Eighteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

Social workers are equipped to deal with the problems of a nation and have the ability to communicate and understand the differences and needs of the people (Haynes & Mickelson, 2000). In the U. S., there are currently six (6) social workers in Congress; four (4) are in the House of Representatives and, two (2) are in the Senate (NASW, 2019). Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate proposed a Bill before Congress to strengthen social work practice to address policy issues and social work education (Lewis C. E., 2015). In this paper, humanitarian issues related to differences such as globalization, immigration, and diversity are examined. Chosen to promote issues of policies and governance, the framework that will guide this proposal will include The Human Needs Theory of Motivation, The Theory of Congressional Organization, The Policy Analysis Theory, and, The Theory of Social Change. Presented with these theories in legislative settings that seek to influence legislators to vote on civic, political, and community concerns, through the implementation of observation, practice skills, research education, and congressional interviews, undergraduate and graduate social work students are required to participate in a political debate that addresses social processes that are formulated to understand humanitarian needs and differences.

Presenters

Dezette Johnson
Associate Professor, Social Work, Johnson C. Smith University

La Sonya Townsend
Assistant Professor , Metropolitan College of Professional Studies/School of Social Work, Johnson C. Smith University, United States

Judith Crocker Billinsgley
Assistant Professor, Johnson C. Smith University