TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Worker Identity
T2 - A Profession in Context
AU - Forenza, Brad
AU - Eckert, Caitlin
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Social work is a broad field encompassing micro, mezzo, and macro areas of practice. Consequently, the field lacks a unifying professional identity due to the expansiveness of the profession. Professional identity is conceptualized as an extension of social identity, vis-à-vis the embodiment of three qualities: connectedness, expansiveness, and effectiveness. This study used 12 in-depth, individual interviews with practicing social workers to explore these qualities. Findings from interviews reveal six primary themes and 21 subthemes pertaining to social worker identity. Themes and subthemes are organized according to three broad families (social work in context, professional trajectories, and external influences). Implications for policy, practice, and future research are presented.
AB - Social work is a broad field encompassing micro, mezzo, and macro areas of practice. Consequently, the field lacks a unifying professional identity due to the expansiveness of the profession. Professional identity is conceptualized as an extension of social identity, vis-à-vis the embodiment of three qualities: connectedness, expansiveness, and effectiveness. This study used 12 in-depth, individual interviews with practicing social workers to explore these qualities. Findings from interviews reveal six primary themes and 21 subthemes pertaining to social worker identity. Themes and subthemes are organized according to three broad families (social work in context, professional trajectories, and external influences). Implications for policy, practice, and future research are presented.
KW - Advocacy
KW - Empathy
KW - Empowerment
KW - Professional identity
KW - Social justice
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042386965&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/sw/swx052
DO - 10.1093/sw/swx052
M3 - Article
C2 - 29140502
AN - SCOPUS:85052569852
SN - 0037-8046
VL - 63
SP - 17
EP - 26
JO - Social Work (United States)
JF - Social Work (United States)
IS - 1
ER -