Why social work became professionalized

Every society has for a fact , problems with poverty , health and family living among its populace . The American society prior to the 20th century is no exception as it also faced these problems . Add to that there was a growing need in to address the problems growing out of poverty and destitution , and an inadequacy in terms of number and capabilities among social workers ' in the era prior to the 20th century

Despite the good intentions of people in to alleviate and improve the American life , it was evident that the rise

of crime rates , juvenile delinquency and the lack of provision for sanitation and public health was already taking its toll on American society . Charity work suddenly became insufficient in addressing these problems since they did not have the necessary and needed tools such as research and other technical skills . The mentality and views of the public regarding social welfare work was also very negative as it viewed social work merely as charity work and not as a science . In fact , social work was considered to be a responsibility of each individual and that it was everybody 's business to look after their less fortunate brethren , thus blocking the way for social work to become a profession

Although social work eventually became professionalized , it was not an event that occurred in just a short while . It went a long way from the later part of the eighteenth century into the early 20th century . It started when the Conference of Charities was created in 1865 as a response to the questions and problems of sanitation , relief employment and education of the poor and prevention of crime ' and all other issues which come under the definition of Social Science . The Conference of Charities and the American Social Science Association believed that there must be a scientific and professionalized investigation in terms of facing these problems in society in to achieve an efficient and ly administration of social work all through out society . Yet even with these in thought , there had been deviation and separation from the parent bodies of these societies as there were varying and conflicting views of social work . To some social work should involve practical work ' rather than intensive scientific research . The group which adapted the name Conference of Charities and Corrections hooked up with private charities , religious and secular ones

As the nature of social welfare work was debated because of the conflicting views of the different organizations , it became a practice for those seeking to perform social work to conduct on-the-job trainings under the tutelage of older or senior members until eventually some private agencies began training ' their members by giving lectures and readings . Moreover , as Sociology was already being taught in American universities and colleges , many of those who entered the field of social work began to face it more as a science rather than charity alone . It is not however incidental that Sociology was already being viewed as a science because...