Why the Social Work and Public Health Professions Belong Side-by-Side - Guest Post by Ansley Kasha (May '21)

Ansley Kasha MSW-MPH
May '21

My decision to pursue a Social Work Master's degree and a Public Health Master's degree at the same time was not thought out. In all honesty, it was impulsive. I had already been accepted into the University of Georgia’s Advanced Standing track for my Master of Social Work degree, and I was enthusiastically ready to complete my education and finally see the letters “MSW” at the end of my email signature. I thought this would be enough to satisfy my internal desire to professionally help others and leave a meaningful mark on the world, but I was wrong. I realized in my first semester of grad school that I still felt a sense of unfulfillment, but I was unsure of the origin of this unfulfillment. This is when I was first introduced to the idea of pursuing an additional degree in the field of public health by Dr. Rebecca Wells, and it was the best impulsive decision I have made for myself to date.  

As I continue to pursue my two degrees, I increasingly self-identify as a public health social worker. This personal identification is rooted in an intense passion for health promotion in the interest of the public and the responsibility and privilege to uphold the ethical principles and values of the social work profession. A dual professional like myself has the unique opportunity to make the most informed decisions for a desired population by pulling expertise and knowledge from complementary professions. Social work and public health are complementary because their domains of service are oftentimes separate, but they share the same overarching goal of improving the well-being of others.  

Social work as a whole is overwhelmingly micro in its approach, focusing on individuals and families. Professional social workers “protect society’s most vulnerable individuals” by “connecting their clients with important resources” (2U Inc., 2021) Public health, however, is macro in its approach, focusing on the larger communities and populations. “Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work, and play” (American Public Health Association [APHA], n.d.). The intersectionally of these professions lies within the unwavering dedication to improving the lives of others.  

My personal definition of a public health social worker is someone who is interested in positively impacting large populations on a macro scale while actively implementing professional social work ethics and values. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) outlines six professional values and ethical principles in the Code of Ethics that align with the profession. The NASW Code of Ethics places emphasis on the following values: Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence (National Association of Social Workers [NASW], 2008). I believe the best way I can do my dual degree justice is to incorporate my social work ethics and values into every aspect of the work I do in the public health field. Social work ethics are sound and reliable. It is my personal and professional opinion that every profession should implement a moral code of conduct that rivals that of social work. The recognition of the shared human experience is invaluable to the public health social worker because it provides a grounded framework for providing essential services and exploring interprofessional collaboration.  

I am truly honored to be privileged enough to pursue a dual Master's program in the professions of social work and public health. By the end of the Spring 2020 semester, I will have exactly one more year until I graduate and get a “big girl” job. I do not know where my two degrees will lead me, but I am confident in my ability to represent both professions with grace and humility. My impulse decision to follow my intuition when I felt unfulfilled only pursuing my Master of Social Work degree is something I am proud of. I hope that this same intuition follows me into my professional career as I aim to be the best public health social worker that the University of Georgia has ever seen!  

 

- Ansley Kasha, MSW/MPH graduate, May 2021. Ansley is currently working at the UGA College of Public Health as part of the Traffic Safety Research and Evaluation Group (TSREG) and also works on the Georgia COVID Perinatal Experiences (COPE) study through Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health

View Ansley's LinkedIn Profile here

 

References 

American Public Health Association [APHA]. (n.d.) What is public health? Retrieved from https://www.apha.org/what-is-public-health
U2 Inc. (2021, June 11). Macro, Mezzo and Micro Social Work. Social Work License Map. Retrieved October 22, 2021, from https://socialworklicensemap.com/become-a-social-worker/macro-mezzo-and-micro-social-work/.
National Association of Social Workers [NASW] (2008). NASW Code of Ethics (Guide to the
Everyday Professional Conduct of Social Workers). Washington, DC: NASW.