The Value of Social Policy Practice for Social Work Professionals

by Gabriela Gomez Aquino, Noriela Flores, Deysi Torres, and Sophia Kien

     The social work profession was established through principles that promote social justice and advocacy for marginalized individuals in our society. Historically, social workers have had a vigorous involvement at both the macro and micro levels of policy practice, thus creating a larger impact at different levels of the spectrum. However, in the last decades, the social work profession has witnessed a gradual shift toward clinical level work with little emphasis on policy practice. This phenomenon can be largely attributed to the popularity of clinical work and the curricula offered in social work graduate programs.

     As social workers, we are required to intervene at all levels of practice and to pay attention to the socio-political aspects of social work. This allows us to have a holistic perspective on the needs of the populations we serve; to provide effective interventions at the macro-mezzo-micro levels; to promote equal rights and social justice; to engage in social activism; and, ultimately, to promote social change.

     Policies have an impact on the work of social workers and may limit the profession’s ability to promote efficacy in service delivery to consumers. It is our responsibility as social workers to abide by the NASW Code of Ethics by participating in policy practice and integrating it in our work with individuals in direct practice interventions, with groups, and at the organization and legislative levels.

     More resources need to be allocated to promote policy practice and integrate macro and micro levels in social work programs. Increasing policy practice classes in the social work curricula, hiring more policy expert staff, adopting a more generalist view, and increasing awareness of its value and relevance to create social change can all be starting points to a more balanced social work practice.

Gabriela Gomez Aquino, Noriela Flores, Deysi Torres, and Sophia Kien are MSW students at California State University Long Beach.