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HISTORY OF SOCIAL WORK INFLUENCERS 1

HISTORY OF SOCIAL WORK INFLUENCERS 4

History of Social Work Influencers

Gabrielle Lewis

North Central University

Dorothy Irene Height was a black activist that was involved in social work and because of her dedication; she is referred to as the grandmother of the civil rights movement. Her achievements in social work are impressive where she was one of the few major female civil rights movement leaders during her time (Nolen, 2018). She was a strong advocate for women’s rights, the uneducated Americans, and unemployed persons, awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1994 and 2004 respectively. Height was a strong motivator of the black community. She encouraged them to be independent, educated, and participate in voting and assisted women in opening business by providing them with grants offering vocational training. She contributed in social work as the president of the National Council of Negro Women (Nolen, 2018). Heights held leadership roles and contributed in the National Council of Negro Women, and the Young Women’s Christian Association.

On the other hand, Mary Ellen Richmond is a pioneer in social work and the evolution of social work is visible through her charity efforts. Richmond organized communities and helped6 create casework practices. Using her intelligence on numerous topics, she achieved a lot; for instance, aided in extensive research that led to development of methodologies and content of diagnosis in 1910, which was later called social diagnosis. This acted as a strong foundation for professional social work and she is therefore considered as a principle founder of social work as a profession. She was a director of the Russell Sage Foundation in New York- Charity Organization department in early 1900s and the first female Charity Organization Society’s general secretary (VCU, n.d). Richmond’s contributions include advocating for training of social workers in a professional manner, training poor families so that they could change their situation, and understanding social caseworks based on social theories.

Jane Addams is the mother of social work where she was a strong advocate for peace in the world. Her efforts were aimed at reducing the suffering of women in America and she co-founded the most famous settlement houses for immigrants in Chicago. She also contributed in public philosophy, feminism, pacifism, and socialism but refused to be labeled because her main concern was social improvement (NASW, 2017). Addams efforts were aimed at protecting the vulnerable and poor in the society and her commitment was confirmed by her accomplishments. Being the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and shedding light on issues such as mothers’ health, children’s needs, world peace, and local public health. The Hull House is the biggest legacy associated with Jane Addams, as it has influenced the entire American social system.

Jane Addams approach to the Coronavirus is a similar strategy as the Biden administration. She’s an advocate that believes the most vulnerable individuals get the vaccine first which includes; medical officers, the elderly, and persons living with chronic illnesses. Addams prioritized the vulnerable and the poor in society and in this case, would recommend that if the public needs to pay for the vaccine, organizations that fight for the rights of the poor should unite and fund for their vaccines. While waiting for more evidence from government officials about the vaccine, it is important to also control stress and anxiety. Any individual, regardless of how they are defined, can affect stress, which can lead to mental health. Addams is a realist rather than embracing specific groups. Therefore, considering continuing social distance, wearing a mask, and frequent hand washing have proven to reduce one’s risk of contracting Covid-19. she would be a strong advocate for these practices to help the vulnerable people stay safe because they can hardly afford the expensive services of Covid-19 management and treatment in American hospitals.

References

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. "National Council of Negro Women". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Jul. 2017, https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Council-of-Negro-Women. Accessed 7 February 2021

NASW. (2017). Social Work History. https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Facts/Social-Work-History

Social Welfare History Project (2011). Mary Ellen Richmond (1861-1928) – Social work pioneer, administrator, researcher and author. Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved from http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/social-work/richmond-mary/