International perspectives on social work
What is social work in different countries, and what can we include in the term “social work”?
We are going to take a look at different perspectives on social work from around the globe. Please watch all the videos from our partners, and then work together in groups to do the study questions.
Introduction, and social work i Norway – University of South-Eastern Norway
In this introduction to social work in an international perspective you will meet Steinar Vikholt, assistant professor and SocNet98 coordinator from USN, Norway.
Social work in USA – California State University, Dominguez Hills:
In USA the education of social worker is both on bachelor level, and on masters level. In addition to that, there is also an education that is named human services.
Meka Brown, MA, MS from CSUDH, from the department of Human Services explains:
Where should the social worker work? In the frontline and “in the trenches” or working with “the worried well”? Listen to Professor Phan from CSUDH:
In addition to this you can also listen to intervues with social workers working in childe welfare services in the US, and a social worker that works in the US prison system:
Social work in the US
Some social workers work more with therapeutic treatment. Listen to Rocío d. Garcías introduction to being a social worker in the US prison system:
Some countries has child protection as a special education for social workers, other have it as something you train as after the education. Here you can hear Yaneli Díaz from Department of Children and Family Services, Los Angeles County tell about her work as an Children Social Worker in the US.
Social work in Spain
Dr. Came Montserrat and Dr. Josan Langarita, both lecturer and researchers of Social Work Education in the Faculty of Education and Psychology at the University of Girona gives examples on social work from the Spanish perspective:
Social work in Belgium
Ivette Leten is the international coordinator of social work from PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Belgium: