Introduction
Once the problem of stigmatization is identified, it is necessary to develop strategies for eliminating it. Unfortunately, the stigma around social welfare programs is strong on the micro (self), meso (family, society, institutions), and macro (cultural) levels (Grand Challenges for Social Work, 2020). The approach to stigma elimination should be complex, focused on each of the levels mentioned above. Thus, it is essential to involve social workers in helping people deal with the stereotypes they encounter.
Main body
Social workers interact closely with the stigmatized people and can effectively integrate their professional knowledge in the stigma management process. As it was mentioned above, each level of stigmatization should be targeted in order to solve the issue in the long run. It means implementing inter-disciplinary measures, including psychology, public health, the legal system, economics, and other important disciplines, including social work.
Social workers are particularly trained to assist individuals, families, and certain social groups to cope with issues they encounter and improve their quality of life. When encountering social stereotyping and stigmatization among the poor, social workers are there first to identify the level-based structuring of the issue (Grand Challenges for Social Work, 2020). Then they suggest a system of complex actions that include working on the individual’s self-isolation coming out of the conflict between the person’s position in the society and the society’s standards.
Conclusion
To conclude, social workers play a crucial role in stigma management. They communicate with people who need help, identify levels of stigmatization, and propose effective strategies to work on eliminating both the welfare programs stigma among the society and the consequences it brings to each individual. Whatever the social worker decides to implement, they should never forget about integrating comprehensive solutions into their practice.
Reference
Grand Challenges for Social Work. (2020). Reducing the impact of stigma. Web.