Society is evolving rapidly, which puts a significant responsibility on the shoulders of social workers to provide the best services to individuals living in a community. Social workers have to deal with cases related to isolation, drug addiction, violence, inequality, etc. A positive mindset with proper training allows them to analyze issues and come up with suitable solutions. But many challenges require the attention of the social work and welfare organizations.
Social work can play a crucial role in transforming societies and add value to people’s lives. The deep socio-economic and cultural knowledge allows professionals to understand people’s problems and act accordingly. It helps them to contribute positively to the ongoing progress of society. That said, listed below are some challenges that social workers must address.
Preventing family violence
Physical violence in families is one of the primary reasons for mental health issues worldwide. According to a statistical study, an average of 20 people suffers at the hands of their families/partners every day in the US. It makes millions of abuse victims per year. By putting the social exchange theory into practice to analyze the issues of families and identify the root cause of violence. It can help to determine the abuse as early as possible and to prevent it in the future.
Ensuring good health for youth
Providing good health to the youth is one of the significant challenges worldwide for social workers. According to a research study, around 1 in 10 children suffer from severe mental health problems. In 2011, youth depression was recorded at 8.5% in the US, increasing to 11.1% by 2014.
Regrettably, around 78% of children do not have proper medical treatment globally. Family-focused interventions can allow social workers to educate families through prevention programs. It can play an essential role in the mental and physical development of children.
Filling gaps in healthcare delivery
The limited access to healthcare facilities and services with issues of poverty and discrimination increases the chances of illness for marginalized communities. Social workers can build the bridge between quality healthcare services and needy families by deploying evidence-based social strategies. It can help to provide practical solutions to families who are living in impoverished areas.
Dealing with social isolation issues
According to psychologists, social isolation can be harmful and can lead to hormonal imbalance, and affect physical health. It is crucial to spread awareness among lonely individuals through social interaction to help them regain their self-confidence and self-esteem. It positively impacts the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the individuals facing social isolation.
Eradicate homelessness
Homelessness is one of the global issues that are a matter of concern for all social work organizations. According to a research study, there are currently around 500,000 homeless people in the US. Homelessness is ruthless, and it can turn an ordinary individual into a drug addict or a criminal. It can cause long-lasting health issues to the health of individuals. The development of new policies and innovative technologies can ensure affordable housing rates that can efficiently reduce homelessness.
Responding to a changing environment
It is essential to build social responses to address the issues of changing the environment. As a result of urban development and climate change, people’s health and the earth are at risk. Transformative social initiatives are required to build communities that can lead societies to take safety measures for dealing with the challenges of environmental changes.
Adopting the latest technological advancements
We live in the digital era, and technology has an immense impact on our daily life lives. By harnessing and utilizing technology efficiently, social workers can plan cases, make assessments, and set up treatment plans effectively. It may seem a bit challenging to stay aware of the latest technological developments. Still, short online courses can help social workers overcome this barrier. It is crucial to provide proper assistance to the individuals in need in a digitally advanced and dependent environment.
Promoting smart decarceration
Millions of people go to prisons every year. Evidence-based solutions are required to ensure smart decarceration. It reduces the number of individuals going to jail by taking necessary measures for public safety.
Addressing economic inequality
Economic inequality is one of the primary causes of poor well-being and the health of families. It is essential to address this issue to figure out how to tackle wage and tax differences among the impoverished and elite. It will help to reduce economic inequality and to help families who are struggling.
Building financial capability
Financial empowerment is vital for the people who are living hand to mouth and pay-check-to-pay-check. It is critical to building new policies that can ensure financial capability for all. It will help to reduce economic hardship and will enable social workers to help struggling families.
Ensuring justice and equality for all
Prejudice is the biggest hurdle in equal employment and education opportunities. By addressing injustice and racism, social workers can ensure equal opportunities for everyone in society to excel and prosper in their respective careers. The world is evolving rapidly, so everyone must acquire good education and skills to advance in this modern world.
Taking care of the aging population
The aging population is growing at a high rate, so it is essential to address their issues. Most social work organizations are currently working to address these health issues of adults aged 60 and older. With an increase in the aging population, the risk of health-related conditions will also arise. It will be tough for social and health services to create interventions to support the elderly population and fulfill their health needs.
Conclusion
Social work is one of the most challenging professions that put huge responsibilities on individuals’ shoulders. As a social worker, you have to critically analyze different issues to find out the efficient solutions that can positively contribute to society. From addressing healthcare issues to preventing homelessness, providing financial empowerment, to resolving family violence issues, you have to deal with all. While tackling all these issues, you should also have to be in perfect mental and physical shape to establish accurate assessments and find the right solutions for such matters.
