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Paper Presentation

Social Welfare Policy and Policy Practice

Session: Politics, Power & Practice: Reclaiming Dialogue in a Polarized Era

A Divided Nation: Political Ideology, Political Engagement, and Political Activity of Licensed Social Workers

How do political perspectives shape social work? This presentation explores social workers’ political ideologies and common political activities, sharing key findings from a related study. Notably, the study affirms that left-leaning social workers are more likely to engage in activism, highlighting the impact of political beliefs on professional advocacy.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:
  1. Understand the civic and political engagement activities licensed social workers self-report engaging in, as well as the role of their political ideology;
  2. Explore the ethical considerations surrounding the political engagement of social workers and the dilemmas social workers may encounter in the current political climate;
  3. Cultivate a commitment to ongoing learning and promotion of social justice through political action.