Social Work Education and the Changing Nature of Public Agency Practice

Abstract

It has long been assumed that social work education provides the relevant body of knowledge and skills for public agency work. However, there is evidence to suggest a growing incongruence between public agency practice and social work skills and education. A dramatic shift of responsibility for service delivery to the private sector has resulted in changes in the functions of the public agency. Citing recent studies, this article explores the evolving nature of public agency practice, highlighting major implications for the partnership between social work practice and education.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Margaret Gibelman

MARGARET GIBELMAN is a program associate at the Council on Social Work Education and at the time of writing was a senior staff associate at the National Conference on Social Welfare. This paper was originally presented at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting in New York City, March 1982.