Teaching Social Justice From a Social Work Perspective

This chapter highlights the significance of social justice as a core value of the social work profession and its resonance across multiple domains. It is argued that social work education needs to shift its focus from the individual to the structural aspects of social issues. This calls for social work to reconnect with its roots in community organizing and to blend clinical skills with community organizing to mobilize people and advocate for social justice within broader sociopolitical contexts. The chapter explores how to instill an understanding of social justice in students effectively and how to best prepare and equip them to actively contribute to social justice causes. It is suggested that incorporating social justice principles into the curriculum requires ongoing reflection and adaptation to ensure it remains relevant and responsive to the ever-evolving landscape of social issues.