Integrating Social Workers’ Christian Faith in Social Work: A National Survey

Abstract

Over the past few decades, researchers have focused considerable attention on religion, spirituality, and faith (RSF) in social work. However, most of this research has been focused on the RSF of clients rather than on RSF of social workers themselves. This study used the Social Worker’s Integration of their Faith – Christian (SWIF-C; Author, 2019) to explore efforts by NACSW members (n = 486) to integrate their Christian faith and social work. Overall, participants reported high levels of faith and social work integration—with both faith and social work influencing the other—and also noted some experience of conflict in their effort to integrate their faith and social work. With a goal of developing sustained ethical and competent professional practice, the paper concludes with recommendations for helping students and supervisees integrate their own faith and social work.