Direct Practice - Direct Action
On the level of direct practice in the clinical setting the radical perspective is also applicable. One former professor and social worker Jeffry Galper, who wrote probably the most comprehensive book on radical social work titled Social Work Practice: A Radical Perspective, states “Workers may also find a variety of ways to encourage people to engage in collective political activity through existing political organizations.” Many such organizations exist, for instance, DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality) whose mission statement says “DARE's mission is to organize low income families in communities of color to win economic, social and political justice. A key to DARE's success is the understanding these campaigns built of the ways racism and sexism are a fundamental part of oppression in low income communities.” (DARE website, 2005). Much like the Black Panthers in the 1970’s, DARE has set up grassroots organizing campaigns, public day care facilities, youth programs, environmental empowerment projects and police accountability actions. The work of this organization is often seen by those in social work as being a fringe element and often not embraced as a viable referral in regard to solutions for inequality and oppression problems that clients indeed face on a daily basis. I believe the reason is another failure to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics in good faith, i.e. that “Social workers continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills and to apply them in practice. Social workers should aspire to contribute to the knowledge base of the profession.” (NASW Code of Ethics). This does not mean exclusivity to CEU seeking cruises or seminars that are primarily skills based (not knowledge based) that the typical concept of fulfilling this obligation entails. Rather, the outreach to such organizations seems reasonable, consistent if viewed through a radical perspective, to be the appropriate action for a social worker to approach with many clients. It is part of the aforementioned spiritual transformation that must occur, which in my opinion, entails changing one’s reality in a way that sees social justice clearly, honestly, practically and seriously. This includes policy, clinical, management and even research interpretations.
