Contemporary challanges of social work in Ohio, USA

Abstract

Social work deals with problems of individuals, families, organizations and communities. However, an evolving set of challenges continues to shape the future of social work theory, research and interventions. Social work is a profession with its own code and follows a set of standards and ethics rules at the federal level, but the licensing processes are controlled at the state level and the professional policies are set at the national and local level. Social workers, therefore, are trained to think in a systemic way and to work with a person-in-environment perspective at the individual and the community level. This text shows how the challenges of the twenty-first century impact the education of social workers as well as social work practice. The economy and globalization present a number of challenges – all of which contribute to creation of new social problems and need for social innovation. New technologies have opened the door for educational and clinical opportunities to connect and engage people in need, however, the digitalization excluded a group of people with a low income. Social work education must keep up with the pressures of the economic aspects influencing the education market and the growing evidence base to support trauma-informed care, the use of psychiatric rehabilitation, prevent bullying at schools and cyberspace, care for elderly and the constant changes ushered in by modernization and globalization. The implications of these challenges are reviewed and provide guidance for social work educators, social work students and social work practitioners.