Pioneer social workers: biographical perspectives and contributions

¶ … Pioneer Social Workers

Pioneers in the field of social work laid the ground work for programs, agencies, and policies still in effect today. Especially of note are African-American social workers from the past who not only impacted the field of social work, but also presented landmarks in African-American history. The following discussion will focus on four African-American social work pioneers and the influence and implications their work had for modern day social work practice. These four pioneers are Jane Addams, Roger Cummings, Whitney Young Jr., and Sara a Collins Fernandis.

Jane Addams was born in Cedarville, Illinois, and lived until 1935, when she passed away I while living in Chicago, Illinois. The most prominent event that Jan Addams is remembered for is founding the Settlement House Movement. This was initiated when she founded the Hull house in the poverty stricken streets of Chicago in 1889. Also of note, she was the first American woman to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Beyond her generous help with the poor, Jane Addams was also heavily involved in the area of labor law reforms, in which she pushed for improvements in laws that governed working conditions for women and children. She was also an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of colored People (NAACP).

In her upbringing, Jane Addams was heavily influenced by her father, who taught her the values of tolerance, philanthropy, a strong work ethic, and higher education. Jane Addams pursued higher education at the Rockford Seminary for young ladies, and achieved great academic success. Along with her academic achievements, Jane Addams also developed strong leadership traits, and desired greatly to attend medical school, of which her parents did not approve.

While in England on vacation with friends, Jane Addams was introduced to the founders of Toynbee Hall, a settlement house in the slums of London,. This inspired her to return to the United States and start a settlement house in Chicago. Jane soared to new heights as the creator, innovator and leader of the Settlement house, and abundance and help was drawn to her from all around. Hull house eventually provided English classes for immigrants, as well as instruction in vocational skills, music, drama, and art.

In 1915, Addams organized the Women's Peace Party and the International Congress of Women in efforts to avert war. She was also the founder of the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP. She received much criticism for her involvements, and was labeled as an anarchist, socialist, and a communist. Throughout controversies involving her political involvements, Hull House continued to be successful.

Another pioneer of social work was Roger Cummings, who was born in Canada in 1910, and lived until 1967, when he died while living in Minnesota. Cummings is most recognized as being instrumental in the development of clinical social work. His vision included the integration of services provided by medical and psychiatric social workers. The program he developed later became a model used in other health-related settings.

Cummings was born in Canada, but later moved to the United States. His education included a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1932, and later received his Master of Social Work degree from the University of Chicago in 1936. His work history included a stint with the Navy during WWII, Area Chief of the Social Work Service for the Veterans' Administration, and later became Director of Social Work Service for the Veterans' Administration. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the National Association of Social Work and the Council of Social Work Education. In 1965, he received an award of outstanding achievement from the University of Minnesota, for his long history as a public servant, his innovation of the field of clinical social work, his contributions to the welfare of veterans and social work education. The achievements that this award recognized have all greatly impacted the present day practice of social work.

Whitney M. Young Jr. was born in 1921 in Lincoln Ridge Kentucky and lived until 1971. Young is most notably remembered as a black American civil rights leader and administrator of social work, and was considered one of the most influential civil rights leaders in America during the 1960s. His career as a race relations expert began when Young served as a go-between for white officers and African-American enlisted men in a segregated U.S. Army company in Europe during World War II. Young obtained a Master of Arts degree in social work from the University of Minnesota, after which he worked for the Urban League and later became executive secretary at one of the organization's branches. He was named Dean of Atlanta university's School of Social Work when he was only 33, and later became executive director of the National Urban League. In this director position, Young secured training and jobs for African-Americans in disciplines that were usually closed to them. The employment program he established was named "Selective Placement," and it involved securing well-paid, white collar jobs for African-American professionals. Young was an advisor on race relations to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and he also served as president of the National Association of Social Workers from 1969 until his death. Overall, young is considered a pioneer in advocacy for the oppressed and community organization, and he also instigated the development of social work with union and management in industrial settings. All of his accomplishments have greatly influenced the way social work is practiced today.