Social work is the professional activity of helping individuals, groups, and communities improve their overall social functioning and working toward influencing environmental social conditions that will aid is reaching this goal. Social workers help people gain access to resources; provide counseling to individuals, groups, and families; work to enhance social and health services; and advocate for the individuals they serve (National Association of Social Workers [NASW], 1973). Social workers are committed to helping individuals obtain ultimate functioning in their environment and have expertise in human behavior and development; social, community, and cultural organizations; and the interactions that take place between these factors (Barker, 1999).

Role and Function

School social work is a specialized area of social work practice. School social workers help students make successful school adjustments ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles