Issue Home Volume 11: Issue 4

Jesuit Teaching and Social Work
Gary U. Behrman, PhD, MSW, M.Div.
School of Social Work

One of the criterion for a group of people claiming to be a profession is to have a grounded theory of how they approach providing services. Social work grew into a profession as the result of men and women who saw basic needs that were painfully evident in the burgeoning immigrant population in the late 19th and early 20th century American cities. Responding with compassion and services, these early “workers” carved out a theoretical framework for the social work profession. Namely, problems people experience are often the result of environmental factors not character flaws.

Social workers identify strengths that are present in a person’s life and build upon these rather than only assess for pathologies. When creating services and resources, social workers understand that they are entering a system of relationships, that any intervention with an individual will impact that person’s family, school, workplace and neighborhood. This theoretical framework is essential for understanding the social work profession and how and why our profession reflects, embodies and promotes Jesuit education’s mission.

Saint Louis University’s School of Social Work is one of the oldest Schools of Social Work in the U.S, founded by Fr. Joseph Husslein, S.J. in 1930 during the Great Depression. Fr. Husslein produced the largest body of American Catholic social writings in his time. He urged the use of Catholic Bishops social justice teachings and the Papal encyclicals to confront unemployment and the lack of health care, education, and housing.

Last updated 04.28.09