Collective Power to Create Political Change: Increasing the Political Efficacy and Engagement of Social Workers |
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| Authors: | Jason A Ostrander Shannon Lane Jennifer McClendon Crystal Hayes Tanya Rhodes Smith |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Social Work, Nancy A. Humphrey Institute for Political Social Work, University of Connecticut, West Hartford, Connecticut, USA;2. Adelphi University School of Social Work, Garden City, New York, USA;3. University of Nevada Reno School of Social Work, Reno, Nevada, USA;4. University of Connecticut School of Social Work, West Hartford, Connecticut, USA |
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| Abstract: | Because social workers are called to challenge social injustices and create systemic change to support the well-being of individuals and communities, it is essential that social workers develop political efficacy: belief that the political system can work and they can influence the system. This study explored the impact of an intensive political social work curriculum on political efficacy and planned political engagement among social work students and practitioners. The findings suggest this model of delivering a political social work curriculum effectively increases internal, external, and overall political efficacy, and that increasing political efficacy has promise for increasing future political engagement. |
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| Keywords: | Political social work civic engagement macro social work |
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