersdidandhowsocialworkersshouldact.The
CodeofEthics
laysdown
whichcharacteristicsthatsocialworkersshouldhaveandwhatguidelinestheyneedtofollow.
Althoughthe
CodeofEthics
hasabasisforsocialworkingeneral,thecareerconsistsof
manyindividualandvariedjobs.Onesocialworkermight
mightconcentrateon
griefcounseling
whileanothermightworkinaschooltoprovidecounselingorsupport.Othersmayworkwith
adoptionagenciesforchildwelfare.Someworkwithspecificallyagingmenandwomen.Some
morecategoriesmayincludethefollowing:substancemisuseandaddictions,healthcare,
disabilities,andjustice(Douglas).Uponenteringthefieldofsocialwork,thesocialworkermust
choosewhatkindofsocialworktheywanttodo.Whattheychoosethenputsthemintoa

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positiontolookforsuitableagenciesthatcontributetothatlineofsocialwork.Differentaspects
ofsocialworkwillsuitdifferentpeopleandtheyshouldchoosewhichparttheywanttogointo
accordingly.
Socialworkerscomeintocontactwithamanydifferenttypesofcases.Forexample,
socialworkercommonlycomeacrosschildcustodycases(Douglas).Peopleconstantlycall
socialworkerstoevaluatechildcircumstances.Forexample,asocialworkertookonacase
wherealittlegirlgotpunchedinthethroat.Shewenttoschoolandsomeonecalledsocial
serviceswhentheysawthebruises.Thesocialworkertookallthreechildren,twoboysanda
girl,awayandputthemtemporarilywithrelatives.Thesocialworkertoldthechildrensmother
thatifshewantedherchildrenback,shehadtogothroughclassesthatwouldhelpher.The
mothercouldnotgetthembackuntilshehadcompletedthecourses.Thisgavethechildrena
safeplacetolivetemporarilywhileworkingonasolutiontofixtheabusiveproblem.Oneofthe
childrensauntsadoptedtheyoungestboyandhenowliveswithherandherfamily.The
childrensgrandmothertookonthetaskofwatchingthegirlandtheolderboy.Theyhave
becomequiteaccustomedtolivingwiththeirgrandmotherandremainsatisfiedandhappy.
Childcasesmakeupjustoneofthemanycasesthatasocialworkertakesontofindasolution
for.
Anothercasethatsocialworkersdealwithconsistsofadvisingthepatientontheproblem
andhowtobestgoaboutfindingasolution.Somepeoplerequirecounsellinginordertoknow
howtodealwithcertainsituations.Socialworkerstakeadvancedpsychologysourcessothey
canhelpfindasolutionandunderstandthebrainpatternofthepatient.Understandinghowthe
patientfeelsremainsveryimportanttofindinganacceptablesolution.Somepatientsmaytake

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offensetocertainsolutions.Understandingthepatientleadstocommunicationandasatisfied
customerandagoodsolution(Lytle).Socialworkersmakeabigdifferenceinthelivesofalot
ofdifferentpeople.Mostpeoplehelpedbyasocialworkerendupturningtheirlifearoundand
helpingsocietyintheirownway.
Asthebabyboomerpopulationages,societyhasagreaterneedformoresocial
workers(
M2presswire).Theyneedmorepeoplethathavetheabilitytotakecareoftheaging
population,alongwithitsdiscoveryofproblems.Asthepopulationgrows,moreopportunities
forsocialworkersopenupbasedonneedsofsociety.Asthegovernmenttriestogetmore
peopleinterestedinsocialworkandthehealthofthecommunity,theDepartmentofHealth
continuestosetupeventsforyoungpeoplewhowouldliketolearnaboutbecomingasocial
workerandwhatsocialworkersdo(M2presswire).Asyoungpeopleshowacontinuedinterestin
theseactivities,thegovernmentkeepsencouragingstudentstofindawaytohelpoutintheir
community.Theyoungpeoplewhohelpoutinthecommunitywillmorelikelyhavebetter
grades,betterhealth,andbetterrelationshipswithpeople.Humansthriveoninteractionwith
others.Interactingwithotherfriendsputspeopleinagoodmoodinwhichtheymaintainan
eagerwillingnesstohelp.
Youngpeoplewhointeractwithothersintheircommunityhaveabetterunderstandingof
peopleandhowdifferentpeoplewillreactindifferentsituations.Asocialworkermusthavethe
abilitytoworkwithclientsfromdifferentraces,backgrounds,religions,andbeliefs(Marsh).
Theyhavetowillinglygiveasolutionthatwillworkfortheclient.Socialworkersmustagree
andwillinglymeettheclientwheretheystandintheirwalkoflife.Meetingtheclientintheir
walkoflifemakestherelationshipwiththeclienteasierandlessstressfulthantryingtopush

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one'sviewsontheclient.Eachclientthatsocialworkersdealwithhasadifferenthistorythan
everyotherclient.Whenasocialworkerhastheabilitytohelptheclientwithoutpushingviews
ontheclientandofferasolutionthathastheclientsbestinterestinmind,itmarksthemasa
goodsocialworker(Marsh).Companystrainsocialworkerstohelptheclientsinthebestway
thattheycan.
Humanrightsandsocialworkfithandinhand.Socialworkersprotectthebasicrightsof
humans(Witkin).Despiteallthelawsthatprotecttheserights,somepeoplesrightsstillget
trampledon,orpeoplefindnewwaystoexploitothersweaknesses.Thesocialworkershavea
listofvaluesandbeliefs.Thesestatementscontainwheretheywouldliketoseehumanity
progressto.Eachpersonhascertainunalienablerightswhichtheyhadgiventothemwhenthey
cameintothisworld.Whentheserightsgetsteppedon,andapersongetsharmed,physically,
mentally,orinternally,socialworkersstepinandhelpthem.Thecompaniestrainedthesocial
workerstostepinforanysituationnecessaryandthesocialworkersremainwillingtoworkwith
theclienttofindthebestpossiblesolution(Weidner).Socialworkershavebecomeknownfor
helpingtoidentifytheproblemandforhelpingtofindasolution.Ifmorepeopleopenedtheir
mindsandheartstohelpingotherpeopleoutwhentheyhadproblems,societywouldfunction
betterasawhole.Socialworkershelpinthisaspect.Theysearchforawaytohelpindividual
people,whichinturnsbenefitssocietyasawhole.
Socialworkersinitiallyworkedinhospitals,mentalhealthinstitutions,andthe
community(Kerson,McCoyd).Socialworkcameaboutinresponseto7maincategories.The
firstcategorythattheyrespondedtoconsistedofinjuriessustainedduringfightingwhileinthe
army.Socialworkersalsorespondedtominoritiesandunderrepresentedpopulations.The

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underrepresentedpopulationscausedmajorconcernforthesocialworkersasalotofthe
minorityhadtheirrightstrampleduponbythemajority(Kerson,McCoyd).Healthcrisesand
technologicaladvancesplayedamajorroleinbringingaboutsocialworkersaswell.Asthe
needsofsocietyevolved,sodidthewaystotacklethem.Theneedsofclientsmadeuponeof
themostimportantreasonswhysocialworkevolvedthewayitdid.Asmorepeoplebegan
needingsolutionstotheirproblemsandstress,socialworkevolvedtomeettheseneeds(Kerson,
McCoyd).Thepeoplewhoshowedadesiretohelpwiththeproblemsofothersbecameknown
farandwideasothersbegantotakeupthesameworkindifferentpartsofthecountry.
Occasionally,whentheclientcannot,orwillnotaccepthelpandcontinuestogetworse,
thesocialworkergetsblamedforit(Ribner).Sometimesthepatientinunresponsivetothecare
thatthesocialworkerattemptstogivethem.Thefamilyoftenblamesthesocialworkerfornot
helpingthepatient.Clientsresponddifferenttodifferentresourcesandtreatment.Thisoften
causescontroversybetweenthefamilyoftheclientandthesocialworker.Althoughsometimes
thesocialworkermaynothavetheabilitytohelptheclient,theyshouldstilltrytheirbesttodo
whattheycanforthepatient(Schillingetal).Inordertotrythebesttheycantohelpthepatient,
socialworkersshouldresearchforprogressivewaysthatmightservetheclientinawaythatthey
wouldopenlyaccept.
Socialworkconsistslargelyofresearch.Socialworkerscontinuouslylookforaffordable
resourcesthatwillhelptheirclient.Themoreresearchthatasocialworkerdoes,themore
informationtheywillhaveoncasesandtreatmentsthatconsistofsimilarcircumstancestothe
onetheyworkoncurrently(Schillingetal.527).Associalworkerscontinuetoresearchrelated
topicstothecases,theyoftencomeacrossteststhatothershaveconducted.Thesetestsgive

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resultsonvarioustreatmentsthatpeopleconductedonclientswithsimilarcases.Notonlydoes
researchinggivethesocialworkersapossibletreatmentplan,butitalsoletsthemfindtreatment
plansthattheclientscanaffordeasily(Schillingetal.528).Someclientscannotaffordthe
treatmentplansthatthesocialworkerhasfound.Thenitbecomesthejobofthesocialworkerto
domoreresearchandtrytofindatreatmentplanthatfitstheclientsbudget.Theclientdepends
onthesocialworkertodowhattheycanwiththeclientsbestinterestinmind.Thisincludes
makingsurethattheclientremainssatisfiedwhilefindinganaffordablesolutiontotheproblem.
Clientsoftentellthesocialworkerthingsthattheywouldratherkeepprivate.Becauseof
this,socialworkersmustadheretotheprivacypolicymentionedintheNationalAssociationof
SocialWorkers
CodeofEthics
.Thispolicystatesthatasocialworkermustkeepthedetailsof
thecasetohimselforherselfunlessitinvolvespotentialharmtotheclientoranyonearound
them(Douglas).Theclientshavetohavetheabilitytotrustthatwhattheytellthesocialworker
willnotgettoldtoothers.Peopleoftenworryabouttellingotherstheprivatethingsgoingonin
theirlifeandthiscouldmaketheclientnervous.Asocialworkershouldbeopenandhonest
withtheclient,allowingthemtofeelliketheycantalkabouttheissuesintheirlife.Thiswill
alsohelpbuildtherelationshipwiththeclient,whilekeepingitataprofessionallevel.This
remainsaveryimportantaspectofsocialwork.
Socialworkasacareercoversalotofdifferentportionsofhumanlife.Itbenefitsnot
onlythepeoplegettinghelp,butthepersonhelpingthemaswell.Itgivesthemasenseof
wellbeingandcomfortknowingthattheycontinuetohelpindividualsandsociety.Socialwork
remainsacomplicatedcareer.Asitprogressedfromtheverybeginningtonow,ithasadded
manydifferentjobsandaspects.Ajobasasocialworkercansometimeshavetryingeffectsand

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bringstressuponthesocialworker,butcoworkershelpathemtorelievethestressbytalking
thingsout.Overall,knowingthatonehasamajorroleinsocietyandinindividualslivesgives
thesocialworkerasenseofpeaceandprosperity.Socialworkhasamazingeffectsonpeople's
livesandthelifeofthecommunity.Acareerasasocialworkerhelpsmaintainsocietaland
individualhealth.Itbenefitsthecommonman,andeventhoughithasitstrialsandtribulations,
itremainsoneofthebestcareersinwhichtohelppeoplegrowandlearnin.

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Faver,CatherineA.,etal."ResearchAndPractice:OrientationsOfSocialWorkEducators."
SocialWork
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