The Changing Context of Social Work Practice

A decade and a half of political and economic developments have reshaped traditional social work practice. Cuts in government funding, privatization, and cost containment in the human services have contributed to dramatic changes in service organization and availability. Many programs have closed or downsized and critically needed services have been reduced. These changes have altered the environments in which students learn and raise ethical and philosophical questions about the nature of current social work practice. This article examines the implications of these trends on field instruction and presents recommendations to strengthen social work education and practice.