Social Work Matters: Californians' Perceptions of Social Welfare

Publication Date

10-1-2018

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Social Work

Volume

63

Issue

4

DOI

10.1093/sw/swy032

First Page

305

Last Page

315

Abstract

This article reports on findings from a representative survey of Californians (N = 946) and their perception of social work and its professionals. Analysis of the survey data indicates that the public holds a generally positive view of social work and its "helping" nature, although social work is considered one of the least prestigious professions. Respondents primarily associated social work with child protection and behavioral health roles, and less often with tasks such as community organizing, promoting social justice, and crafting social policy. Implications are considered for renegotiating the identity of social work and foregrounding social justice.

Keywords

identity, perceptions, population, social work

Department

Social Work

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