SOCIAL WORK PRINCIPLES
AND STATE POLICY
AL A. CUADRILLERO, RSW
The Case of BABY MANJI
The surrogacy arrangement was entered into between a
Japanese couple (intented parents, and an Indian surrogate. The
child, Manji, is born in India.
The arrangement got complicated not because the surrogate
wanted to keep the baby (a common concern for those hiring a
surrogate) but because the Japanese couple who were the
"intended parents" had divorced. The husband still wanted to
raise Manji, but his ex-wife did not.
The father found himself in a catch. India requires that a child be
legally adopted before leaving the country, but bars single men
from adopting. Manji's father was denied travel documents for
the baby. The situation was widely covered in Indian and global
media, and grew into a legal and diplomatic crisis.
Manji was eventually permitted to leave for Japan, but the debate
within India about surrogacy has continued. Women's rights
Surrogacy is an arrangement, wherein a person
groups and other NGOs are calling for regulation and oversight, carries and delivers a child for another individual or
and raising questions about whether commercial surrogacy is a couple who will be the intended parent (s)
good idea at all.
The Case of
BABY MANJI
• How do we recognize and validate
the identities of people and families
formed through emerging
technologies?
• And if, in doing so, we change our
core definitions of family?
• How is this relevant to the social
work practice?
EMERGING REALITIES
AFFECTING
THE SOCIAL WORK
PRACTICE
IN THE PHILIPPINES
• In the past, we associate families with a
mother, a father and children.
• However, this may not be the case
nowadays as we have families with a
mother and a child or a father with EMERGING
children, or even grandparents and REALITIES
children. AFFECTING
• The complex and emerging realities of
family structures pose a challenge with THE SOCIAL
our social work practice and we have to WORK
adapt to these realities in the same PRACTICE
manner as the future social work
practitioners should embrace these
realities. But the most affected in this
situation is the child or the children.
The "Declaration of Principles
STATE POLICY and State Policies" is a
fundamental section of
The State values the the 1987 Philippine
Constitution, which lays
dignity of every down the foundational
ideals, goals, and
human person and commitments of the
Philippine state. This section
guarantees full is located in Article II of the
Constitution, and it
respect for human expresses the guiding
principles that direct the
rights. operations of government,
as well as the aspirations of
Section 11, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
the country in both domestic
and international contexts.
SOCIAL WORK
PRINCIPLES
SOCIAL WORK
PRINCIPLES
Declarations of what to do
The practice of social and what not to do to General rules or
work is guided by basic achieve the best results fundamental truths we
principles or rules of while conducting social must observe by which
action for the practitioner. work. They serve as we move from one
reference points for circumstance to another.
professionals performing
fieldwork.
Concept: The acceptance principle
emphasizes mutual respect and
acknowledgment between the social
1. ACCEPTANCE OF
worker and the client. Respecting and PEOPLE AS THEY ARE
understanding the client under any
circumstances.
Key Points:
•Client Trust: The client must believe in
the worker's competence to resolve their
issues.
•Worker's Acceptance: The worker
should accept the client’s current state
without being influenced by personal
biases or past experiences.
Concept: Effective communication is
fundamental in social work. It includes both
verbal and nonverbal methods and is crucial for
2. PRINCIPLE OF
understanding and resolving issues. COMMUNICATION
Miscommunication can lead to confusion and
hinder progress.
Key Points:
•Verbal and Nonverbal: Both types of
communication are vital. Verbal includes spoken
or written words, while nonverbal includes
gestures and actions.
•Avoiding Miscommunication: Social workers
should be attentive to both their own and their
clients’ communication to avoid
misunderstandings.
Concept: Confidentiality is crucial for
building trust between the social worker
and the client. Clients need to feel safe 3. CONFIDENTIALITY
sharing personal information, knowing it
will be kept private and used
appropriately.
Key Points:
•Trust: Clients must trust that their
information will be handled with
discretion.
•Limits: While confidentiality is essential,
there are exceptions, such as when
information is needed to protect the
client or others from harm.
Concept: This principle underscores
the client’s right to make their own
decisions. Social workers should 4. SELF-DETERMINATION
support clients in making choices that IS A RIGHT OF THE
align with their own values and goals,
rather than imposing solutions. CLIENT
Key Points:
•Free Will: Clients should be
encouraged to make decisions about
their own lives.
•Support and Guidance: Social
workers provide guidance without
overriding the client’s choices.
Concept: This principle highlights the
uniqueness of each client and the
importance of personalized approaches.
Every individual has a distinct nature and 5. INDIVIDUALIZATION
situation, and social workers should tailor
their methods to meet each client's OF CLIENTS
specific needs.
Key Points:
•Unique Needs: Each client’s problem is
unique, and solutions should be
customized.
•Dignity and Worth: Clients should be
treated with respect, recognizing their
intrinsic value despite their current
difficulties.
Concept: Social workers should
approach clients without prejudice,
focusing on providing help rather
6. PRINCIPLE OF NON-
than forming judgments about their JUDGEMENTAL ATTITUDE
situation or character.
Key Points:
•Objectivity: Social workers should
offer support based on professional
understanding rather than personal
biases.
•Respect: Clients should be treated
with respect, regardless of their
circumstances or background.
Concept: Balancing emotional
involvement is crucial. Social workers 7. CLIENT-WORKER
should empathize with clients without
becoming overly involved or detached, RELATIONSHIP
maintaining a professional and effective
relationship.
Key Points:
•Empathy vs. Detachment: Social
workers should show empathy while
keeping a professional distance to avoid
burnout and maintain objectivity.
•Professional Boundaries: Maintaining
appropriate boundaries ensures that the
worker remains effective and that the
client’s autonomy is respected.
REMEMBER
THANK YOU!
