The Professional Status of Social Work in Finland

Is social work just money distribution?

Vinski VeijolaThe University of Jyväskylä

2011

Should be this

But is it this?

The Research Question

”How does the general population of Finland view Social Work as a profession and is it still affiliated with money distribution?”

If people link social work to just giving out money to the underprivileged – something should be done about this misconception.

The Goals for the Research

Proving that there is a misconcpetion in the purpose of social work.

Analysing means to change this misconception.

By increasing the awerness of social works more important social purposes – the appreciation of the profession could be set to a more esteemed level.

Hypothesis

Social work is still strongly linked with money distribution, and its other more important purposes are unknown to the public.

By publicly moving income support to KELA, this misconception could start to change.

Increased appreciation of social work would boost the morale of social workers and dissipate the clienteles stigma.

Sources

Lehto, M et.al.: Toimeentulotukikokeilu 1995-1997 loppuraportti (1997)

Karvinen-Niinikoski, S et.al.: Konstikas sosiaalityö: Suomalaisen sosiaalityöntodellisuus ja tulevaisuudennäkymät (2005).

• Other releases from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, The Green Party and KELA.

Data Gathering Method

F2F survey to over 18 years old people Random sample of the population Aiming for 20-30 participants Five question questionnaire with pre-

stated answer options and a “something else. What?” –option

Questionnaire http://veijolavinski1.wordpress.com/paper/

Data Analysis

Purpose of data gathering is to prove the existens of a misconception.

If question 3 proves to have clearly different answers than 1 and 2 – it tells of a possibility of changing the misconception.

Q&A?

If not…

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!