SOCIAL WORK AS CHANGE AGENT IN THE SOCIETY: PRESENT AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

What is a "Change Agent?
On the outset I must admit that being ‘a change agent’ is a noble aspiration. I assume ‘change’ in most of the contexts is for good and not for destruction. In my mind, change is akin to "making people better". This is something we all strive for in our social work colleges with our students, our field work agencies and the community.

For a dictionary definition, I would say that a change agent is someone who "alters human capability or organizational systems to achieve a higher degree of output or self actualization". The result of change agent activity is to enable people to do more, or find a new and better perspective on life.

“Change agent is as much about identity and character”.
“A change agent lives in the future, not the present”.
 
Introduction
A change agent is fuelled by passion, and inspires passion in others, Change is hard work. It takes a lot of energy. A change agent has a strong ability to self-motivate.

A change agent must understand people, at the end of the day, change is about people. If you change everything but the people, I doubt think you'll be effective as a change agent. Change will really "stick" when people embrace it.

A successful change agent recognizes the opportunity for change, identifies the best approach, and becomes the catalyst that facilitates that change, whether by design, planning, or inspiration. They cannot do it alone, but are a strong influential force that drives the necessary momentum to get the ball rolling.
 
Role Of Social Worker As A Change Agent In The Society
A Social Worker's role is described as being both an agent of social control and an agent of social change. Discuss what you understand by this; analyze the dilemmas that performing these two roles might cause for Social Workers.

Social Workers may be employed in varied social settings. Social Workers play an important role in co-ordinating of all the programs of different agencies so as best to meet community needs for health and welfare services. Because of the important roles they play, they are known to be agents of social control and social change.

The role of a social worker involves mediating between clients and different organizations and communities. This is a double-edged role, consisting of elements of care and control.
 
Applications and Suggestions
I would like to share my views mentioned below to strengthen the activities of Schools of Social Work and to become a Change Agents in the Society

• Establishment of Professional Social Work Bhavan at State Level in Bangalore- In order to carry out and strengthen our different activities the Social Work Professionals must have a separate wing with the establishment of Social Work Bhavan-A Place for the Social Work Educators, Practitioners and the Students to meet, discuss and chalk out our programmes in a systematic way. Since ours is a practice base with evidence based approach in pursuit of dealing with the present problems and challenges of the society I intend to have our own Centralized Nodal Agency in the name of Social Work Bhavan to bring out certain changes and be a part of the change agents in the society. Here are a few areas which I would like to suggest carrying out the activities under the umbrella of Social Work Bhavan.

 

1. Meetings at the Regular Intervals of Time.
2. Organizing the Conferences, Seminars/Workshops, Symposiums
3. Awareness Programmes, Celebration of various Events(World Social Work Day, International Women’s Day, Human Rights, Observance of World AIDS Day etc)
4. Discussions on Constructive Activities- Responding to the Victims of Natural Disasters, Flood Victims, Vulnerable, Needy etc.
5. Placement of MSW Students for their Concurrent Field Work, Block Placement Training, Job Placements in cooperation with the concerned authorities of Bhavan.
6. Formation of Committees comprise of Social Work Educators, Practitioners and the Students
7. Formation of Think Tank/Core Group for the development of the profession
8. Research and Development Activities: Taking up the several projects of Government/International/National/State Level and make to involve the Social Work Professionals and the students.
9. Special Programmes/Guest Lectures/Training Programmes on different areas of Social Work in general and the Specialization in particular.
10. Meetings/Programmes of Alumni Students of all the Colleges
11. Interactive Sessions of Social Work Educators, Practitioners and the Students on Field Work and other related aspects.
12. Platform for Advocacy and Lobbying with the Government and other bodies to put forth and fulfill our demands
13. Report Writing and Documentation of the activities of all Universities and Colleges, Social Work related NGOs, Associations etc
14. Publication Division-To bring out in a form of News Letters/Magazines/Journals etc. Eg:Supportive hands to our Social Work Magazine Niratanka
15. Setting up of Library- a collection of all Social Work related books, Daily News Papers, News Letters/Magazines/Journals etc.
16. Organizing Social Work Exhibitions-To Show case our activities and create awareness on various social aspects for the people.
17. Students get together meet to exhibit their talents on Social Work related and Cultural areas.
18. Felicitation for the Rank holders/Academic Toppers of the Universities and Colleges and the Achievers from the field of Social Work.
19. To do all the above, a separate office staff is required wherein the job opportunities will be created for our own students.
20. Mobilization of Resources/Fund Raising to carry out the above activities.

Since my completion of PG degree in Social Work I have come across a few instances in my personal and professional field. Really, I have changed my personality, attitude, life style, nature of human being, practice in values, ethics etc., and these have helped to be a different person in my family and surroundings. The social work is making me to find the solutions for the problems of individual, family, professional field and to give ideas to others. I hope this is all because of social work approach. Social Work School as a change agent, in my five years of teaching experience specially through conducting Social Work Camps, Community and Extension Services in various rural, urban and tribal areas, learnt the aspects of planning, organizing, monitoring, supervision, communication skills, public speaking and implementation process with the application of special skills, techniques, leadership qualities, involvement with the people, Public relations etc. The students also benefitted a lot by acquiring the requisite skills and obviously the Social Work can be considered as a change agent.
 
S.Venkatesh Murthy
HOD-Department of Social Work, CMR Institute of Management Studies (Autonomous), Bengaluru-560043