Think Tank charts future trends affecting social work... -
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Published on: 3/3/2006
Last Visited: 7/17/2008
Dr. Joel Blau, Director of the Stony Brook School of Social Welfare Doctoral Program, spoke on "Economic Underpinnings of Health and Social Services and Implications for the Profession."
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Economic factors like the Dow being up and inflation being down creates the impression that people are doing well, says Dr. Blau.In reality, there are two economies right now: The top 5% of the population is doing well, while everyone else is financially stagnant, he adds.
"Any Conservative will tell us that our economic system preserves income inequality," he warns.
The public sector is being downsized, wages are being contained, and corporate taxes are being cut.
This will impact on social work in a number of ways, says Dr. Blau: Social work values/ethics will conflict with a push for quick profit and short-term counseling directives.