DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES

ARVIN DEXTER RUIZ, CHRA

HUMSS121b

THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 4. Social Psychology

SOCIAL SCIENCES Sociology

From sociale/socious meaning “companion or Systematic study of people’s behavior in groups and
associate” and scientia meaning “to have a knowledge of,” aims to understand people in how they function as a
the social sciences are the scientific studying, learning, society, looks into human behavioral patterns and actions.
and knowing about the different facets of other people’s
1. Applied Sociology
lives.
2. Urban Sociology
FIELDS AND SUBFIELDS OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 3. Rural Sociology
Anthropology 4. Medical Sociology
Study of human culture in the past and the present. It 5. Sociology of Education
seeks to solve problems through the study of culture. 6. Political Sociology
7. Military Sociology
1. Cultural Anthropology
2. Physical and Biological Anthropology THE APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES
3. Archeology
4. Anthropological Linguistics APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES
A multidisciplinary approach to the study of different
Demography issues in society, an applies different concepts, models and
Studies human populations across time and examines theories to understand society and the different problems
changes in the population through analysis. and issues it has.

Economics
Seeks to describe and analyze livelihood in terms of DISICIPLINES IN THE APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES
allocation of resources and the production and exchange Counseling
of goods in society. Done by counselors, it helps individuals who need
advice in life, business, careers, and relationships.
1. Environmental Economics
2. Labor Economics Social Work
3. Business Economics Another profession that helps groups of people
4. Monetary Economics (individuals, families, communities) in their individual and
collective well-being. It also seeks to address social issues
Education such as unemployment, poverty, and domestic violence.
Deals with teaching and acquiring
knowledge and skills. Communication Studies
This provides training in careers in the communication
History and entertainment industry such as the mass media. It is
Study of human past events in order to understand equipped with skills to write, produce, and deliver
the dynamics, meaning, and relationship of societies. communications accurately and creatively.
1. Political History
WHAT IS COUNSELING
2. Economic History
3. Social History COUNCELLING, DEFINITION
4. Environmental History Counseling is a professional relationship that
5. History of Medicine empowers diverse individuals, groups, and families to
6. Business History accomplish their mental health, wellness, education, and
7. History of Medicine career goals. This happens when a distressed person asks
for help and allows another person to enter into a new
Geography
relationship with them in a formal helping manner: a
Study of the interaction of people and their
counselor-counselee relationship.
environment.
INFORMAL AND FORMAL HELPING
1. Physical Geography
Informal Helping
2. Human Geography
This is akin with formal helping in terms of good
Linguistics listening skills, empathy, and caring capacity. It is
Study of language and its structure, including characterized by emotional closeness, companionship and
morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics. reciprocity.

Political Science Formal Helping

Studies human behavior in relation to political It is characterized by scheduling, time limitations, and
systems, governments, laws, and international relations. professional competencies. There is a higher level of
objectivity and confidentiality.
1. Domestic Politics
2. Comparative Politics GOALS OF COUNSELING
3. International Relations Change in Behavior
4. Political Theory Bringing about positive change in behavior is one of
5. Public Administration the goals of counseling, which may involve feelings,
6. Public Law thoughts, or beliefs that can be considered problematic.

Psychology Mental Health

Studies the human mind in consonance with the body The primary concern of counseling is to do no harm.
to produce thoughts. Services provided aims to promote good mental health.

1. Experimental Psychology Problem Solving

2. Developmental Psychology The resolution of a problem can also be a goal that the
3. Personal Psychology client needs to achieve with the help of a counselor.
Decision Making
It is not for the counselor that decides for the client. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION OF A COUNSELOR
However, the counselor can provide good alternatives and Marriage and Family Counseling
it is up to the counselee to evaluate, accept and act upon Refers to the efforts to establish an encouraging
the alternatives give. relationship with a couple or a family and appreciate the
complications in the family system. This helps families
SCOPES OF COUNSELING discover options and opportunities in effective family
Individual/Personal Needs and Problems planning.
Throughout life, people are faced with changes. For
some, these can be gradual, allowing the person to slowly Child and Adolescent Counseling
adjust. For others, change can be abrupt and the person A developing area of expertise in the profession.
can be ill-prepared in several different aspects. Some Common child problems include neglect, abuse,
individuals may encounter difficulties that can impar their depression, and antisocial behavior. This focuses on the
normal functioning. child to acquire coping skills though the promotion of
resiliency, positive relationships, emotional and intellectual
Physical, Social, Emotional, Moral, and Marital Problems intelligence among others to promote optional
Adjustments include problems with physical development.
appearance and capabilities that can impact self-
confidence, emotional expression, peers, ethical issues and Group Counseling
moral standards, and marital affairs. A dynamic field in the profession, it is located in most
counseling programs and offers the following:
Career Advancement
Counseling can also focus on a person’s profession. - Opportunities for members to learn from
Work is a person’s subsistence and an important aspect of observing other members
their well-being. - Opportunities to discover that you and others
have similar concerns
Educational Needs and Problems - Members that are encouraged to help others
A portion of people’s early formative and adolescent - Opportunities to enhance interpersonal skills.
years are spent in the confines of the academe. The
acquisition of knowledge varies from person to person. Career Counseling
Aids individuals on decisions and plannings
Vocational, Occupational, and Professional Needs concerning their careers.
People do not always know what they want. Though it
may be possible at a certain age, a level of stability and Domestic Violence (VAWC) Counseling
expertise in a single field must be achieved. Helps victims of abuse deal with and overcome their
traumatic experiences.
Holistic Individual Development
This aims to aid in the development of individual Geriatric Counseling
potentials. People may be made aware of talents and Provides therapy and counseling to the elderly and
abilities that they might not have recognized. their families. They can assess, identify, and help seniors
through their problems and to overcome them to live
CORE VALUES, ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF COUNSELING comfortably. These services are usually provided in long-
Principle of Autonomy of Individuals term and residential facilities.
Based on the right to freedom of action and choice
insofar as these pursuits do not interfere with the Grief Counseling
freedoms of others. Counseling cannot happen unless the Usually, licensed therapist who help people cope with
client has freely chosen to participate. grief and a sense of loss that usually follows the death of a
loved one, a divorce, or a tragic experience.
Principle of Nonmaleficence
This is an instruction that all helpers must above all, do Pastoral Counseling
no harm. Ministers of faith who are responsible for tending to
the physical and mental need of their congregations. They
Principle of Justice work within the religious community and believe that
Concerned with the distribution of resources and therapy can be both faith and science.
services, unless there is a justifiable reason for treating
others differently. Commitment to be fair is done to School Counseling
promote worth and dignity to the individual The process of reaching out to students with concerns
of drugs, family and peers, or gang involvement. It is also
Principle of Fidelity responsible for all aspects of a child’s educational life to
Shares the presence of loyalty, reliability, ensure that they are well-adjusted and prepared for the
dependability, and action in good faith. The rule of future.
confidentiality reveals the importance of fidelity, entering
into a contract means to stay with the client and give the Mental Health Counseling
case their efforts. People dealing with things such as balancing life and
career, paying bills, and staying healthy. A mental
PROFESSIONALS AND PRACTITIONERS IN counselor can help.
COUNSELING RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLIENTS, COUNSELORS
Right to Informed Consent
ROLES, FUNCTIONS, COMPETENCIES OF COUNSELORS
This right demand that clients can be given enough
information to make informed choices about entering into
1. Self-understanding and Awareness
a counselor-client relationship. This includes the goals,
2. Psychologically Healthy
responsibilities, limitations and exceptions to
3. Sensitivity
confidentiality, background of the counselor, fees, etc.
4. Being Open-minded
5. Objectivity Minor’s Rights
6. Competence A minor must have parental consent before going
7. Trustworthiness through counseling, except in cases such as substance
8. Intrapersonal Skills abuse, child abuse, and other crises that may involve the
family.
 change, counseling can help inform them for available
opportunities that may suit their needs.
Right to Referral
When a counselor believes that they cannot help the Sociological
client, it is the counselor’s prerogative to refer the client to People seek companionship. Social interaction allows
another. the proper use of human energy. Being with others allows
individuals to make proper choices based on the
The American Association of Counseling Developers knowledge that people are interconnected. In this light,
(AACD) provides the following guidelines that if the counseling may help the person realize that every action,
counselor determines the inability to be of professional every word has an impact on others. The home
assistance to the client, they must avoid initiating the environment plays a vital role in how the person relates to
relationship or terminate it immediately. Additionally, this others because it mirrors how others relate to them at
is what a counselor should do: home.
1. Tell the client that they are in their best interests Educational
but do not have the skills to give the help needed. People devote a good portion of their early formative
2. Not give them the impression that the client is years in a school setting. Schools are equipped with
being rid of. qualifies counselors and their counseling programs with
3. Should be able recommend a therapist. the goal of honing students in areas of academic and
4. Should have enough information about said social relationships. Information on course choices based
therapist that can be shared to the client. on student abilities and future success are provided by the
counselor. This will enable students to make informed
Duty to Warn and Protect
decisions to be a productive, independent, and
The duty to protect the people from potentially
responsible members of society.
dangerous clients and to protect the client rests on the
counselor. This includes bringing the matter to mental HOW COUNSELING IS DONE
health authorities, and ensuring the client does no harm. It Counseling can be done in individuals and in groups
is illegal to prematurely discharge a client. and in communities depending on the situation.

In Individuals
ETHICAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING Individual counseling is done depending on the
Social and Personal Relationships with Clients situations that triggered the client’s condition, thus
This issue stems in how personal relations with clients impairing his everyday functioning. Such situations are
can combine into therapeutic ones. Dual relationships enumerated below:
may prolong the healing process and may result to future
problems. Counselors should therefore exert every effort to - Adolescent identity: teen-parent relationships,
avoid dual relationships which could impair their peer relationships
professional judgement or increase the risk of exploitation. - Depression (inc. bereavement), anxiety
- Anger management
Touching Clients - Child’s concern within the family; sibling
Some experts feel that an innocent touch can help as relationships
long as it is without sexual malice. It can be done with - Gender issues: Identity, sexuality, homosexuality
immature clients, people in crisis, giving emotional - Relationships: Personal and intrapersonal
support, or to greet clients. dynamics
- Sexual abuse and recovery
Sexual Contact
- Seniors: Challenges, limitations, transitions
All professional codes of conduct explicitly emphasize
- Spirituality
that sexual contact is wrong and can violate the integrity
- Stress management
of the counselor-client relationship. Sexual misconduct is
- Legal issues (witness, or victims)
one of the major causes of malpractice suits.
- Dealing with terminal illnesses
Suicidal Clients
In Groups
Laypersons are advised to take them to professional
1. Marital and Pre-marital Issues – Talks about
therapists. When faced with threats, a counselor must
relationship dynamics. Some concerns include
take them seriously. Counselors may forego confidentiality
family planning, fertility, and issues family
to ensure that the client’s life is put at risk.
members.
Confidentiality 2. Family Issues – Involves more than married
Clients should know the extent of their confidentiality. couples. Problems other family members: family
Counselors are also bound by law to break confidentiality if dynamics, separation issues, communication
there is an abuse of a minor, elderly, a client seeking to do issues and parenting.
harm to others or themselves, the client is in need of 3. Behavioral Issues – Encounter groups are used
hospitalization, or when the information is needed in a when the counselor sees that the benefit for a
court case. group of people to meet others to increase self-
awareness, social sensitivity, and to change their
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF COUNSELING behavior through interpersonal confrontation, self-
1. Respect for Autonomy disclosure, and strong emotional connections.
2. Non-maleficence Counseling is best done in an atmosphere when a
3. Beneficence client’s condition is best helped when mirrored by
4. Justice someone who is experiencing the same.
5. Fidelity
In Communities
CLIENTELE AND AUDIENCES IN COUNSELING: Survivors of disasters and calamities had experienced
CHARACTERISTICS AND VARIOUS TYPES OF a life-threatening event. Such experience can put others at
risk of traumatic disorders. It is therefore important to the
CLIENTELES AND AUDICENES government, through its agencies, to be prepared to
COUNSELING NEEDS handle this circumstance.
Psychological
People are different and have different needs in
certain areas of development. Since the goal is to develop
a healthy personality that would allow them to handle
 DIFFERENT SETTINGS AND 5. Checklist – used to identify the presence and
absence of certain skills of an expected behavior in
TOOLS/TECHNIQUES IN COUNSELING
the client.
SETTINGS
Counseling can happen practically anywhere. COUNSELING AND ITS PROCESSES, METHODS
AND TOOLS
Government Health Centers, Hospital Clinics
Counselors need to be aware about a client’s feeling PROCESS OF COUNSELING
about the hospital. If the outlook is positive, then the Counseling is considered as an art and science. It is
hospital has obvious advantage for clients. If the outlook is subjective (sensitive to the client’s world) and objective
negative, counselors need to consider how such feelings (using tools to obtain comprehension on the different
may affect the treatment. stages of the counseling process.

In the Private Sector I. RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Counselors usually rent places where counselling This is the heart of the process as it provides the
sessions are conducted. Clients should know that while foundation for the counseling to succeed. This involves
the ambiance is pleasant, it does not make counseling establishing rapport, promote acceptance and worth,
sessions more effective. establishing genuine interactions, promote
communication, and help clients in focusing on
Large groups usually have a reception area or a themselves.
waiting room for clients. If clients prefer confidentiality,
waiting areas are not ideal. The counselor can schedule II. ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS
sessions according to the client’s request to assure privacy. This is a crucial stage where it serves as a window for
the counselor to appreciate the client’s condition. It
Civil Society entails analysis on the root cause of the problem and
1. Religious Spaces – Counseling can also be done in gather data to be utilized in forming goals.
churches and senior centers where private space
can be set aside. These sessions revolve around III. FORMULATION OF COUNSELING GOALS
spirituality, the afterlife, forgiveness, and morality. Goals sets the direction of the counseling process; it
2. At Home – Some family counselors conduct serves as the parameter of work and the client-counselor
sessions at the home. If having strangers in the relationship. These can be treated as process or outcome
house can cause anxiety, it should be goals. Process goals makes good circumstances for
remembered that the counselor is a professional effective counseling, whilst outcome goals stipulate the
providing service and not a guest to be desire of the client in terms of the counseling process.
entertained,
3. Mental Health Clinics – Counselors in mental IV. INTERVENTION AND PROBLEM SOLVING
health clinics can work with inpatient and The counselor gives the best possible options for the
outpatient clients. Generally, they can handle management of the problem, the issue is the choice and
more mental illness cases than those in private change that the client wants. After identification of
practice. actions, the client is asked about which solutions they can
try out. The focus of this process is identifying the problem
School-based Programs and finding ways to solve it
Universities and college-based counseling services are
usually available to all students. Universities usually have V. TERMINATION AND FOLLOW-UP
waiting rooms whilst smaller institutions only have offices. The goal of counseling is to see the client progress
without the counselor’s assistance. The four components
Community Counseling Centers are cited below and should be done aptly (Quintan &
Community counseling centers usually understand Holanan, 1992, c. Tysul, 2003):
local issues and build better connections with GOs and
NGOs. Another advantage is that most agencies and - Discussion of the end of counseling
community counseling centers are located in buildings - Review the course of counseling
designed to deliver services. - Closure of the relationship
- Discussion of the client’s future and post-
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES OF COUNSELING counseling plan
Standardized Tests
These psychometric instruments or paper and pencil VI. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
tests are administered to clients for counselors to know Can be undertaken at any point of the counseling
the characteristics that are not easily accessible during stage. Results of the research provide a scientific
interviews. appreciation of the counseling situation.

Non-standardized Tools and Techniques METHODS OF COUNSELING

These techniques are used by counselors to guide Counselors equip themselves with necessary methods
them or update in their client’s status and aims to to help them in the process. Since clients and their
organize the outcome of sessions conducted, to keep concerns are different, there is no best method that will be
track and document the progress of the sessions. effective for all of them.

1. Interviews – verbal exchange by the counselor and Counselors should have an open mind to be able to
the client with a specific case-related objective in switch methods as needed and should not stop learning
the mind of the counselor. about developments in human behavior.
2. Behavioral observation – careful observation and
Direct Counseling Approach
monitoring of the behavior of the client during
Also known as prescriptive counseling or counselor-
interviews and sessions. Behaviors and reactions
centered approach, it is advocated by E.G. Williamson. It
to certain questions are significant data and are
plays a lead role and uses a variety of techniques to
noted.
suggest appropriate solutions to clients.
3. Anecdotal records – written reports of significant
incidents to the client. It is also known as authoritarian approach; the
4. Cumulative record – method of recording counselor takes part in helping the client make decisions
meaningful and comprehensive information and find solutions to problems as counselors believe that
about a client in the course of a year. their clients cannot solve problems alone. It is problem-
focused, not client-focused.
Advantages: DEFENITION (IASSW General Assembly)
- Save time Social Work is a professional and academic discipline
- Emphasizes on the problem, not the individual that seeks to improve the quality of life and enhance the
- Focuses on the intellectual rather than the well-being of individuals, families, couples, groups, and
emotional aspect communities through diverse means for those socially
- Techniques are direct, persuasive, and explanatory disabled and through raising voices against social
injustice.
Disadvantages:
- Client does not gain the ability to self-analyze GOALS OF SOCIAL WORK
- Makes the client dependent on the counselor Humanitarian and Social Justice
- The counselor may lack information about the This deals with the most vulnerable humans and
client, leading to wrong counseling makes them the priority for the provision of resources. It is
- Does not guarantee that the client can be able to based on the democratic ideal of social justice and the
solve the same problem in the future belief that man has the potential to help himself. Thus,
through social programs, the issues of man may be
Non-Directive Counseling Approach addressed or solved.
Also known as permissive counseling, it is a client-
centered approach wherein the counselor becomes Social Control
passive and the client, active. The client makes choices Nonconformist groups and offenders are some clients
and choose on their own. The principle of tolerance and of social workers. The goal focuses on the needs of the
acceptance are important in this approach. deprived individuals and groups to address their issues of
their separation from society. Social control aims to
The chief proponent of this approach is Carl Rogers. achieve the balance between safety and security in society
and those who threaten it because of their depravation of
Advantages:
source and access of satisfying lives.
- Slow but sure process to make an individual
capable of making adjustments Economic Development
- No tests or psychological tests are needed Programs that aimed to increase production of goods
- Removes emotional blocks and helps bring and other resources that can contribute to economic
repressed thoughts on a conscious level, reducing development.
tension
MAIN FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL WORK
Disadvantages: Restorative/Rehabilitative Function
- Slow and time consuming Aims to make a normal person’s social functioning by
- Depends too much on the ability of the client determining the factors which caused the breakdown in
- Counselors can have difficulty controlling the pace this equilibrium.
of the session
- Though client-centered, the counselor may not Preventative Function
tend to every client equally The discovery of factors that causes problems. Early
- Requires high degree of motivation for the client. detection may eliminate the problem.

Eclectic Counseling Approach Developmental Function

An approach based on the fact that people are Makes use of education and information to equip the
different. Techniques are elective in nature and derived client in developing potentials and capabilities in the
from several sources of counseling, it is based on the best community to solve a problem or improve his living
approach for a particular client. condition.

Advantages: CORE VALUES OF SOCIAL WORK

- It is more effective and practical Right to Self-Fulfillment
- A more flexible approach Everyone has a right to self-fulfillment which derives
- More objective and coordinated from their capacity to thrust themselves toward the goal;

Disadvantages: Responsibility to Common Good

- The roles of counselors and counselees are no Everyone has the responsibility to seek ways to
predetermined contribute to the common good;
- It requires an experienced and skilled counselor to
handle the dynamic feature of the approach. Responsibility of the Society
Society has the responsibility to enable self-fulfillment
SOCIAL WORK: ITS DEFENITION, GOALS, and right to enrichment through the common good;
CORE VALUES, AND PRINCIPLES Right to Satisfy Basic Needs
Everyone has the right to social development, thus their
GENERAL DEFINITION
basic physical, psychological, economic, ritual, cultural,
A discipline which is concerned with man’s
aesthetic, and spiritual needs are to be safeguarded;
adjustment to his environment. This studies a person’s
functioning in relation to his roles and special situation. Social Organizations required to facilitate individual’s
effort at self-realization
The field refers to the different social functions a
It is the right of the individual to promote change in
person may have, wherein there are times that a person
social resources that do not serve his/her need-meeting
may encounter difficulties in performing social roles
efforts;
because of personal and social inadequacies. Thus, a state
of disequilibrium will be experienced. Self-realization and Contribution to Society
To permit both, socially-provided devices for self-
DEFENITION (IFSW General Meeting)
satisfaction must be made available for need-satisfaction
Social Work is a practice-based profession and an
for a variety of general welfare allows.
academic discipline that promotes social change and
development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and
liberation of people.

The principles of social justice, human rights, collective

responsibility, and respect for diversities are central to
social work.
IMPLIED CONCEPTS IN THE CORE VALUES Advocate
Concept of Human Potentials and Capacities Social workers advocate with other professionals in
The belief that a person is inherently endowed with effort to obtain resources for people experiencing
potentials and capacities. difficulties.

Concept of Social Responsibilities Broker

An individual has the obligation to contribute to the Social workers use referrals to link an individual to a
common good and society. needed resource.

Concept of Equal Opportunities Case Manager

Premised on the two elements of ideal social justice, Case management usually includes the planning and
fairness and equality. implementation of quality of services for those people who
are unable to.
Concept of Social Provision
There will always be someone with unmet problems Educator
beyond their own capacity to solve. Social workers act as public informants for resources,
social programs, and discipline skills programs.
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL WORK
Acceptance of People as they Are Facilitator
Acceptance means recognizing the strengths and As a facilitator, they become coaches to help socially
limitations of others. immature adolescents to improve their socialization skills.

Participation of the Client in Problem-Solving Organizer

The client and worker are in a professional relationship In creating social change, a social worker must be an
aimed in problem-solving. The client participates by giving organizer to effectively instill policy changes within the
information, determining their problems, planning for a social agency.
solution and acting in relation to the necessary steps.

Self-Determination as a Right of the Client AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION IN WHICH

The client has the right to determine their problems SOCIAL WORKERS WORK
and needs, and the solutions to such. The role of the social
worker is to empower and guide him in tasks of CHILD WELFARE
identifying the problem and meeting their needs by The field of child welfare is for children in need of
providing resources. special protection. This includes abused, neglected and
abandoned children. Child welfare is focused on the well-
Individualization of Clients
being of children.
Every person is unique and must be treated as a
human being with his personal differences. A person is Substitute child services on the other hand, are places
different because of one’s unique sequence of expressions abandoned children on foster homes for a short or long
that no other person has gone through. term.
Confidentiality Adoption
This ensures professionalism in the helping process, The legal process where a child deprived of a birth
signifying the trust between the worker and the client. The family is provided to a new one. The adopted child will
effectiveness of the relationship can be determined by the have the same rights and privileges that of a biological
trust of the client. child.
Worker Self-Awareness Legal Guardianship
The social worker must be aware of their profession A process in for a child to have a legally appointed
with the goal of helping the client rather than their own. guardian to substitute for parental care.
One must not impose one’s beliefs, feelings, or attitudes to
influence the client. The worker must not be influenced by Foster Care
their own biases and prejudices. A temporary substitute parent is given to a child by a
licensed foster family under supervision of a social worker.
Worker-Client Relationship The goal of foster care is to prepare them to become
Being objective, having a purpose and a goal are the independent beings.
guiding idea of this principle. The relationship is directed
to reach a certain goal through the helping community, it Residential/Institutional Care
is essential for the worker to be conscious of “controlled Providing temporary care and shelter to children
emotional involvement.” whose needs cannot be met by their parents.

PROFESSIONALS AND PRACTITIONERS IN FAMILY WELFARE

This field of social work aims to strengthen the family
SOCIAL WORK to be able to meet its own needs. The goal is to identify
ROLES, FUNCTIONS, AND COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL each member’s skills and capabilities in helping solve their
WORKERS problems and mobilizing existing resources.
Communicator
HEALTH
Communication skills are important in making
Social workers are concentrated on working in
correspondents reports. This includes the assessment of
hospitals. Medical care aims to provide better acceptance
clients, summary of progress or reasons of termination of
and favorable reaction to medical treatment of patients.
the relationship and other ways to advocate in behalf of
people. CORRECTIONS
Social workers engage in rehabilitative functions for
Counselor
parole and probation for offenders.
This involves the skill to help others by affirming
personal strengths of clients and helping them realize SCHOOLS
their full potential which leads to improvement in social The school social worker provides services to restore
functioning. impaired adjustment of students in relation to their
attendance in school. The main purpose for this is to offer
assistance to students in achieving expected education
goals.
SPECIAL GROUPS
These groups work in government and private services
and cater to specific individuals with situations in need of
special attention. These are:

Drug Dependents
The main objective is the maximum restoration of the
capabilities of drug users after rehabilitation.

Socially Disadvantaged Women

This group is expected to work with female victims of
abuse, rape, harassment, and incest. Solo parents, victims
of conflict and prostituted women are also clients in this
field.

Older Persons
The elderly of society should be given the opportunity
to live decently and productively. Social services must
answer the answer to their problems in relation to
economic dependency, health, medical and emotional
problems.

Persons With Disabilities

Workers in this field handle or work with persons with
physical or mental challenges. The main goal of the social
worker is to rehabilitate the PWD and restore them to
their highest possible degree of well-being.

COMMUNITY WELFARE
Community organization and development are the
key points of this field. It is mobilizing people in the
community to participate in efforts to improve their living
conditions. Social workers also seek to provide services or
assistance to encourage initiative and self-help for people
in the community.

CULTURAL COMMUNITIES
Practice of social work with indigenous groups are also
known as “Grassroots Practice”. It aims to guide and assist
the communities and organize them so they will be able
to help themselves, find internal resources, attitude and
skills which can help them solve their own problems.

INDUSTRY AND LABOR

Social workers are concerned here with workers and
their family’s welfare and social security.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

This field is not limited to classroom teaching but also
in field instructions through student supervisions.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE

These are social workers employed by UNICEF.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND TRACKS OF

SOCIAL WORKERS
In the Philippines, the practice of social work is done
by a qualified social worker who has graduated with a
course in Social Work and a registered professional under
the Professional Regulation Commission’s Board of Social
Workers.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

OF SOCIAL WORKERS
The Philippine Association of Social Workers Inc.
(PASWI) has formulated the Social Worker’s Code of
Ethics. This code covers the following:

1. Relative to Self and Profession

2. Relative to Clients
3. Relative to Colleagues