The Profession’s Role in Meeting its Historical Mission to Serve Vulnerable Populations

Abstract

This article provides an historical account of how the profession of social work met or failed to meet its mission in the provision of services to those who were poor, oppressed, and vulnerable to societal injustices from the mid-twentieth century, including the turbulent Civil Rights Era, to the early twenty-first century. The profession’s growth and expansion and the challenge of mediating resistance to change are highlighted based on eyewitness accounts.

Keywords

• Professional mission, CSWE standards, civil rights era, poverty, race, injustice, social work theories, women, people of color, sexual orientation and gender expression