Reconsidering Social Work 100 Years Post-Flexner: Where Are We Now, Where Are We Headed, What Has Been Gained, What Has Been Lost?

ABSTRACT

A century has passed since Abraham Flexner deemed social work not to be a profession, and the field finds itself once again in a moment of questioning and redefining its nature, objectives, methods, and standing among the professions and in the academy. In this introduction we revisit Flexner’s influential speech, review some of the critical issues facing social work today, and highlight the contributions of the 15 social work educators from schools all across the country, experts in social work research, practice, policy, and education, as they consider what social work has been, where it stands today, and what it should be as we look to the future.

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Notes on contributors

Caroline Rosenthal Gelman

Caroline Rosenthal Gelman is Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs and an Associate Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, City University of New York. Manny González is an Associate Professor and Director of the MSW Program at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College; Associate Professor at the Graduate Center, City University of New York.

Manny J. González

Caroline Rosenthal Gelman is Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs and an Associate Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, City University of New York. Manny González is an Associate Professor and Director of the MSW Program at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College; Associate Professor at the Graduate Center, City University of New York.