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On pages 7–9 of your textbook, three major issues impacting the future of social work are discussed

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On pages 7–9 of your textbook, three major issues impacting the future of social work are discussed. Choose one of the issues that most interests you and explain how that issue might directly affect your future social work practice. b. Address what you will need to do to respond to these changes in your future social work practice if you are to meet the requirements for these evolving issues. c. The NASW Code of Ethics charges social workers with being change agents. How does your involvement in policy development make you a change agent? How could being involved in policy development impact your everyday service delivery to your clients? A Quick Peek Ahead - 7 advocacy as well as learning about policy. It thus deals with social policy and public policy as an integrated knowledge and skill area for your life as both a professional and a citizen. A Quick Peek Ahead The world is facing transformative social change. This is not unlike the change that early social workers encountered when they went to work in the teeming slums of major American cities in the midst of the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. There are three major things looming in the very near future: O The rise of the information economy. People today are in the midst of a major transformation from an industrial economy to an information economy. This will change all the social institutions and change the nature of people's lives. Although many of the impacts of the information society will occur in the future, quite a few have already happened, and many are occurring now. The pace of change is often quicker than people realize, and change is difficult for most people. The continued pace of globalization. Although there has always been international trade, the pace of globalization has increased radically. Americans now compete with people around the world. The development of technology has made trade easier and more immediate. Globalization has both benefits and costs. The loss of many jobs and the devastation of communities are clearly among the costs of international trade. On balance, people's ability to benefit from trade is WELCOME TO THE FUTURE 8 . CHAPTER 7 considerable . The fact that you can interact with people all over the world is huge benefit and one that can enrich both your working life and your personal life . In addition, having products made in low-cost areas of the globe makes them less expensive for American consumers when they are sold in the United States. The influence of globalization challenges what is meant by citizenship and statehood by giving people a view of themselves as part of a larger system. The need to conserve and protect the environment. After centuries of ignoring the health of our planet and environment, the bill has come due. If people do not stop overconsuming and despoiling their resource base, they will run out of resources. It is also true that many of the things that people put into the environment will hurt the health and the life chances of future generations. These are key issues that will define your life and your work. They are things you can- not ignore. They will create problems and difficulties. They are, however, forces that you can ultimately manage. This will take knowledge, skills, and commitment. Social work and social welfare currently exist within the context of these three streams. You definitely should care about them because they affect your work and your professional future. But you must also care because of your role as a citizen. The message is that if you are a social worker you must care about the information society, your professional and personal life. globalization, and the environment because these forces will have a major impact on To make a change you must first understand the issues. Change for change's sake is rarely beneficial and frequently disastrous. This book gives you a good overview of the major issues and how they work, although you will have to continue to learn about the issues as time passes. This book will introduce you to policy analysis and advocacy skills . These are skills that will help you understand the issues and make constructive change when the opportunity presents itself. Advocacy happens at multiple levels in social work. The book also gives you questions to think about fum consult, and exercises to do.