Reflection Paper Former president of the American Association of Social Workers (now the NASW), Benjamin Youngdahl, |My essay solution

Posted: March 8th, 2023

Former president of the American Association of Social Workers (now the NASW), Benjamin Youngdahl,
stated in his 1953 farewell address: “Is our function as social workers limited to the treatment of
pathologies, or do we have a positive or preventive function to perform as well?”
Please reflect on and respond to Youngdahl’s question, and support your position by invoking one core
value from the NASW Code of Ethics and one standard from the CSWE Educational Policy and
Accreditation Standards. I provide links to both documents in Module # 9.

SOW 5757 Midpoint Reflection Paper Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS

Former president of the American Association of Social Workers (now the NASW), Benjamin Youngdahl,

stated in his 1953 farewell address: “Is our function as social workers limited to the treatment of

pathologies, or do we have a positive or preventive function to perform as well?”

Please reflect on and respond to Youngdahl’s question, and support your position by invoking one core

value from the NASW Code of Ethics and one standard from the CSWE Educational Policy and

Accreditation Standards. I provide links to both documents in Module # 9.

FORMATTING

• APA, 7th edition (links provided in Module # 9)

• 4 pages including Title and References (2 pages of text; no Abstract)

• Please include a minimum of 3 in-text citations that are also cross listed on the References page:

CSWE, NASW, and our Trattner textbook

RUBRIC (This assignment is worth up to 20-pts.)

APA Formatting, including length and use of 3 citations and references

• Title and Reference page included (1-pts.)

• 2 pages of text—no less than 1.5 pages and no greater than 3 pages (1-pts.)

• NASW citation & reference (1-pts.)

• CSWE citation & reference (1-pts.)

• Trattner citation & reference (1-pts.)

0-5 pts.

Incorporation of NASW COE, CSWE EPAS, and Trattner textbook in formulation of position

• NASW (2-pts.)

• CSWE (2-pts.)

• Trattner (2-pts.)

0-6 pts.

Conceptualization

• Thoughtfulness of ideas expressed (2-pts.)

• Organization of ideas expressed (2-pts.)

• Demonstrated understanding of subject matter (2-pts.)

0-6 pts.

Spelling and grammar

• Spelling commensurate with graduate level of study (1.5-pts.)

• Grammar commensurate with graduate level of study (1.5-pts.)

0-3 pts.

SOLUTION

Youngdahl’s question remains relevant today and highlights the ongoing debate in social work about the role of social workers in addressing individual problems versus promoting social change. While social workers play a crucial role in treating pathologies, they also have a responsibility to engage in positive and preventive practices. The NASW Code of Ethics highlights the core value of social justice, which encompasses the obligation to promote social welfare and challenge social injustice. Social workers who solely focus on treating pathologies neglect the root causes of social problems and perpetuate systemic inequalities. Thus, social workers should strive to address the underlying social factors that contribute to individual problems.