The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) specifies the ethics and values of the profession in
their Code of Ethics. Section 6.04 of the Code of Ethics (1999) states:
Social workers should engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure that all people have equal
access to the resources, employment, services, and opportunities they require to meet their basic human
needs and to develop fully. Social workers should be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice
and should advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet
basic human needs and promote social justice.(Preamble, p. 8)
With the requirement of social and political action among social workers, there is little political activity
among clinical social workers. Why? What barriers exist that prevent social workers from fulfilling this
ethical obligation?
What does it mean to be a macro social worker? A micro social worker? Do these differentiations have
any real meaning? If not, why is this language used when referring to the social work profession?
In this Discussion, you will look at the obligation of social workers to engage in political action in their
practice and discuss why there appear to be different perceptions of the responsibility for political action
among social work professionals.
By Day 4
Post an analysis of historical divides (such as the schism between Jane Addams and Mary Richmond) and
historical influences on current social work practice with respect to policy advocacy and action. Do such
schisms exist in contemporary social work? If you think these divides exist, how do they prevent social
workers from fulfilling their ethical obligation(s)? Are they important differentiation?
Sample Solution
