A “Just Sense of Well-Being”: Social Work's Unifying Purpose in Action

Abstract

For over a century the social work profession has had a dual purpose, to promote both human well-being and social justice, but we have not found research that explores how social workers understand and work toward both purposes across multiple practice roles and settings. Authors of this article conducted qualitative research to examine how 18 social workers in various roles and settings understand and implement both purposes in their practice. Instead of a dual purpose, participants described a unifying purpose: a "just sense of well-being" that transcends role and setting. Valuing the dignity and worth of all human beings frames and fuels their work toward a just sense of well-being through three interactive themes: challenging injustice on every level; constructing justice through relationship and resource organizing; and constructing justice through the creation of accepting environments where professionals, clients, and community members can reflect and question, and change mind-sets and actions. Participants provided an array of possibilities for action with clients, professionals, and public leaders within organizations and communities. The implication here is that social workers are charged to reinvigorate purpose and values back into practice with value-based assessment thinking that frames possibilities for action across methods and settings.

Глобальні Модальності Для Соціальних Працівників: Чи Скористається Українська Освіта Моментом, Щоб Змінитися?

“…Currently, in most European countries, educational programs have been revised and adjusted in order to create a basis for the main learning outcomes to be based on the achievement by students of the competencies needed for modern anti-discrimination practice. These competences should support the findings of Keenan, Limone and Sandoval (2017) who underline the importance of social work abilities to challenge injustice on every level; to construct justice through relationship and resource organizing; and to construct justice through the creation of accepting environments where professionals, clients, and community members can change mind-sets and actions.…”

Realizing the potential for leadership in social work

“…60-90 minute audiotaped interviews focused on eight openended questions exploring the influences and thinking regarding participants' understandings of practice, well-being, and social justice, along with illustrative examples from their practice. (Keenan, Limone, & Sandoval, 2017).…”

Burnout, negative emotions, and wellbeing among social workers in China after community lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic: Mediating roles of trait mindfulness

“…The responsibilities of SWs are specifically related to providing care to community residents, and the tasks of such professionals involve giving residents the assurance of access to primary healthcare, maintaining order in the community, and using their actions to maintain a “just sense of wellbeing” that transcends their roles and environments ( 17 ). The meticulous and detailed work of SWs endows them with vital social responsibilities.…”