HISTORY OF THE PROFESSION OF SOCIAL WORK: A SECOND LOOK (NURSES, PUBLIC HEALTH, MEDICINE, PSYCHIATRY).
Contributors: Florence Heller Graduate School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 795
Subjects: Social Work.
Description: This research addresses the conflict and confusion associated with the "professional identity" of today's profession of social work---namely, the difference between the work, goals, and interests of professional social workers and their recognized ancestors in the 19th-century charity organization societies (COS). Its thesis suggests that professional social workers might more appropriately emphasize their "historical roots" in the work of the 19th-century nurses and similar physicians' assistants; thus, to see their professional work mainly within the field of medicine rather than intimately connected to the broad field of social welfare.

This historical research largely "re-looked" at common historical sources (i.e., those publications commonly cited by other social work historians) to see if a reinterpretation, consistent with the thesis, is possible or, perhaps, even more logical and accurate.

First, the research examined the usual view of the profession's history that focuses on the 19th-century COS. The discussion criticized this perspective of history and it disputed the associated historical links that have commonly been accepted. Then, the research examined the proposed alternate view of the profession's history. The discussion briefly developed an alternate historical perspective consistent with the thesis; links were developed between the early "nurses" and later professional social workers. It showed that nurses, especially community nurses, and similar medical assistants might be seen as the 19th-century "social workers" who were the primary foundation in the evolution of the later profession of social work.

The analysis suggests the thesis has validity. However, in spite of this, professional social workers have chosen to focus on their "COS roots" and to ignore or even deny their "nursing roots". This historical study suggests that the opposite choice would have been reasonable.

The analysis suggests, further, that the choice of one's historical perspective has practical and important implications for the present and future. For instance, one might ask: Are the profession's goals, interests, and professional model compatible? Is there some reason why professional social workers have denied their important "nursing" heritage? What other "facts" accepted by professional social workers are also choices? Ultimately, the research and analysis has many and varied implications.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-07, Section: A, page: 2742.

Thesis (PH.D.)--BRANDEIS U., THE F. HELLER GRAD. SCH. FOR ADV. STUD. IN SOC. WEL., 1986.

School code: 0541.