Building a Better World through Social Work
Introduction
- Social Work has aimed at creating and implementing social innovations for over a century.
- Focus on transforming lives and strengthening communities.
Key Areas of Impact
- Helping individuals grow up and age at home, not in institutions.
- Creating innovative mental health services.
- Leading efforts in productive aging.
- Fighting for racial justice and civil rights.
The Need for Measurable Social Change
- Aim to achieve a just and cohesive society.
- Emphasize social change that is measurable, scalable, and sustainable.
- Use science as the foundation for positive change.
Science and Social Progress
- Employ tested methods based on robust data for lasting impact.
- Grand Challenges for Social Work powered by science.
- The role of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare.
The Grand Challenges
- A movement to focus great minds and foster collaboration.
- Social Work's scientific base qualifies it to tackle these challenges.
12 Grand Challenges for Social Work
- Ensure Healthy Development for All Youth
- Close the Health Gap
- Stop Family Violence
- Advance Long and Productive Lives
- Eradicate Social Isolation and Homelessness
- Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment
- Harness Technology for Social Good
- Promote Smart Decarceration
- Build Financial Capability for All
- Reduce Extreme Economic Inequality
- Achieve Equal Opportunity and Justice
- Foster a New Generation of Social Workers Focused on Big Issues
Objectives and Outcomes
- Strive for equal opportunities and justice.
- Use existing tools and evidence ready for scaling.
- Inspire new research, innovation, and partnerships.
- Connect scientific research with policies and programs.
Collaboration and Communication
- Working across disciplines and sectors.
- Connect social work research to practice.
- Attract partners to drive transformative social change.
Conclusion
- Grand Challenges define the highest goals: well-being, strong social fabric, and justice.
- Aim to communicate the profession to a new generation.
- Call to action for individuals to participate in meeting these challenges.
Further Information
Together, we can build a better world by meeting these Grand Challenges.