AMA Computer Learning Center Naga Campus
4/F, Nagaland E Mall, Elias Angeles, Naga, Camarines Sur
S/Y 2025-2026
DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES
(DIASS)
UNIT II: SHAPING SOCIETY THROUGH SOCIAL WORK
A. Objectives:
At the end of the 45-minute discussion the students will be able to;
a. Define social worker and explain the purposes and roles of social work in the Philippine
context;
b. Appreciate the importance of social work as a multiskilled profession and recognize its
contribution to society;
c. Demonstrate understanding by classifying given situations into the correct areas of social
work.
Lesson Content
Great things start from small beginnings, they say. Thus, even the smallest deeds done for one person can
create an impact to the rest of the world. You can perceive the profession of social work in this way.
Social work may be voluntary or it may require an active engagement as a professional social worker,
either in the public or private spheres. After all, what is important is the intension to serve those who are
in need of social services, which you can either provide yourself or help those in need get access to
assistance. These people in need are your clientele and audience.
I. Definition of Social Worker
• A social worker is a professional who helps clients cope with their physical, mental,
behavioral, or emotional problems.
• They act as advocates, counselors, and facilitators of support systems.
• A social worker does not act on impulse. Rather, the kind of service he or she extends to
people is planned and systematic.
• Studying the environment and analyzing the client’s needs are two of the most basic
things that a social worker must perform.
II. The Profession in the Philippine Context
• Institutionalizes and enforces a code of ethics and professional standards.
• Establishes distinct roles for social workers.
• Protects and restricts the title of “social worker.”
• Gains public and government recognition through licensing and professional
qualifications.
III. Social Work as a Multiskilled Profession
• Social work involves multiple skills such as counseling, advocacy, community organizing,
and crisis intervention.
• Social workers use different methodologies depending on the clients’ needs and context.
In order for social workers to effectively perform tasks. they have to do the following, as
cited in Margaret Gibelman's What Social Workers Do:
1. Listen to others with understanding and purpose.
2. Elicit information and assemble relevant facts to prepare a social history, assessment,
and report.
3. Create and maintain professional helping relationships.
4- Observe and interpret verbal and nonverbal behavior and use knowledge of personality
theory and diagnostic methods.
5. Engage clients, including individuals, families, groups, and communities, in efforts to
resolve their own problems and to gain trust.
6. Discuss sensitive emotional subjects supportively and without being threatening.
7. Create innovative solutions to clients' needs.
8. Determine the need to terminate the therapeutic relationship.
9. Conduct research or interpret the research findings and professional literature.
10. Mediate and negotiate between conflicting parties.
11. Provide inter-organizational liaison services.
12. Interpret and communicate social needs to funding sources, the public, or legislators.
IV. Social Workers’ Area of Specialization
What social workers do vary, and the nature of their work change over time. Moreover, there are
many aspects that affect the practice. As such, it would be easier, at least in the context of social
work, to understand where social workers work and with whom rather than what they actually do
The question "What do social workers do?" can be answered in different ways depending
on the context. Gibelman provides the following contexts:
• Setting of the practice (schools, hospitals, communities, military, etc.)
• Characteristics of clients (children, families, veterans, patients, etc.)
• Problems presented (illness, trauma, poverty, substance abuse, etc.)
• Level of practice (individual, group, community)
• Methodologies used (casework, group work, community work)
Social work is an applied social science, and the reason is because social work, as explained by
Gibelman, is a "diverse profession with fluid boundaries.... carried out, for example, in medical,
legal, and school settings as well as in state governments and proprietary agencies."
V. Training to Become a Social Worker
• Requires a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW).
• Must pass the Licensure Examination for Social Workers in the Philippines.
• Involves continuing education and adherence to ethical standards.
VI. Career Opportunities in Social Work
• Attributes of the profession: guided by ethics, specialization, and service orientation.
• Services provided: counseling, advocacy, community development, rehabilitation,
policy-making, and welfare assistance.
Social work started as an occupation until it evolved into a profession. Social work as a
profession is characterized by the following attributes:
1. A systematic body of theory
2. Professional authority
3. The sanction of the community
4. A code of ethics
5. A professional culture
VII. Areas of Social Work at a Glance
a. Child, Family, and School Social Work – protecting children, supporting families, and
helping students adjust.
b. Community Social Work – improving living conditions in communities.
c. Hospice and Palliative Care – supporting patients and families dealing with terminal illness.
d. Medical and Health Social Work – working with patients in hospitals or clinics.
e. Mental Health and Substance Abuse – helping clients recover and cope.
f. Military and Veteran Social Work – addressing trauma and reintegration of soldiers.
g. Psychiatric Social Work – assisting patients with psychiatric conditions to adapt to society.
Social workers are concerned with how their clients can solve and cope with everyday
problems.
Social work is a profession that calls for selflessness.
Social workers always have in mind the well- being of their clients above all else. They
make sure that no one is cast out from the services that must be provided to the people.
Social work is both an occupation (one in which you are paid for the job) and a
profession (one in which you consider a specialization and a vocation).
Anyone has the potential of “being” a social worker, but “becoming” one is a choice you
make.
B. Activity (Performance Task)
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into groups (4–6 members).
2. Each group acts out a scenario for 3–5 minutes showing how a social worker responds.
3. After the role play, the class guesses which area of social work it represents.
4. A short discussion follows.
Scenarios:
• A child reports being bullied at school.
• A community lacks housing and sanitation.
• A family copes with a terminally ill member.
• A war veteran shows trauma after combat.
• A teenager struggles with substance abuse.
• A patient with schizophrenia reintegrates into the community.
Rubric (20 pts):
• Clarity of problem and solution (5 pts)
• Proper demonstration of social work skills/roles (7 pts)
• Equal participation (4 pts)
• Creativity and engagement (4 pts)
C. Written Activity
Instructions: Read each situation carefully. For every case: Rubric (15 points):
1. Identify the area of social work (e.g., Child & Family, Medical,
Community, etc.). - Correct classification – 5 pts
2. Write a 2–3 sentence explanation of why it belongs to that area. - Explanation/justification – 10 pts
Situation 1
Maria, a high school student, has been skipping classes because her parents are always fighting at home.
A social worker talks to Maria, counsels her, and works with her family to resolve the issue.
Area of Social Work: ____________________________________________
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Situation 2
An elderly man in the hospital needs assistance to apply for PhilHealth benefits so he can afford his
medicine. A social worker helps him fill out forms and connects him to financial aid.
Area of Social Work: ____________________________________________
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Situation 3
A barangay has been experiencing frequent cases of dengue. A social worker helps organize a community
clean-up drive and educates families on how to prevent mosquito breeding.
Area of Social Work: ____________________________________________
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
D. (Performance Task): Poster of Social Workers as Everyday Heroes
Instructions:
• Create a poster (bond paper/cartolina/digital) that includes:
1. A definition of a social worker.
2. At least 3 roles/skills of a social worker (e.g., counselor, advocate, organizer).
3. One example of an area of specialization (e.g., helping children in school).
• Use simple drawings, symbols, and keywords.
• Present your poster briefly (1–2 minutes).
Rubric (20 pts):
• Accuracy of content (5 pts)
• Creativity and effort (5 pts)
• Clarity of message (10 pts)
DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION: October 11, 2025.
E. Reflective Task
On ½ crosswise paper, answer:
1. Do you want to be a social worker? Why or why not?
2. What area of social work do you find most interesting? Why?
ARA JANE O. AVANCEÑA, LPT
ACLC/DIASS Teacher