THE CHANGING CONTEXT OF SOCIAL-WORK-PRACTICE - IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOCIAL-WORK EDUCATORS

A decade and a half of political and economic developments have reshap ed traditional social work practice. Cuts in government funding, priva tization, and cost containment in the human services have contributed to dramatic changes in service organization and availability. Many pro grams have closed or downsized and critically needed services have bee n reduced. These changes have altered the environments in which studen ts learn and raise ethical and philosophical questions about the natur e of current social work practice. This article examines the implicati ons of these trends on field instruction and presents recommendations to strengthen social work education and practice.