The Diminishing Role of Social Work Administrators in Social Service Agencies

ABSTRACT

The social service industry in the United States has experienced tremendous growth and change since the early 1970s. Unfortunately, the social work profession has not kept up with this growth and change. This article explores several issues that have emerged in social work administration that may contribute to the seemingly diminished role of social workers in administrative positions in social service agencies. They include the role that schools of social work play in educating social workers for administration, competition for administrative positions in social service agencies, and the differences which exist between administration in social service agencies and other types of organizations.

Key Words:

• Human services
• social service management
• social work administration
• social work education
• uniqueness of human service management