The Interrelationship of the Origins and Present State of Social Work in the United States and Cuba: The Power of a Profession to Bridge Cultures

Abstract

Comparative historical and contemporary approaches to social development in the United States and Cuba as facilitated by professional social workers in these two countries are described and analyzed in this article. Modern day Cuba’s focus on redistributive policies and a community-based social work practice approach to addressing critical social and economic issues are discussed in relation to policies that are said to respond to similar social and economic needs in the U.S. The very different strategic approaches to meeting these social and economic needs are also discussed. There is currently a greater emphasis on clinical social work practice with individuals, families, and groups in the United States. Access to quality health care is considered here along with the social work practice methods that are emphasized today in both countries. An analysis of past and contemporary social work intervention strategies in these societies may foretell the power of a profession to bridge cultures and social systems.

Keywords:

• Comparative approaches to social development
• social work in Cuba
• social work in the U.S.
• access to quality affordable health care
• social justice