Brij Mohan delivered a keynote address at the 3rd National Indian Social Work Congress on transforming social work to better align with current social realities. In the address, he examines three aspects of social work that need reexamination: the mission of social work, educational infrastructure for social work, and how social work services are delivered and funded. He argues that for social work to remain a legitimate and needed profession, its structure must change to be congruent with today's cultural, social, economic and political realities. A new framework of social practice is proposed to help social work achieve sustainable peace, prosperity and progress in a global community.

1. TRANSFORMING SOCIAL WORK
A keynote address delivered in Honor of S. Zafar Hasan to the 3rd
National Indian Social Work Congress, October 24-26, 2015 on
‘Community Engagement, Social Responsibility and Social Work
Profession’ at Jain Vishwa Bharti Institute, Ladnun, Raj. India
(jointly sponsored by National Association of Professional Social
Workers in India (APSW!)
Brij Mohan1
Abstract
Transforming Social Work is a reflective analysis of our profession that
stands at the crossroads of change in a globally transformed world. While
basic societal institutions falter, the individual, family, and community
strive for survival and sustainability. The status, legitimacy, and need of a
professional discipline can only be sustained if the structure of a
profession is organized in congruence with cultural, social, economic, and
political realties of out times.
This address seeks to examine three basic aspects of professional
significance: mission of social work; educational infrastructure; and service
aspects of its delivery, funding, and values. These stances differ from much
of what we know about and do in Social Work within and beyond
educational settings. A critical examination unravels concerns that merit
attention from professional communities to adapt to and align with social
realities that dictate transformative practice to achieving sustainable
peace, prosperity and progress in a global community. A new framework of
Social Practice is proffered to address certain burning issues that call for
deliberative dialogue and discussion.
1 Dean Emeritus, School of Social Work, Louisiana State of University, Baton Rouge,
LA, USA; www.brijmohan.org (Professor Brij Mohan holds MSW and PhD (Social
Work) from Agra and Lucknow Universities. His most recent books include, Global
Frontiers of Social Development Theory and Practice (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015);
Death of an Elephant (iUniverse, 2013); Society and Social Justice (iUniverse, 2012);
and Development, Poverty of Culture, and Social Policy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011).