Social Work Week celebrations: Finding the ruby, gold is not far behind

The annual celebration of the social work week in the Philippines stemmed from the Ruby Anniversary of the Social Work Law in June 19, 2005. With the paradigm shift on policy advocacy, as a challenge during the National Convention of two major social work organizations, a series of joint meetings and regional consultations of social workers in Western Visayas were held in Iloilo City. Participants exhaustively looked for ways and means in pooling resources to deliberately and systematically promote the Social Work profession and its significant role in effecting social transformation.

In the process, we found out that 2005 is the 40th year of the Social Work Law. Otherwise known as Republic Act 4373, the law was passed on June 19, 1965. However, it was noticed that the significance of the date of the passage of the Social Work Law had not been officially observed unlike other social welfare legislations which were passed even later. So, we thought of making the occasion a good opportunity to unite in promoting our profession.

With such discovery, we were very excited to think of activities to maximize the celebration. We thought of coming up with a resolution requesting then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to declare June 13-19 as Social Work Week in Western Visayas, as it would be within our area of work. It gained strong support from other social work-led organizations and alliances in the region, as well as government officials and NGO leaders in the Regional Development Council. However, the Regional Development Council, which endorsed our resolution, opted for the national declaration as the Social Work Law is national in scope. Hence, the declaration should benefit other provinces in various regions.

Getting the clue from people in the authority, we informed both the national board of Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI) and National Association of Social Work Education, Inc. (NASWEI) of this discovery and subsequent move to solicit support either thru endorsement of the resolution or making a national resolution related to the regional resolution. While it failed to get the declaration from the Philippine President for some technicalities, the PASWI National called for the celebration nationwide. In Western Visayas, we succeeded in our advocacy as all provinces and major cities have institutionalized the celebration by respective resolutions/ordinances. Since then, while the degree and focus vary the event has been celebrated every year.

Later, in our research, we realized that our initiative is just a continuation of the tradition of the contribution of Ilonggo social workers in the history of the profession.

The first and foremost among Filipino social work pioneer is an Ilongga- Josefa Jara Martinez. Martinez was the first executive secretary of the Associated Charities, considered to be the forerunner of social work in the Philippines. She was also the founder and first director of the first school of social work in the Philippines, now known as Philippine School of Social Work which was affiliated with the Philippine Women's University. In 1978, she was awarded as Social Worker of the Year Award by the Professional Regulations Commissions.

Martinez was among the 7 pioneers that formed the first association of social workers in the Philippines. Joining her were two Ilongga social workers, namely: Carmen Montinola-Luz and Felicidad A. De Silva from Capiz. It was reported that the social worker-senator who authored the RA 4373 Dr. Maria Kalaw- Katigbak reportedly traces her roots from Molo, Iloilo City.

(to be continued)

Social Work as a Profession

It’s Social Work Week in the Philippines. The celebration commemorates the anniversary of the Republic Act 4373, otherwise known as the Social Work Law. The passage of the Social Work Law on June 19, 1965 has regulated the practice of social work and the operation of social welfare agencies in the Philippines. Subsequently, it has created a new interest in social work and in the field of social welfare. Incidentally, the date falls on the birthday of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

While the celebration is national in scope as endorsed by the association of professional social workers, the dynamism is more felt in Iloilo and the whole Western Visayas where the annual celebration has been institutionalized by virtue of provincial resolutions/ordinances. This year’s theme is Social Workers Responding to the Challenges of the Time. The choice has been inspired by the theme for World Social Work Day on March 15, 2011 - “Social Work voices responding to global crisises: Together we develop the Agenda!“

The celebration is a good opportunity to blog about social work. Contrary to perennial misconception, social work is a profession. While it started from charitable act, the welfare activities have emerged and joined the noble professions in the world. As a start of this series of blogs on the subject, I am presenting in toto the international definition of social work as adopted by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) in Montréal, Canada, July 2000

DEFINITION*

The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.

COMMENTARY

Social work in its various forms addresses the multiple, complex transactions between people and their environments. Its mission is to enable all people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. Professional social work is focused on problem solving and change. As such, social workers are change agents in society and in the lives of the individuals, families and communities they serve. Social work is an interrelated system of values, theory and practice.

VALUES

Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are based on respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people. Since its beginnings over a century ago, social work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human potential. Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action. In solidarity with those who are dis-advantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion. Social work values are embodied in the profession’s national and international codes of ethics.

THEORY

Social work bases its methodology on a systematic body of evidence-based knowledge derived from research and practice evaluation, including local and indigenous knowledge specific to its context. It recognises the complexity of interactions between human beings and their environment, and the capacity of people both to be affected by and to alter the multiple influences upon them including bio-psychosocial factors. The social work profession draws on theories of human development and behaviour and social systems to analyse complex situations and to facilitate individual, organisational, social and cultural changes.

PRACTICE

Social work addresses the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society. It responds to crises and emergencies as well as to everyday personal and social problems. Social work utilises a variety of skills, techniques, and activities consistent with its holistic focus on persons and their environments.

Social work interventions range from primarily person-focused psychosocial processes to involvement in social policy, planning and development. These include counselling, clinical social work, group work, social pedagogical work, and family treatment and therapy as well as efforts to help people obtain services and resources in the community.

Interventions also include agency administration, community organisation and engaging in social and political action to impact social policy and economic development. The holistic focus of social work is universal, but the priorities of social work practice will vary from country to country and from time to time depending on cultural, historical, and socio-economic conditions.

* This international definition of the social work profession replaces the IFSW definition adopted in 1982. It is understood that social work in the 21st century is dynamic and evolving, and therefore no definition should be regarded as exhaustive.

Experience is not the best teacher

Since time immemorial, experience has been acclaimed as the best teacher. Nobody dares argue. Not until somebody claims, it is the worst. I don't want to join the debate because I already found the best teacher, i.e. life itself. A timeless, tireless, relentless and irresistible teacher, as well. Giving me lessons, despite my unwillingness to learn.

The year 2009 will long be forgotten by my family as it marks my 55th birthday. At the peak of service, I felt relatively stable and fulfilled in my achievements. The ups and downs of life's experiences have increased my knowledge and honed my skills in living and serving. Unsophisticated, my direction was to receive less and give more. Beaming with confidence I have learned much from life, my motivation was to teach and share with others the riches of knowledge and experiences in service.

At that time, my successful leadership as national president of the Baptist pastors affiliated with the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches was wrapping up. Five years earlier, I was awarded as one of the ten outstanding social workers of the Philippines. I could not have asked for more except longer life to continue my service. And to consolidate my life's experiences and service into a dream book/publication on spirituality for future references.

All of the sudden, the ecstasy was shattered by a chronic heart ailment, compounded with unusual nerve disorder in the last quarter of the aforementioned year. A matter of three months away from our national assembly to cap my six years of service and leadership. It was a devastating experience for me and my family. The worst we ever encountered so far. Such condition has constrained my active life of service. Adding pain was the realization that we have given all in service without saving for ourselves in times of crisis.

Since then, most of my time has been spent at home due to limited mobility, making me vulnerable to discouragement and depression. This condition goes on for more than a year. An on-going wrestle with the nagging issues of pain and suffering and search for the meaning of all these experiences in life. Still, I manage (should I say, force) to maintain my teaching employment, after 8 months of sick leave.

The healing process has been very slow with intervals of critical interlude due to heat and humidity or every time I overstretch my limits. During lucid times, I almost forget my condition, especially when missing my traditional diversion at home –carpentry, gardening and yard cleaning. Hence, I end up either with strained heart or hypertensive condition which require more medication and time to recover. It is here where experience is no longer best teacher.

However, my attitude has dramatically changed. Instead of lingering on endless questions and debates, alluding to God or blaming self and circumstances, I take everything as part of the process. Assured that sooner or later, I will learn lessons and find the meaning to any circumstance in life. For, indeed, "nothing can separate us from the love of God." He will never allow all of life - experiences, pains and gains, sorrows and joys in service, and more to come to naught. For after all, He is with us now and in eternity. Reflecting on the totality of life – both here and thereafter, I have discovered the real best teacher. LIFE itself.

SOCIAL WORKERS RESPOND TO GLOBAL SOCIAL CRISISES

We yield today's blog to the relevant press release in relation to the celebration of the World Social Work Day, today, March 15, 2011. We join the social workers worldwide in this celebration. Long live the social workers!

Social Workers in All Nations Called to Promote International Poverty and Human Rights Agenda on World Social Work Day

BERNE, Switzerland—Social Workers around the world will join together to celebrate World Social Work Day on March 15, 2011. This annual event, celebrated on the third Tuesday in March, focuses on social work contributions to society and is part of an on-going dialogue about how to address challenging social conditions worldwide.

The theme for World Social Work Day 2011 is “Social Work voices responding to global crisises: Together we develop the Agenda!“

Every day, Social Workers respond to individual and family crises—they open doors for service users and offer solutions for a wide range of problems. But social workers are also skilled in analyzing the frameworks of social conditions, and know how to change them to foster a more dignified life for all people, in all communities.

The Social Work profession helps nations respond to economic and social changes that disproportionately affect vulnerable people and communities. Working in partnership with many other professions, Social Work promotes the social welfare of individuals, groups and communities, facilitates social cohesion in periods of change, while supporting and protecting the most vulnerable members of society.

True social development can only come through global interaction. Although most social work practice is local, the impact of social work leadership is inarguably international. Those suffering the most under the current global financial crisis are the poorest people in every country—those least likely to recover from the devastation.

“Billions have been spent saving banks across the world. It is unfair and outrageous that the price for this bailout is to be paid by the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. For example, while billions have been spent to stabilize banks, the total budget for the UN World Food Programme has been reduced by half.” says Gary Bailey, president of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).

IFSW and its member organizations believe that efforts made to save the banks have resulted in very few financial commitments by the industrialized world to reach the UN’s Millennium Development Goals for ending world poverty.

At the 2010 Hong Kong World Conference, Social Workers from all over the world gathered to begin a process to develop a Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development for the next decade. Thousands came together with the belief that the world can be changed for the better if the profession stands together—advocating for the dignity and worth of every person, calling for a more just world, and celebrating the importance of human relationships in a healthy environment.

This Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development challenges the profession’s leaders to:

*Ensure nations meet the most basic human rights to food and shelter, clothing and medical care for all their people.
*Raise awareness about poverty as a human rights violation in all countries.
*Implement the IFSW Policy on Poverty Eradication.
*Champion the Social Protection Floor Initiative of the UN which ensures universal
social protection to health, education, shelter and security, as pledged in the Universal *Declaration of Human Rights.
*Demonstrate improvements in people’s lives.

The Agenda is a joint effort between the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), and the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW).

Next year, on World Social Work Day 2012, the Social Work Global Agenda will be submitted to the United Nations Secretary General. At the same time, regional social work groups will submit the Agenda to international organizations, such as the African Union, the European Union, Mercosur, ASEAN, and others. National social work groups will also be called upon to submit the Global Agenda to their respective governments.

IFSW invites its membership , service users, colleagues in other professions and all those with a concern for the health of local, national and global communities on March 15th, 2011 World Social Work Day 2011 to not only celebrate the many achievements of the profession on all continents, but also to help build interest in making the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development a reality.