Community Social Work in Education and Health

Posted on Sep 1, 2024 in Social sciences

Community Social Work: Enhancing Opportunities for Social Inclusion

Community social work aims to leverage the power of the internet to promote social inclusion, empower individuals, and encourage active citizen participation in addressing collective challenges.

1.1. Community Social Work in Education

Community social work in education tackles three key dimensions of illiteracy:

  • Literacy: The ability to read and write.
  • Functional Illiteracy: Understanding the technological environment and its language.
  • Relational Illiteracy: Mastering basic skills for social interaction.

1.1.1. Goals for Community Social Work in Education

General goals for interventions based on this methodology include:

  1. Diagnose the educational levels of the population, considering both children and adults.
  2. Develop a map of factors that promote or hinder educational development to inform an effective strategy.
  3. Establish an intervention program focusing on knowledge, attitudes, and skills, addressing both functional and relational illiteracy.
  4. Establish a strategy to improve educational standards, considering the following dimensions:
  • Education and Upward Mobility: Analyze social stratification and power dynamics within the community.
  • Education and Social Inclusion: Foster cooperative, altruistic, and inclusive relationships.
  • Education and Equality: Promote educational projects that offer equal opportunities for all community members.
  • Education and Democratic Participation: Encourage democratic behavior patterns through cooperation and shared decision-making.
Establish specific, realistic goals tailored to the community’s context to ensure success and credibility.

1.1.1. Orientations for Community Social Work in Education

  1. Thoroughly examine the social and family environment to develop a comprehensive understanding of the community’s needs and challenges.
  2. Involve the community in the change process, emphasizing the benefits of improved education for individuals and the community as a whole.
  3. Design specific group dynamics tailored to the community’s demographics and needs.
  4. Ensure that multidisciplinary teams have appropriate training and empower community members to take ownership of the project.
  5. Utilize available technological resources, particularly the internet, for research, communication, and collaboration.

3.2. Community Social Work in the Field of Health

Community social work in health goes beyond treating illness. It aims to understand and improve the health practices of individuals based on a thorough assessment of their characteristics and needs.