The social work profession has undergone transformational changes since its inception in the late 1800s. The original commitment of the profession was to serve the poor and other marginalized groups and to bring the public’s attention to large-scale macro-level social problems. With increasing numbers of social workers entering the private sector and focusing on individually-based micro struggles, the Code of Ethics has evolved to accommodate and address the intricacies of individually-focused models of care. This workshop will examine these changes and ask critical questions about our identity as a profession. In what ways do our current professional values and ethical mandates create conflicts with our profession’s historical commitments to be agents of social change? The current epidemic of loneliness, combined with our historical and political context, will serve as a backdrop for the urgent need for a strong and values-driven reexamination of our identity as a profession.
