These are demanding competencies that require hard work and careful practice to master. Some of the areas covered in social work are clearly shared with other professions, including clinical psychology, medicine, business, law and social research. Not only must social workers cooperate with specialists in these areas, they must also understand the strengths and weaknesses of their collaborators. In some cases, they may need to challenge the viewpoint of another profession to judge all claims to professional knowledge by practical effects. Because racism, discrimination and oppression constitute a profound problem in this country and because their expression violates basic values and purposes in social welfare, Bryn Mawr seeks to awaken the advocacy spirit and support each student in learning the skills and strategies that will help to make this a more equitable society.
Special attention is given throughout the curriculum to conditions of the oppressed.
The School is also committed to hiring faculty members who are multiracial in perspective and who can relate their subject matter to the needs of groups seeking an equal measure of social justice. Bryn Mawr accepts responsibility for preparing social workers to serve all persons within the social welfare system and to change those economic, political and social structures that constrain the opportunities of minority groups. Policy makers of the '90s relied upon the strategy of using words and phraseology to confuse and recast the pressing social issues that have been with us for the last 30 years. Social services in the public and private sectors carry the burden of responding to what at times seem to be overwhelming needs and demands from those who pay for and use the services as well as from those who ultimately decide what the funding levels will be. Bryn Mawr maintains its commitment to strengthening public and private agencies.