為曲高和寡的社會工作倡導提出整合取向的新途徑

“Too Highbrow to be Popular” in Social Work Advocacy: Analyzing Causes of the Gaps and Developing a Comprehensive Approach

本文探討社會工作倡導的理論意涵與實施現況的落差，雖然理論上倡導深植於社會工作的本質精神，然而在社工教育及實務應用上一直有所不足。本文指出其背後原因與與美國社會工作發展史中有關，也與社會工作在追求專業化的歷程中偏向醫療取向、及個人層次的轉變有關，而台灣社會福利服務高度依賴政府補助及評鑑制度，也潛在地不利於倡議理念在實務上的發展。本文提出應重新理解社會工作倡導，以整合而非分離取向看待社會工作與倡導的關聯，亦即實務作為可從案例倡議出發、擴展至為自己倡議及為他人的獨立倡議機制、並善用網際網路與社群媒體等新科技，使倡導社會工作與社工實務有更深的連結。綜合文獻與省思，本文認為若能從整合取向去推展社會工作倡導，才能有助於整體社會工作面對之環環相扣的社會問題、制度與組織，對於受助個案、實務工作者、與管理者都能從中獲益，對於社會工作教育及傳承也將是新的開展。

Social work advocacy is traditionally an important concept but is not implemented significantly in practice. This article is to explore the possible causes of the gap by reviewing literature from studies of western countries and Taiwan. The author summarized that causes of the gap are first from the unique developmental trajectory of the United States, and is resulted in lower involvement and implement of radical social work and political related advocacy. In addition, social welfare contract system in Taiwan also created unfriendly environment of social work advocacy. In order to improve the situation, this article argued that we should re-educate social workers in applying multiple level of case advocacy in services, encourage clients to advocate for themselves, and also recruit professionals and volunteers of independent advocacy for social services process. Meanwhile, internet forum and social networking software should be applied to assist nonprofit organizations and workers in the field. Implications to practical social workers, managers, and policy makers are also addressed.