Social Work
Intentions of Social Work
Social work in health care began in late nineteenth ad early twentieth century in the United States. The first social work classes were offered in the summer of 1898 at Columbia University (Social Work History, 2011). These classes were designed to facilitate the development of private and charitable organizations to serve people in need. Changes in demographics, attitudes about how the sick should be treated, and the role of social and psychological factors facilitated the emergence of this field of work.
The mass migrations, chiefly from Europe, in the 19th century landed many immigrants in New York and other eastern cities. This influx of people lead to mass crowding, increased social problems and ill health. In 1905 the Massachusetts General Hospital hired the first professional social worker. Dr. Richard Clarke Cabot believed there to be a connection between tuberculosis and social conditions. Cabot, in charge of the outpatient ward of the hospital, along with his newly created social workers redefined the way health and well-being was managed. The economic, social, family, and psychological conditions that were causing many health issues were recognized for the first time. Soon social workers were attending to social health issues in conjunction with medical doctors who attended to physiological health issues. By 1911 there were 44 social work departments in 14 different cities. By 1913...
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