The first episode of the assigned podcast was released during Social Work Month, was established almost 60 years ago and is dedicated to explaining the aims and importance of social work. The guest is the CEO of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Angelo McClain. The present paper analyzes and evaluates the main ideas discussed in the first episode of the NASW’s podcast.
To truly appreciate social work, it is necessary to know that it is not limited to only one field, such as, for example, helping unemployed people. At the end of the podcast, the CEO of NASW, Mr. McClain, talks about his personal experience (NASW, 2018). His experience teaches the audience that social work is a very versatile sphere. Social workers help people in residential group facilities, assist individuals with mental and behavioral difficulties and problems with substance abuse, and stand up for the rights of minorities (NASW, 2018). Overall, social workers do a great job of improving the quality of life in the community and helping people escape dire situations.
At the very beginning of the interview, Mr. McClain mentions that Social Work Month is important for people employed in this sphere because it reminds others of the significance of their work. Undoubtedly, it is wonderful that people celebrate the contribution that social workers make to the well-being of the most vulnerable members of our society once a year. Nonetheless, the problem is that for the other 11 months, their efforts are commonly taken for granted. To eradicate this issue and raise the prestige of the social work profession, the NASW promotes legislation that is expected to guarantee the protection of social workers and facilitate their access to resources (NASW, 2018). The US Congress’s approval of the social workers’ safety act is a big step forward in this field. However, it is still a bill, not a full-scale legislative act. Therefore, much work should be done in the future to help this bill come into force.
In the podcast, Mr. McClain also mentions other topical problems that the community of social workers faces. For instance, he indicated the lack of government subsidizing and a standard license for social workers that would enable them to help people all over the US instead of being attached to one state (NASW, 2018). These problems are fundamental and significantly impact the quality of social care provided to Americans. Nonetheless, these changes could not be implemented within one day, and the reformation process could take years, if not decades.
One of the most curious things about the NASW is that it is going through modernization and restructuring. Apparently, the organizational structure that was developed in the 1970s has become outdated by now. The CEO of NASW states that one of the most critical aspects the organization is trying to change is the unequal access of members of different chapters to the benefits and services (NASW, 2018). Moreover, one might suggest the NASW could take advantage of modern technologies by using them to raise public awareness of the phenomenon of social work and the organization per se.
To conclude, the first episode of the NASW Social Work Talks Podcast serves as a brief but informative introduction to the topic of social work and the operation of the NASW. The most capturing thing about this podcast is that the guest, Mr. McClain, shares with the audience his personal experience. It was interesting to know that he got into this sphere of social work mainly due to a combination of circumstances. From the author’s perspective of the present essays, it seems that the talk inspires the audience to learn more about social work, appreciate social workers, and contribute to the development of social work in the US.
Reference
National Association of Social Workers. (Producer). (2018). Episode 1: Celebrating social work month with Angelo McClain [Audio podcast]. NASW Social Work Talks Podcast.