Environmental Social Work: A Concept Analysis

Abstract

Environmental social work and related terms have been used widely to describe an approach to social work practice that is founded on ecological justice principles. However, practice applications of environmental social work are scant and there are various terms and a range of interpretations of the practice that exist. Using a concept analysis framework we identify the attributes and characteristics of environmental social work, develop an operational definition, and use a case study to illustrate the practice of environmental social work. In this way, we seek to improve clarity, consistency, and understanding of environmental social work practice among educators, practitioners, and researchers. In essence, environmental social work assists humanity to create and sustain a biodiverse planetary ecosystem and does this by adapting existing social work methods to promote societal change.

Social Work Practices and the Ecological Sustainability of Socially Vulnerable Communities

“…It is considered that they reveal a reductionist and economistic understanding of the social issue, since it is reduced to poverty, which makes it impossible to apprehend the object in its entirety. While the challenge for social worker in vulnerable communities is "maintaining momentum and grassroots support for interventions when trying to operate within bureaucratic systems" [4] (p. 81), it seems clear that the professionals in our sample are prone to use intervention techniques in a fragmented way and that they appropriate the institutional object as if it were the professional object itself.…”

“…In brief, as Kemp noted, "an integrative focus on person and environment has long been a defining element of social work's professional identity" [32] (p. 1200). Although in the past decade there have been some criticisms of the non-inclusion of ecological perspectives in the practice of social workers, recent assessments of the state of art in empirical social work research on environmental issues [4,33] confirm an increased interest on environment-related problems and their impact on human living.…”

“…Multicultural training provides respect and dignity as an attribute of each group; the feminist perspective, regarding the slow and constant positioning of women, with the evolution of their rights, not forgetting the oppression of women caretakers, agents of profound social changes, with the achievement of basic rights such as voting, to be voted on, to study, to work, to educate their children and to participate in family decisions, but which still has in many countries a lower The term "eco-social" is intended to incorporate a range of emerging ecological perspectives that advocate a greater focus on environment in social work theory and practice, some even placing the ecosystem at the center of practice [4] leading to support and reinforce mutually beneficial individual-environment relationships. Based on perspectives such as social ecology and deep ecology [14,67,68] and critical ecological perspectives [69], this theoretical framework emphasizes human interdependence with all living beings and with natural systems; critical individual-environment relationships involving degradation, control, and exploitation; and advocate a focus on social work based on social and environmental justice, management and sustainability.…”

“…If so, try to make your analysis and your contributions explicit. 4. In your opinion, what alternatives can the eco-neighborhood model offer to improve the quality of life of residents and their social integration?…”

“…In a recent review of environmental social work, [4] few examples were found of actually implemented practices, other than just social work education. Therefore, by focusing on an experience of community social intervention with environmental concerns, this paper also intends to contribute to filling this gap.…”