ABSTRACT
Social work education is at a tipping point between the abundant opportunities of the last century and the formidable challenges of the future. As a result of the unprecedented infusion of resources accompanying the New Deal and the War on Poverty, twentieth century social work anticipated continued expansion of its professional project. Throughout human history some members of every society have been excluded, oppressed, or marginalized for reasons ranging from ethnicity, race, ideology, religion, and class to personal failures and eccentricities. From its inception social work has struggled with carrying out the complex, sometimes contradictory functions associated with reducing suffering, enhancing social order, and social reform. As early social workers, motivated by idealism and morality, engaged with the significant personal and social problems of early industrialism, they very quickly realized that training and standard-setting in the new field would be essential to assure competence and accountability.
