#MacroSW: Harnessing the Power of Social Work To Address 21st Century Grand Challenges
by Sunya W. Folayan, MSW, CFSW, Laurel Iversen Hitchcock, MPH, MSW, Ph.D., and Stephen P. Cummings, MSW
This article is based on a series of conversations and materials shared in #MacroSW chats about the Grand Challenges Initiative for Social Work during 2016. #MacroSW Twitter chats are held every Thursday night at 9 p.m. Eastern. For more information, check out https://macrosw.com. The New Social Worker is a #MacroSW media partner.
The Grand Challenges in Social Work Initiative is a call to action for our profession to solve our nation’s social problems, while advancing this work through science and technology. This work demands that we offer our best ideas, innovations, and energy to have an impact on our society. The Grand Challenges for Social Work were originally articulated by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare as focal points for further action needed in the 21st century. This is the perfect time for our profession to lead in changing the trajectory of our nation, because social work has always had a rich history as a catalyst for social change.
What is the Grand Challenges Initiative?
Historically, grand challenges have been grounded in mathematical problem solving and have mobilized innovative solutions. For more than 100 years, a grand challenges framework has prompted groups, professions, and institutions to find new ways to focus on meeting the greatest needs of society and to solve problems. Human achievement has always relied on massive social innovation. Social innovations have created conditions that make technological and economic advancement possible.
According to Sherraden et al. (2014), to understand social work is to understand the profession’s interdisciplinary foundation, which lends itself to innovation via design, testing, implementing policies and programs that promote dignity, fairness, social justice, and human protection. The profession of social work has achieved a number of major accomplishments, making paradigm shifts in how we look after one another, throughout our lives (American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, [AASWSW], 2013). Examples include: contributions to the protection and deinstitutionalization of children; mothers’ pensions; the creation of the Social Security Act; and increased civil rights for African Americans, women, and American Indians.
The profession of social work has made tremendous contributions toward our society’s forward movement, but more must be done. To remain relevant in the age of technology and information, we must step up our game. Today’s 12 grand challenges in social work are organized around three main areas—individual and family well-being, stronger social fabric, and a just society.
These topics arose from three initial working papers, and together they promote a broad vision for societal change (AASWSW, n.d.). The Grand Challenges Initiative creates a vision that encompasses creating optimal human and social conditions. This includes achieving individual and family well-being, creating a stronger social fabric of support for everyone, and building a just and equitable society that fights exclusion and marginalization; a society that creates a sense of belonging, promotes trust, and opens opportunities for social and economic progress (American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, n.d.). See AASWSW’s website for a list of all 12 challenges: http://aaswsw.org/grand-challenges-initiative
What are #MacroSW social workers saying about the Grand Challenges Initiative?
In 2016, #MacroSW hosted seven chats, each focused on one of the grand challenges. Staff and researchers from the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (@AASWSWorg) participated in the chats. For each chat, we offer a summary of solutions discussed by participants and a link to the chat transcript.
Build financial capability for all
The first #MacroSW chat included a lively discussion on financial capability and asset building. Participants considered several interventions, including: creating investment accounts for children starting at birth, improving financial literacy and education, removing community barriers so all can access good financial services, and ensuring that financial policies and public protection laws create fair and equal access to financial support for all. For a copy of the transcript from January 14, 2016: https://storify.com/SunyaFolayan/macrosw1-14-2016-financial-capability-and-asset-bu?
Harness technology for social good
For this chat, participants were asked to think about how they use technology in their everyday practice. Examples included using technology to keep digital patient and client records, for education and advocacy, networking with colleagues, and engaging in research. Major challenges for effective use of technology in social work included: tools and applications designed without considering the needs of the social worker, as well as a lack of confidence within the social work community to adapt and use new technological tools and resources. For a copy of the transcript from February 11, 2016: https://storify.com/KristinBF/chat-on-2-11-about-leveraging-technology-for-socia
Ensuring healthy development for youth
We asked, “What resources can social workers use to learn more about promoting positive health, preventing problems before they occur?” This question inspired a range of positive interventions: supporting social-emotional programs and curricula in public schools; putting emphasis on developing grant-writing skills; improving quality of after-school programs; and developing mentoring, in which positive peer interactions can be modeled and reinforced. For a copy of the transcript from March 10, 2016: https://storify.com/KristinBF/macrosw-march-10th-chat-ensuring-healthy-developme
Promote smart decarceration
Participants were asked to consider examples of how the transition to smart decarceration should be handled. To address this, participants suggested lighter sentences for nonviolent offenses, diversion to rehabilitation programs for people with mental illness, and a repeal of mandatory sentencing. For a copy of the transcript from April 14, 2016: https://storify.com/UBSSW/smart-decarceration-and-social-work-macrosw-chat-4?
Eradicate social isolation
Social isolation is related to progressively poor health among adults, making it a key focus of the grand challenges. This #MacroSW chat inspired many ideas and resource sharing. Meaningful interventions discussed included the positive effects of pet ownership, preventive health screenings that emphasize social health as well as mental health, and ways to improve social networking for older adults. For a copy of the transcript from May 12, 2016: https://storify.com/OfficialMacroSW/grand-challenges-macrosw-chat-social-isolation-on-
End homelessness
This chat focused on social work’s goal of ending, not managing, homelessness. This chat was conducted utilizing the context of social workers pushing back against laws criminalizing homeless behaviors. Social workers and allied professionals discussed the central role we play in addressing homelessness, including some of the complex issues related to it: mental illness; poverty; addiction; affordable housing; and the vulnerability of women, children, and veterans. For a copy of the transcript from June 9, 2016: https://storify.com/KristinBF/macrosw-chat-ending-homelessness-june-9/preview
Advance long and productive lives
This chat addressed how social workers can lead the way on the challenge. Participants emphasized the need for ensuring that programs focusing on aging adults are productive. Programs can be improved when seniors are paid to teach others about topics they love. The development of intergenerational communities, where older and younger generations can learn from and support each other, was identified as a strength. For a copy of the transcript from October 6, 2016: https://storify.com/UBSSW/advancing-long-and-productive-lives-10-06-16-macro
How can #MacroSW continue to address Grand Challenges?
The next step will be to feature the remaining challenges in future discussions, including: creating social responses to a changing environment, stopping family violence, reducing extreme economic inequality, achieving equal opportunity and justice, and closing the health gap. #MacroSW invites practitioners and researchers to share their insights into these topics. Given the volatile political climate, where key state and federal legislation may have adverse impact on the lives of people who represent the focus of the Grand Challenges, #MacroSW may revisit key Grand Challenge topics in the chat forum, and make recommendations for equitable policy and practice statements.
Check out the rest of the #MacroSW chat schedule for 2017 at http://www.macrosw.com and join an upcoming #MacroSW Twitter Chat.
References
American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. (n.d.). About - Grand Challenges for Social Work. Retrieved from: http://aaswsw.org/grand-challenges-initiative/about/
American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. (2013, November). Grand Accomplishments in Social Work. (Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative, Working Paper No. 2). Baltimore, MD: Author.
Sherraden, M., Barth, R. P., Brekke, J., Fraser, M., Mandersheid, R., & Padgett, D. (2014a). Social is fundamental: Introduction and context for grand challenges for social work (Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative Working Paper No. 1). Baltimore, MD: American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare.
Sunya W. Folayan, MSW, CFSW, is an independent social work macro-practitioner working at the intersections of art, racial equity, financial capability, and community engagement. She is based in Charlotte, NC.
Laurel Iverson Hitchcock, MPH, MSW, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of social work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is a partner of the #MacroSW online community.
Stephen Cummings, MSW, is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Iowa School of Social Work, where he is the Director of Distance Education.