Social work is a unique field that requires a person to address the needs of people in different communities. Understanding those demands of these communities can be challenging. Different strategies, challenges and resources can be used in the rural and urban communities. This paper will discuss how working in urban and rural areas might differ, as well as the importance of an ethical principles involved in each setting. Social workers that choose to work in a rural area will face a different type of need than the social workers in an urban area. Economic issues such as jobs, and transportation; sociocultural issues such as family structure, and religious beliefs and practices are a few factors that hinder social workers. While jobs are
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Single parent homes with a "female head of household are generally very poor (Lichter and Eggebeen 1992). Families headed by women in rural settings are living in poverty" Retrieved from http://family.jrank.org/pages/1434/Rural-Families-Changes-in-Rural-Life.html.This contributes again to the the ability for a parent to not only provide basic needs but also to comply with any services provided for the family from social services. Religion is another difference in rural communities. Families with rural backgrounds usually have close ties with a faith-based institution. Having strong religious backgrounds can impact the decision for an individual to seek help from social services. In this case it would be important for a social worker to apply the ethical principle of a non-judgmental attitude. For an example, if the client was gay/Lesbian and decided to not seek services because of the shame involved in admitting this because of a strong religious background. Understanding, acceptance, and identifying with the client.Taking an alternative approach might be necessary to help this …show more content…
Due to these characteristics there are many obstacles that an urban social worker would face. According to Social Work An Empowering Profession, "because of the magnitude of the social problems and the geometric expansion of service needs, a wide range of services responses emerges in metropolitan areas" (Dubois and Miley, 2008 p.87).Although there is similarity that both rural and urban areas have poverty; urban areas poverty is so massive that education, lack of insurance, healthcare, and unemployment make it hard for the low population of social workers to handle the amount of social services that are needed. Although there are plenty of opportunities in a city, people with better insurance or transportation would receive these services first leaving a vast population not able to acquire services although they qualify. In this instance the ethical principle of access to resources would apply. In order to fight the war of poverty "access to resources is prerequisite for developing solutions" (Dubois and Miley, 2008 p.125) As social workers within any area it is important to not only advocate for your perspective clients, but to advocate resources. This will allow opportunity and social
Single parent homes with a "female head of household are generally very poor (Lichter and Eggebeen 1992). Families headed by women in rural settings are living in poverty" Retrieved from http://family.jrank.org/pages/1434/Rural-Families-Changes-in-Rural-Life.html.This contributes again to the the ability for a parent to not only provide basic needs but also to comply with any services provided for the family from social services. Religion is another difference in rural communities. Families with rural backgrounds usually have close ties with a faith-based institution. Having strong religious backgrounds can impact the decision for an individual to seek help from social services. In this case it would be important for a social worker to apply the ethical principle of a non-judgmental attitude. For an example, if the client was gay/Lesbian and decided to not seek services because of the shame involved in admitting this because of a strong religious background. Understanding, acceptance, and identifying with the client.Taking an alternative approach might be necessary to help this …show more content…
Due to these characteristics there are many obstacles that an urban social worker would face. According to Social Work An Empowering Profession, "because of the magnitude of the social problems and the geometric expansion of service needs, a wide range of services responses emerges in metropolitan areas" (Dubois and Miley, 2008 p.87).Although there is similarity that both rural and urban areas have poverty; urban areas poverty is so massive that education, lack of insurance, healthcare, and unemployment make it hard for the low population of social workers to handle the amount of social services that are needed. Although there are plenty of opportunities in a city, people with better insurance or transportation would receive these services first leaving a vast population not able to acquire services although they qualify. In this instance the ethical principle of access to resources would apply. In order to fight the war of poverty "access to resources is prerequisite for developing solutions" (Dubois and Miley, 2008 p.125) As social workers within any area it is important to not only advocate for your perspective clients, but to advocate resources. This will allow opportunity and social