POLITICAL CONTENT IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION AS REPORTED BY ELECTED SOCIAL WORKERS

Abstract

As a profession, social work has encouraged its members to run for public office to translate the values and ethics of social work into public policy. This study of 416 elected social workers around the country provides insight into the experiences of these elected social workers in their social work education. The classes, skills, activities, field content, and information that can prepare social workers for practice in the political arena are described. Based on these findings, suggestions for political content in social work education that can prepare social workers for this arena of practice and future research in this area are discussed.