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Congressional Research Institute for Social Work & Policy (CRISP)
Unleashing the Power of Social Work on the Hill
Social Workers Face Many Challenges on the Hill
There’s so much going on in the world around us each day. Decisions are being made in the political arena that will impact us for a lifetime. Do you usually take a backseat on politics but would like to stay informed?
Social workers must be aware of what is going on in the political arena on all levels of government. Principles in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics state:
Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems . . . Social workers challenge injustice.
Many of the policies chosen and laws enacted are decided in the political arena. Thus, social workers must be engaged with the political system at all levels of government.
The BEYOND ADVOCACY Blog
BY CHARLES E. LEWIS, JR
DEMOCRACY is a fragile political system that empowers citizens to participate in decision-making to determine how their society is governed, how legislators and other governmental officials are elected or selected, how resources are distributed, and what rights will be accorded to the citizenry. This is often spelled out in a founding document such as a constitution.
Diversity is a challenge because differences in race, ethnicity, culture, values, customs, religion, and ideology may lead to conflicting or competing aspirations. As a nation of immigrants and one of the world’s most diverse societies, the United States has experienced challenges keeping a peaceful coexistence among its various factions.
Attacks on democratic institutions like the media, the courts, and free and fair elections can erode trust in government and lead to autocratic forms of government.
