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Six Core Values of Social Work

January 09, 2020
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At its core, social work principles guide dedicated professionals who seek to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and advocate for social justice. The fundamental principles of social work practice encompass more than just providing assistance—they represent a commitment to human dignity, ethical service, and positive social change.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics serves to uphold the profession’s mission. As a profession, social work aims to improve human well-being and help satisfy the fundamental human needs of all people, with special regard to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty.1 The storied and defining characteristic of social work is the field’s attention to personal well-being within a social context and the general well-being of society as a whole. A focus on the outside forces that create, contribute and address life problems is fundamental to social work.

Social workers champion social justice and social change, and are perceptive of cultural and ethnic diversity and endeavor to end discrimination, oppression, poverty and other types of social injustice. They may do this through direct practice, community organization, consultation, advocacy and more. All of this is done in service of the central goal of social workers: to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs.1

Professional ethics are at the heart of social work, and the NASW Code of Ethics provides values, principles and standards to help set a standard for social workers’ behavior. The social work code of ethics is relevant and vital to all social workers and social work students, no matter what their professional function is, which population they serve or where they work.

The 6 Core Values

Below are the broad ethical principles that are founded on social work core values. These principles establish the ideals that all social workers and social work students should aspire to.1

Service

Social workers’ main goal is to assist people in need and to address social issues. They hold service to others above their own self interest and draw from their considerable talent, skills and expertise to help those who are marginalized. Social workers are encouraged to volunteer some of their skills and time to pro bono services.

Social Justice

Social workers oppose injustice and push for social change, especially with and on behalf of the vulnerable and oppressed. They actively work to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about diversity and oppression, as well as ensure their clients have access to necessary services, resources and information. They fight for equal opportunity and meaningful societal participation for all people.

Dignity and Worth of the Person

Social workers respect the fundamental dignity and worth of people and treat each individual with care and respect. They are mindful of individual, cultural and ethnic differences and encourage their clients’ socially responsible self-determination. They strive to bolster their clients’ ability to evolve and address their own needs. Social workers are mindful of their responsibility to their client as well as society at large, and they look to resolve conflicts between the individuals’ interests and society’s in a responsible manner consistent with the Code of the profession.

Importance of Human Relationships

Social workers acknowledge the fundamental significance of human relationships and see that interpersonal relationships are an important means for change. They engage people as partners in the process for change and endeavor to strengthen relationships in an effort to bolster the well-being of individuals and groups.

Integrity

Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner consistent with the mission, ethical standards and values of the social work profession. They act honestly and responsibly and encourage ethical practices on behalf of the organization they represent.

Competence

Social workers practice within their areas of competence while honing and augmenting their professional expertise. They continually seek to increase their knowledge and skills and apply them to their practice. They should also strive to contribute to the collective knowledge base of the profession.

The significance of these NASW core values goes far beyond simply complying with the regulations and requirements. In a field where your clients may often be vulnerable, oppressed and unable to advocate for themselves, it’s imperative that those advocating for them be passionate about empowering those who are marginalized by society.

The Impact of Core Values

When social workers fully embrace the mission of social work through its core values, the ripple effects create profound positive changes throughout society. These principles of social work practice, when consistently applied, yield transformative outcomes that extend far beyond individual client interactions, beginning with the fundamental value of service.

Through dedicated service, social workers create a foundation of trust and healing. When they prioritize the needs of others, clients experience genuine support that can break cycles of trauma and social disadvantages. This selfless approach naturally aligns with and reinforces their commitment to social justice—another crucial element of the profession's impact.

By championing social justice, practitioners advance the social work mission of creating equitable communities. Their advocacy efforts lead to systemic changes that improve access to resources, challenge discriminatory policies, and create pathways to opportunity for marginalized populations. This commitment to justice, combined with a deep respect for human dignity, helps build more inclusive institutions and dismantles barriers to social progress.

Treating patients with dignity produces remarkable outcomes in client engagement and recovery. When clients feel truly respected and valued, they become active participants in their own growth journey. This core social work principle empowers individuals to reclaim their sense of self-worth and make positive life changes aligned with their cultural values and personal goals—a process that's strengthened through meaningful human relationships.

Understanding the importance of social work and its mission means recognizing that strong human relationships facilitate lasting transformation. By nurturing these connections, social workers help clients build support networks that sustain long-term success. These relationships, fortified by professional integrity and competence, become powerful catalysts for healing, growth, and community strengthening. When social workers uphold integrity and competence in their practice, they establish credible, effective services that communities can trust. This professional excellence ensures that the principles of social workers translate into measurable improvements in client outcomes and societal well-being.

Through continuous learning and ethical practice, social workers enhance the profession's capacity to address complex social challenges and create lasting positive change that honors both individual dignity and collective progress.

Putting Values Into Action

A powerful example of how the principles of social work practice intersect with social justice can be found in the advocacy for undocumented students in higher education. In Social Work Today's BLAH Donette A. Gordon, MSW argues that, with approximately 2 million undocumented immigrants under age 24 in the United States3, social workers face a critical challenge in upholding their professional mission to serve vulnerable populations. The social work mission demands that practitioners create safe spaces for these students while advocating for systemic change, demonstrating how social work principles extend beyond individual case management to broader societal transformation.

This work exemplifies the benefits of social work in action: creating equitable access to resources while fighting discrimination and exploitation. Social workers must navigate complex ethical responsibilities, from maintaining cultural competence to engaging in social and political action, all while protecting client confidentiality and safety. Their efforts have shown that when the principles of social workers are properly applied—through advocacy, education, and direct support—undocumented students can achieve remarkable success, contributing billions in taxes and enriching our society's cultural fabric.4 This case powerfully illustrates how social work values, when consistently applied, can transform both individual lives and broader societal systems.

Another crucial example of how the principles of social work practice intersect with modern professional responsibilities can be found in HIPAA compliance and electronic health information protection. Dr. Frederic G. Reamer's analysis demonstrates that the social work mission must now encompass sophisticated data security measures to protect client confidentiality in the digital age. This aligns with core social work principles regarding client dignity and professional integrity, requiring practitioners to conduct thorough risk assessments of their electronic protected health information (e-PHI) systems.5

Similarly, a compelling illustration of how social work principles must adapt to modern challenges can be found in the evolving landscape of adoption services in the digital age. As Dr. Reamer and Dr. Siegel explain in Social Work Today, the traditional adoption "triad" has transformed into an expanding "circle" due to digital technologies, requiring social workers to reimagine how they uphold their professional mission while navigating new ethical complexities.6 The social work mission in adoption services now encompasses helping clients navigate truth-telling, privacy, and boundary-setting in a digital environment where secrecy is virtually impossible.

The mission of social work becomes particularly clear as practitioners balance competing interests: the adoptee's right to information, birth parents' privacy, adoptive parents' concerns, and the impact of social media and DNA testing services. This case powerfully illustrates how the principles of social workers must evolve to address new technological realities while maintaining their fundamental commitment to client self-determination, honesty, and the best interests of the most vulnerable—in this case, the adopted child.6 Through this lens, we see how social work values can guide ethical decision-making even as the professional landscape becomes increasingly complex.

Considering a Career in Social Work?

The mission of social work is to create lasting change through a unique blend of direct practice, policy advocacy, and community engagement. Each social work principle serves as a cornerstone for building more resilient communities and supporting vulnerable populations. Whether working in healthcare settings, schools, or community organizations, social workers embody these core values while adapting to meet emerging societal needs.

Today's social workers benefit from innovative training approaches that honor traditional wisdom while embracing contemporary challenges and ethical issues in social work. Through rigorous academic preparation and hands-on field experience, they develop the skills needed to turn their passion for helping others into meaningful careers that advance the social work mission. This dynamic profession continues to evolve, guided by timeless principles and an unwavering commitment to human welfare and social justice.

If you’re interested in upholding and promoting these social work core values in your future career, consider enrolling in the online Master's of Social Work from Yeshiva University. The online MSW courses can help you develop your understanding of social work ethics and values and develop your skills in clinical practice, assessment and research. Schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor to learn more.

Sources
  1. Retrieved on January 27, 2025, from socialworkers.org/about/ethics/code-of-ethics/code-of-ethics-english
  2. Retrieved on January 27, 2025, from socialworktoday.com/archive/Summer24p24.shtml
  3. Retrieved on January 27, 2025, from migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/US
  4. Retrieved on January 27, 2025, from socialworktoday.com/archive/Summer22p14.shtml
  5. Retrieved on January 27, 2025, from socialworktoday.com/archive/Summer24p8.shtml
  6. Retrieved on January 27, 2025, from socialworktoday.com/archive/Summer24p8.shtml