Defining the Social Service Workforce
The social service workforce is an inclusive concept referring to a broad range of governmental and nongovernmental professionals and paraprofessionals who work with children, youth, adults, older persons, families and communities to ensure healthy development and well-being. The social service workforce focuses on preventative, responsive and promotive services that are informed by the humanities and social sciences, Indigenous knowledges, discipline-specific and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, and ethical principles. Social service workers engage people, structures and organizations to: facilitate access to needed services, alleviate poverty, challenge and reduce discrimination, promote social justice and human rights, and prevent and respond to violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and family separation.
Given the diversities across contexts, this definition may be amplified at national and/or regional levels. Learn more about this group of diverse workers by reading the full commentary for additional details on their varied roles.
Advocating for the Social Service Workforce
The Sustainable Development Goals provide an unprecedented opportunity to influence national and international development policy and programs while highlighting the intersections between the work of the social service workforce and those working on health challenges, violence prevention and migration. This is a critical time to promote and build awareness of the valuable contributions made every day by the social service workforce toward achieving the SDGs, particularly related to ending violence against children, supporting children and families on the move and improving health and well-being. Read more about advocating for the workforce.
Strengthening the Social Service Workforce
The framework refined at the Social Service Workforce Strengthening Conference in 2010 outlines strategies to better plan, develop and support the workforce. It is intended as a guide to support country efforts to strengthen the social service workforce and systems. Read more about workforce strengthening, and support our work in this area with a one-time or recurring donation.
Worker Profiles Highlight Diversity of the Workforce
A collection of worker profiles helps to shine a spotlight on various tasks and training of different types of workers, as well as what motivates them to stay on the job.
- Rosemarie Abadingo, Social Welfare Assistant, Women and Child Protection Unit in Tacloban City, Philippines
- Ssentamu Abdul, Case Care Worker, Uganda
- Mohammed Adamu Adangba, State Child Protection Systems Mapping Coordinator, Nigeria
- Majida Bashir, Case Care Worker, Protection and Help of Children Against Abuse and Neglect (PAHCHAAN), Pakistan
- Bojana Brkic, Family Outreach Worker, Serbia
- Viorica Chirnicinîi, Community Social Worker, Moldova
- May Ann C. Demetrio, Child Protection Social Worker, Child Protection Unit, Philippine, General Hospital, Philippines
- Algassimou Diallo, Coordinator, Program Learning Group, Burkina Faso
- Sophearin Dim, Manager of Medical Social Work Unit, Angkor Hospital for Children, Cambodia
- Jane Dzame Karisa, Social Worker, Kesho Kenya, Kenya
- Vanessa Guillermo, Case Management Coordinator and Team Supervisor, Changing the Way We Care, Guatemala
- Jakes Jacobs, Community Child and Youth Care Worker, South Africa
- Kiko Joyce, Child Case Care Worker, Bantwana Initiative, Uganda
- Jennifer Kaberi, National Coordinator for Children Agenda Forum, Founder of Mtoto News, and Global Social Service Workforce Alliance Ambassador, Kenya
- Hilaire Kalume, Director, DISPE—Directorate of Social Interventions for the Protection of Children— Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
- Sowedi Kitanywa, Senior Probation and Welfare Officer, Uganda
- Yanti Kusumawardhani, Education and Protection Specialist, Yayasan Sayangi Tunas Cilik, Partner of Save the Children Indonesia
- Esme Lebi, Team Leader for Child and Youth Care Workers, Isibindi Program, Zambia
- Lintle Letsika, Founder and Director, Footprints of Hope, Lesotho
- Annaliza Macababbad, Social Worker, Child Protection Unit, Philippine General Hospital
- Lutendo Maedza, Team Supervisor and Mentor, National Association of Child Care Workers (NACCW), South Africa
- Chioniso Mangando, Case Care Worker in Zimbabwe
- Mercy Marima, Case Care Worker in Zimbabwe
- Dumizile Theodora Malatjie, OVC Coordinator, South Africa
- Lungi Mkhize, Child and Youth Care Worker and Supervisor, South Africa
- Richard Mutisya, Project Coordinator, Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics Trust (CICC), Kenya
- Janet Mwema, Senior Children’s Officer, National Council for Children’s Services, Kenya
- Sbongile Mzulwini, Child and Youth Care Worker, South Africa
- Crispus Natala, Project Officer and Social Worker, Changing the Way We Care, Kenya
- Oyinlola Oluwagbemiga, Senior Medical Social Worker, University College Hospital, Nigeria
- Simon Peter Otieno, Project Manager and Founding Member, Make Me Smile Kenya
- Kennedy Owino, Children’s Officer 1, National Council for Children’s Services, Kenya
- Nov Phalla, Outreach Project Manager, Mith Samlanh, Cambodia
- Intan Puspitasari, Case Worker, Pdak Cianjur, Indonesia
- Sorn Sokchea, Senior Social Work Technical Officer, Angkor Hospital for Children, Cambodia
- Justin Silas, Social Worker and former Para Social Worker, Tanzania
- Pinh Sokhom, Drug Project Coordinator, Mith Samlanh, Cambodia
- Shelton Tshuna, Child Care Worker, Zimbabwe
- Jorge Manuel Vargas Berreondo, Coordinator, Municipal Office of Children and Adolescents, Guatemala
- Lorena Velasquez, Director of Departmental Offices of the Secretariat for Social Welfare, Guatemala
- Marta Xico Xicay, Social Worker, Changing the Way We Care, Guatemala
We also feature case studies or stories that capture the efforts and successes of this workforce. Our current featured stories:
- NACCW Lwandile and Libode Isibindi Safe Parks Case Study, South Africa
- A Case Study Highlighting the Results of Integrated Child Protection and Care Treatment Programming in Namutumba, Uganda
- Creative Community-Led Approaches to Preventing & Responding to Child Abuse: A case study in Uganda
- A New Zest for Life: The difference made by a social service volunteer in Ethiopia
- Isibindi Success Stories: Supporting Young People and Families Experiencing Violence
Share your story of change or submit a profile. We look forward to sharing your work with the Alliance network!
