Paper 1: Understanding our Past

Tracing the Evolution of Social Work Values and Ethics: A Historical Perspective

Alexandra Gonzalez
SWG 540: Professional Seminar I
September 2, 2023
PAPER 1: UNDERSTANDING OUR PAST 2

The field of social work is firmly based on ethical principles and values that have developed

over time. As social workers navigate a plethora of intricate and often morally complex

circumstances in the course of their duties, these fundamental principles act as a guide for upholding

the profession's integrity, promoting social justice, and ensuring the well-being of the clients and

communities they serve. To properly understand the current ethical environment in which social

work operates, it is important to look at the historical background of the profession. This essay

explains the rationale for the Code of Ethics in social work and looks at how different historical eras'

social, cultural, and political factors have affected social work's ethics and ideals. Examining this

historical trajectory provides us with valuable insight into how the social work profession has

handled ethical dilemmas and improved its principles.

The “purpose” section of the NASW Code of Ethics is an outline of the objectives and

guidelines set in place as part of the ethical framework of Social Work as a profession. According

to the Code of Ethics (2018), “The Code offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide

decision making and conduct when ethical issues arise”. To reiterate, it is not to be perceived as a

set of rigid rules, but rather, guidelines and standards to abide by in order to ensure accountability

within the profession. The code urges social workers to aspire to adhere to these specific

professional criterias in order to create a consistent expectation of ethical responsibilities. Ethical

dilemmas can be characterized as the circumstances in which a social worker may encounter

conflicting situations that make it challenging to determine the most appropriate course of action.

The best way to deal with these dilemmas is to consult the Code of Ethics, first and foremost.

Other sources such as “ethical theory and principles generally, social work theory and research,

laws, regulations, agency policies, and other relevant codes of ethics” (NASW, 2018, p.3) should

be used as additional support. Social workers may employ assistance from council, as well, and
PAPER 1: UNDERSTANDING OUR PAST 3

may want to utilize consultation with colleagues, supervisors, ethics advisory boards and

committees, or even legal representatives when faced with an ethical dilemma that the Code of

Ethics may not explicitly target.

One historical aspect of social work that is a poignant but often less-discussed topic is the

involvement of social workers within Japanese internment camps in the United States during

World War II. During this period, social workers played various roles within the internment camps,

where thousands of Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and detained. The article delves

into the complex and somewhat contradictory role of social work during this time, uncovering that

it was primarily social workers who were instructed with the burdensome task of processing and

handling Japanese families during the internment period (Park, 2008). While there may have been

disdain and critique from the social work community regarding the handling and implementation

of this federal program, there was no notable or significant pushback or protest from a social

welfare perspective. Park (2018) emphasizes that “the profession’s dual role as deliverer of social

policies and defender of those affected by them often pits its functions in conflict with its values”.

This predicament highlights the complex position that social workers find themselves in as they

navigate between implementing policies – even when those policies may have adverse

consequences for vulnerable and marginalized populations – and advocating for the rights and

well-being of their clients. With the implementation and establishment of the Code of Ethics, we as

social workers now have a due diligence in practicing cultural and social awareness (NASW, 2018.

p. 9). Striving to understand and respect client cultural backgrounds is emphasized as a core value

and a commitment that social workers make within this profession. The Code of Ethics has

essentially established a call to arms to “be even stronger advocates in shaping the future of our

nation, or it will continue to be shaped in a manner that is unacceptable to us” (Brill, 2001). Social
PAPER 1: UNDERSTANDING OUR PAST 4

workers have the responsibility to advocate for social justice and to be a voice for marginalized

and underserved communities. It is no longer within our values to engage in blind conformity

when it comes to policies that foster inequalities that underserved communities face, as seen with

the involvement in Japanese internment camps. We can no longer avoid taking on a political role

because we can see how the lack of equitable social policies affect our clients on a daily basis

(Brill, 2001).

The historical example of social work's involvement in the Japanese internment camps

serves as a harrowing reminder of the profession’s contradicting relationship with implementing

policies that may hurt vulnerable populations all the while protesting and advocating for client

rights and wellbeing. The NASW Code of Ethics provides a solid ethical framework for social

workers to navigate the intricate and ethically complex landscape of this profession. By learning

from historical events and continuously striving to uphold the principles of cultural competence,

advocacy, and ethical responsibility, social workers can better serve their clients and contribute to a

more just and equitable society.

Citations

Brill, C. K. (2001). Looking at the social work profession through the eye of the NASW Code of

Ethics. Research on Social Work Practice, 11(2), 223–234.

https://doi.org/10.1177/104973150101100209

NASW, National Association of Social Workers. (2018). Code of Ethics.

https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Park, Y. (2008). Facilitating injustice: Tracing the role of social workers in the World War II:

Internment of Japanese Americans. Social Service Review, 82(3), 447–483.

https://doi.org/10.1086/592361