Building upon the liberal arts foundation of Saint Leo University, the mission of the social work program is to prepare the beginning social work professional for practice within a generalist framework. Since its inception, this mission has been the fundamental guiding principle of the program, providing the basis upon which the program's four goals are established.
The primary goal of the social work program is to provide students with the knowledge, values, and skills necessary for beginning-level professional social work practice with a variety of clients at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. This commitment includes providing students with opportunities to assist individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in promoting, restoring, maintaining, and enhancing their capabilities to accomplish tasks, prevent and alleviate distress, and use resources.
The second goal, grounded in the eco-systems perspective, is to assist students in becoming involved with the transactions among people and those social institutions that affect their ability to meet basic human needs, to realize aspiration, and to develop their human capacities. Thus, students should come to learn the importance of linking clients with systems that can provide them with needed services, resources, and opportunities.
The third goal is to assist students to recognize social conditions that impede the adequate social functioning of client systems and, through research, advocacy, and social and political action, work to modify those conditions, empower groups, especially those at risk, and promote social and economic justice.
The final goal is to develop, maintain, and continually refine the education program which is interrelated and comprehensive in design; relevant to social work practice at the entry level; and flexible to meet individual student needs. In view of the University's geographic setting in pursuing this goal, the social work program seeks to prepare students to work within both rural and urban settings.
By focusing on generalist practice, the mission and goals of the social work program reflect the content of the baccalaureate Curriculum Policy Statement 5.4 to 5.4.5 of the Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education. This focus provides content about the context of social work practice with the variety and diversity of client systems and with the changing nature of social organizations. Based on a liberal arts perspective and grounded in the values and ethics of the social work profession, the goals pave the way for students to accept their responsibilities as professional social workers, continue their own professional growth and development, and promote social justice for clients, especially populations at risk.