Achieving Political Practice

Abstract

Social work faces significant challenges to define its role in the current political climate in the United States. The federal government has retreated from its position of guarantor of assistance to those who are most in need. States and local jurisdictions now set the rules and the tone for helping. Social workers can position themselves to help individuals, families, and communities. They can also continue the tradition in the profession for bringing social change. This paper describes a continuum of approaches to social work practice that leads one to radical or political practice. There are examples of client-centered and reflective practice. I include a discussion of feminist practice, empowerment-based practice, policy-practice, and radical practice. I then provide a case example of an organization in which work occurs at each step of the continuum.

Key Words:

• Social action
• political practice
• social change
• feminist practice
• policy