My Approach to Social Work
To start, I will disclose that writing this section of the electronic portfolio was not a simple task. Throughout my entire social work journey I have struggled to define which theory I adhere to or which model guides my practice. In a review of my papers and projects, it is apparent that I draw on multiple theories or approaches dependent on the context and situation. However, what unites or binds my practice is my anti-oppressive approach to social work.
What is Anti-Oppressive Practice?
Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) is an umbrella term for a number of social justice oriented approaches including the structuralist approach (Brown, 2012). At its core, AOP seeks to recognize and address oppressive processes, which are embedded within our societal structures. AOP asserts that social work is not neutral: it is a political profession (Baines, 2011). Each day our clients experience oppression, based on their gender, sexual orientation, and class. When we assist our clients in fighting their oppression and meeting their basic needs, we are making a political statement. According to Baines, "every action we undertake is political and ultimately about power, resources, and who has the right to feel positive about themselves, their identities, and their futures" (2011, p. 6). In order to create systemic change, social workers must ally themselves with likeminded individuals and organizations that are fighting for social justice (Baines, 2011). Action is not limited to the micro level, but cuts across all levels of practice, manifesting in resource provision to facilitating collective action.
Through my work with Children of the Street Society (COS) and the Division of Human Services in Saint Lucia, I identify as an anti-oppressive social worker. By continuing to work in the field of preventative education I am building allies and raising community consciousness regarding social justice issues. This work is important, since community consciousness is the foundation of a successful social justice movement, which can result in policy change.
Applying the Structural Approach
As mentioned above, structural theory is under the umbrella of AOP. It links individual problems to larger social structures. For instance, problems are understood as the result of discriminatory and oppressive practices, which are facilitated by social institutions (Weinberg, 2008). This approach embraces conflict theory, as it proposes that institutions are run by those who are in power and used by those in power in order to maintain their privilege at the expense of others. (Here is a link to a comic that explores the issue of class difference from a structuralist perspective).
Similar to above, what draws me to the structural approach is that it focuses on large-scale issues, which impact the individual livelihoods of our clients. Structural social workers focus on changing policies by raising individual consciousness and mobilizing collective action. Click this link to see how I connected my work with COS to the structural approach.
Taking a Strength-Based Approach
The strength-based approach seeks to capitalize and develop the client’s capabilities as opposed to focusing on their deficits. Hence, the approach empowers the clients and encourages them to actively participate in the decision-making process. What the strength-based approach offers is a new perspective: in our problem-saturated world, it acknowledges the potential of the individual or community as oppose to labelling them "at risk" (Hammond, 2010). Click here to see how I incorporated a strength-based approach into my paper on indigenous knowledge and disaster risk reduction.
Incorporating art into my social work practice
Art is a powerful medium for social justice and social change. Throughout my MSW program I have activelty sought out opportunities to incorporate art into my social work practice. Click here to view examples of some of my art projects.