The Future of Social Work: Seven Pillars of Practice

185 Pages·2018·1.209 MB·English

by  Brij Mohan

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Foreword by
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Peter
Herrmann
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The Future of
Social media and the digital revolution have fundamentally changed SOCIAL
the meaning of “social” and “work.” Social work, like all other
professions, will undergo dramatic changes as apps and algorithms
overtake human operations. The failure of social sciences in general
and social work in particular warrants thoughtful innovations that
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ensure sustainable services. h WORK
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The author believes altruism is professionally unattainable until F
social work is completely re-founded. The Future of Social Work u
discusses seven new algorithms of social practice that challenge the t
u
existing model of social work education and offers a new perspective
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for radical transformation of the entire system. The book warns e
against academic complacence and shows how this radical o
transformation is necessary in order to prevent inevitable alienation, f
avarice, and anger in a techno-scientific world. S
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Brij Mohan is Dean Emeritus, School of Social Work, Louisiana
C
State University, USA. Seven pillars of practice
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ISBN 978-93-528-0625-6
BRIJ MOHAN
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Advance Praise
A master of social welfare, social work and comparative social policy
has written a masterful book. Enough already of professional social
work, it has denounced itself with decades of foolish accommodations,
empty scholarship and even a wandering commitment to those in need.
Unique in these sorts of analyses, Mohan asks for the consideration of
elements outside of the ambience of social work but with a humane
and humanistic commitment. Reflecting the modesty of his deep
learning, he refrains from offering a vision. These sorts of things,
following Huxley, in their reduction of complexity only produce
dynasties of tyranny. Perhaps Mohan’s desire to ‘demystify the power
of materialism at the expense of philosophical streams’ is best realized
by first addressing the problems of social and economic inequality—
two policies that are impeded by contemporary social work practice.
— William M. Epstein
Professor, Social Work
University of Nevada, USA
The Future of Social Work is a brilliant exposé of social work’s ontology
and authenticity—a subject mostly untouched by intellectuals in the
field. Brij Mohan re-examines the Legitimacy Crisis of his calling
with courage and convictions strengthened only by his vast knowledge
and experiences. The ‘heretic’ thrust of this unmatched opus may save
social work from falling into the traps of competitive, market-based
professionalization. Uberization of social services, as the author calls,
is imminent unless professionals overcome their myopic and siloed
view of their practices. The Future of Social Work calls for a return
to the core values and principles of human-centred social practice,
against dehumanizing patronizing practice, by adhering to the seven
algorithms: mission, education, service, empathetic humility, liberatory
assistance, transparent effectiveness and buoyance.
— Philip Young P. Hong
Director, Center for Research on Self-Sufficiency
School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago, USA
In The Future of Social Work, Professor Brij Mohan explores ‘plateaus
of practice’ that believers might find unsettling. The book is a futuristic
humane critique of contemporary professional ethics and practice.
Mohan’s ‘Seven Pillars of Practice’ proffer a ‘liberatory praxis’ that
snorkels the depths of knowledge in search of jewels of truth. As
a philosopher of social hope, the author suggests a paradigm shift,
thereby challenging social sciences and humanities to thwart the
possibility of a dystopian future.
Artificial intelligence will fundamentally change the patterns of
social interactionality. Sapiens make mistakes; computers don’t. If
human frailty can be reduced by techno-digital means, the delivery
of social services can be mediated more efficiently without social
agencies staffed by fallible workers. The future of self-driven cars is
mainly based on this premise. Brij Mohan contends that designing
obsolescence is crucial for progress.
Students, educators and policy makers cannot ignore this seminal
work by one of the most brilliant minds in academic discourse.
— Sonia Kapur
Assistant Professor, International Studies
University of North Carolina at Asheville, USA
The book is a scholarly analysis of social work education with an
implicit comparative view. It also is a brutally honest critique of
robotic–human interface. It posits social work in this conflict as slowly
morphing into inanity.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has changed much of transactional and
operational services that fulfil human needs. Social services can’t escape
the avalanche of IT. Now, our profession has two choices: either get
devolved into non-existence or launch a movement as defined by the
author’s theory of ‘Seven Pillars of Practice’. Brij Mohan proffers
seven transformational ‘algorithms’ which mainly include mission,
education and service embedded in empathetic humility, authenticity
and praxis—all achieving buoyancy above the sea of oppression.
A book like this has never been written before. I enthusiastically
recommend this book for the future of social work.
— Anil Navale
Mentor, Masters in Social Work Programme
Navrachana University, India
The Future of
Social
Work

The Future of
Social
Work
Seven pillars of practice
BriJ MoHaN
Copyright © Brij Mohan, 2018
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
First published in 2018 by
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Name: Mohan, Brij, author.
Title: The future of social work: seven pillars of practice / Brij Mohan.
Description: Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd, [2018] |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018010274| ISBN 9789352806256 (print (hb): alk. paper) |
ISBN 9789352806263 (e pub 2.0) | ISBN 9789352806270 (e book)
Subjects: LCSH: Social service.
Classification: LCC HV40. M556 2018 | DDC 361.3/2—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018010274
ISBN: 978-93-528-0625-6 (HB)
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