Social Work
Social work is a field of challenge and change with opportunities for personal and job satisfaction. Social workers are professionals helping people with complex interpersonal and social problems. They not only respond to people's individual needs, but are committed to making society more just by utilizing available resources and challenging the development of needed resources. The social work major at Xavier offers students an opportunity to develop practice based skills in solving problems and strengthening individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and society while also developing as fully engaged citizens.
Social Work is a profession with educational and licensure requirements for those with a strong desire to promote social justice and improve the collective well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. The social work profession in the United States is more than 100 years old and only those who have earned a social work degree or are licensed as a social worker are “professional” social workers. Through their work, social workers:
- Empower client systems to restore or enhance their social functioning capacity while also challenging social injustice by addressing societal conditions that contribute to the same.
- Link client systems with needed resources, improve the operation of social service delivery systems, and advocate for social justice through the development and implementation of social policies.
- Are employed in many community life settings including schools, hospitals, mental health settings, senior centers, private practice, prisons, corporations, military and even elected office.
Sharing values such as social justice, service to others, and respect for the inherent dignity and worth of all persons, the social work program at Xavier also reflects the mission of Jesuit education through its emphasis on the “whole person.”
Participants - Pictured:
Back Row: Hannah Dahlby, Jake Glaser, Shane Hughes, Ashley Freeland, Felicia Foley, Curtis Steed.
Front Row: Liz Torrison, Tricia sexton, Kristy Riffell, Jennifer Hamilton, Amanda Mock and Shelagh Larkin.
Not Pictured: Maegan Sizemore and Caitlin Mccaughey
Social Work students in Shelagh Larkin's Child Welfare and Development course participated in Legal Aid's Lead Survey Extravaganza. The students along with community participants surveyed 112 lead contaminated properties in Cincinnati. The purpose was to identify renters with children under 6 and or who are pregnant and notify them of the availability of relocation funds available through Hamilton County.
Xavier Advantage
