HISTORY OF SOCIAL WORK

PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS

AND FAMILIES (CASEWORK)
Highlights (US)
1877- The First Charity Organization Society
was founded in Buffalo, NY (as a voluntary
organization)
-Later – findings showed that cause of distress
was not character defect but on the social
conditions the individual lived such as illness,
numerous children, overcrowded housing, low
wages, low education, lack of work skills, etc.
-environment had a heavy influence on the
individual
-The need to include the family members in
their services-marked the beginning of family-
centered approach
Mary Richmond and other practitioners began to
formulate a more scientific problem-solving theory
based on their observations and experiences.
Richmond strongly recommended the thorough
investigation into the life of the individual who was
in need of help.
◦ Data gathering as basis for social diagnosis (knowledge
and understanding of the clients problems – to determine
the underlying causes/contributory factors to the social
and personal difficulties of the client.
◦ Diagnosis include the interpretation of the specific
conditions underlying a person’s behavior and reactions –
assessment of the person – in – situation
Earlyyears of casework practice – characterized by
concern for the economic and sociological
factors affecting client and his condition.
1920- Employed “friendly visitors” at,
operated on the belief that poverty was the
fault of the individual, as the result of
his/her moral failure
-Objective of friendly visiting was first
focused on counseling individual to do
his/her best, to work very hard so as to
earn enough for himself and his family’s
needs
1920’s-1930’s- the casework client was
viewed as likely maladjusted person, studied
from the Freudian psychoanalytical point of
view, treatment aimed to assist client to
adjust, to develop good relationships and gain
insights to his new behaviour.

1930’s-1945- the depression in the US made

people see poverty not only as products of
personal deficiency but also as greatly
influenced by the person’s situation. This
started the “psychosocial school of thought”
which looks at the “person in situation”
(individual integration to the environment)
Casework Practice in the Philippines

1917- The very first professional method of

social work intervention practices in the
Philippines, introduced by the Associated
Charities of Manila – a family welfare agency
that employed “home visitors.”

-Josefa Jara Martinez returned to PH with a

diploma in Social Work from the New York
School of Social Work in 1921, she became the
Executive Secretary of the Associated Charities
(1917) introduced Casework as an individualized
approach of helping families and individuals.
1920’s- Psychiatric social work was introduced in
Welfareville, then the seat of government child-rearing
institutions.

1930’s-1940’s- The Associated Charities employed

college graduate as home visitors provided with in
service trainings, several Filipino women went to the US
for formal social work education, were hired by private
and public social welfare agencies; formed(1947) the
PASW to nurture the development of the Social Work
profession.
-Dr. Jose Vergara, then superintendent of Associated
Charities of Manila appreciated the value of psychiatric
social work in the US, employed social workers to work
with children and youth – functioned as caseworkers.
-The association was absorbed by the Bureau
of Public Welfare to carry out its public
assistance program.
1950’s- Philippine School of Social Work,
Philippine Womens University-1 year Master
of Arts in Social Administration, which in 1951
was expanded to a 2-year MSW program, the
UP CEU started MASW program.
1950-1960’s- Many social work schools
started offering the BSSW program. Casework
was the focus in both formal classroom
courses and field instruction, SW practitionerd
were predominantly “CASEWORKERS”.
1951 – Social Welfare Administration had
expanded and social workers were assigned in
every province and major city. It was
oftentimes engaged in disaster and emergency
relief which left little time for casework help.
1954 – Department of Health issued a circular
requiring national, provincial, city, emergency
hospitals to employ social workers.
A Medical Social Service Unit was installed in
the Bureau of Hospitals – this development
promoted the practice of casework in the
medical and psychiatric settings in public and
private hospitals and clinics.
1965- RA 4373 (the “SOCIAL WORK LAW”) was
passed, elevating social work to a profession
requiring a BSSW and passing of a government
Board Examination for the practice of Social
Work.

1980’s- Like the American counterparts local

practitioners recognized that material assistance
did not automatically solve individual’s problems
–
-this period gave rise to problems that bear on
the emotional and psychological functioning of
individuals as a result of modernization –
addiction, marital conflict, broken homes,
growing numbers of mentally ill patients, etc.
 Influences on casework practice
Impact of World War I on the
development of casework theory – work
with war veterans or casualties and their
families
Events of World War II increased in
personal problems-hence focused services
to individuals with personality problems-
gave rise to the demand of medical and
psychiatric social workers