Mission

The mission of the Whitney M. Young, Jr., School of Social Work is to advance the aims of the profession through education for excellence in social work practice. The School seeks to educate creative, responsible social work professionals committed to the search for solutions to problems of poverty, social and economic injustice, sexism, racism, and other forms of oppression while preserving the heritage of African American people. The School is committed to the core values of the profession, including the promotion of social justice; a responsibility to serve oppressed, at-risk members of society; a strong commitment to fighting inequality and oppression based on race, gender, age, class, sexual orientation, and disability; appreciation of individual and cultural diversity; client self-determination; the capacity of clients to grow and change; and the responsible application of professional values and ethics in practice.

In support of the School's curriculum renewal and the development of the profession, the School maintains relationships of mutual respect with its alumni, affiliated agencies, other local, state and national agencies and professional organizations.

The School's mission is operationalized through the following program goals:

• To educate students for excellence in advanced clinical professional social work practice;
  
• To promote students' capacities for critical thinking and self-reflection;
  
• To prepare students for practice with oppressed, at-risk, and diverse populations;
  
• To prepare students to evaluate, understand and apply research to social work practice;
  
• To educate students in the application of professional values and ethics to practice;
  
• To promote the ability to add to and disseminate social work knowledge for the profession; and
  
• To maintain collaborative relationships with other Clark Atlanta University schools, other institutions of higher education, affiliated agencies, other local, state and national agencies and professional organizations in the interest of the School and the profession.