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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2014)
11 Street roots Jan. 31,2014 Embracing the social work profession, not the over professionalization BY SHANNON SINGLETON communities, the field that encouraged its workers to identify injustices and use their he goal of social work is to work power to bring change? Granted, some of yourself outof a job. A simple this still exists. Yet, the profession asa statement that I heard in my first whole, in my opinion, has taken a road of social work class at Temple University from professionalism that mirrors the medical one of the leading anti-poverty advocates model in of Western medicine — we not only the country. It is a statement that resonates have to go to school, but we now have to with me and focuses my work. I'spend the register and pay to have the privilege of bulk of my time working to^ support people using the “social worker” title.. recovering from homelessness, poverty, In 2011, Oregon changed its statutes for mental health symptoms, addiction and licensing social workers, prohibiting the use trauma, while at the same time maintaining of the title without authorization and a vision of the bigger picture. From a human regulation from the state. Fees range from rights perspective, I advocate to end $150 (for those who have an undergraduate homelessness, give people housing, end degree) to $460 (for those wanting the untreated addiction and mental health highest license of licensed clinical social symptoms, give people treatment to end; worker). All fees are paid to thè state board poverty, give people the ability to fulfill their of social workers. basic human needs. Simple, right? ; This effectively devalues and removes the Wrong. These -simple” solutions that natural helpers in our communities from would work me when out of a job are not being paid for the work they do, and creates easy in a society with differing viewpoints a system where agencies only hire “social and opinions; ones based in, values and workers.” I myself acquiesced and recently principles like the Protestant work ethic and completed my master’s program but have individualism. But, Where does social work not yet paid the fee to use the title. fit into this? Whatever happened to the kind This professionalization of social work is of social work that built movements in leading us away from the roots of oiir work C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R > ■ Shannon Singleton has worked in homeless services fo r over 12 years, the past 6 in Portland. Prior to that, .she worked with social action groups i n Philadelphia. Animals in conflict and changing the profession as a whole. The relationships that we historically had with people and communities is being replaced by a stale, clinical setting where people are easily mistaken for their diagnosis, their problems, and we lose the space to bear witness to people’s stories. We lose the ability to learn from them and support them in ways that may at times mean a behavior chalige for them, but more frequently means challenging the oppressive systems that place barriers in the Way of people moving from survival to thriving. I wear my social work badge with pride. At the same time, I rail at the professionalization of the work that puts far too manyiabels and limitations on people — both the social workers and those we seek to serve. Over the next few months, we will explore and challengesome of the impacts, like sustainability, the loss of the use of self reflection, racial oppression within the field, and how the issue of homelessness is viewed, that this over-professionalization has had on a profession that I Jove and believe can find its roots once again. O lym pics by George Burdine I am some of the few individuals who have no interest at all in the Olympics, summer or winter. However, I can’t escape the nw anticipation of those around me--------- - ~ , The talk, i.e., the U.S. has 8 medals, the Russians 7. Rebel fighter patrols with a monkey in the back o f a truck during a visit by an American convoy from the U.S. embassy in Monrovia, which rolled into rebel territory, Monrovia, Aug. 8,2003. V S Armv soldier SPC Collin Palleseh of -Attack" Co, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment plays a ^ A f ^ n d o g named Tango " before beading o u t s a t <° patrol in Zharay district, in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, October27,2012. ,-_7—nJT>wW TI„ It is in all media and social media outlets. And in many-ways, our political and corporate leaders present and make money and policies that to me are absurd. But now I don’t speak for everyone. 1 can only imagine what it is like to over that giant hill, unable to see bottom until 3 feet of your skis are hanging out in mid-air. 150 yards straight down. 2 meters to the nearest tree. The distant mountains. ; - And hoping the report that the man-made snow is really fast, but the breeze is coming from the east* so make sure you compensate Or epic disaster will occur for the whole planet to witness. How about that luge team hitting the big end of 100 MPH? He’s got to be thinking don’t lean too" far right and easily glide to the left, Just like in practice and the simulator. These world-class athletes practice ridiculously their whole life, And many cram in 4 years. Let us shine and everybody will shine with us. The patriotism of it all. Go USA, of course.
