Social work students' perspective on environmental justice: Gaps and challenges for preparing students. Issue 3 (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Decker Sparks, Jessica L.; Combs, Katie Massey; Yu, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: Journal of community practice. Volume 27:Issue 3/4(2019)
• Page Start: 476
• Page End: 486
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Environmental justice -- competencies -- education -- social justice -- curricula -- international social work; Community organization -- Periodicals; Social work administration -- Periodicals; Community development -- Periodicals; 361.05
• DOI: 10.1080/10705422.2019.1655124
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1070-5422

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The integration of environmental justice into social work education, research, and practice has grown substantially in the past decade. However, social workers still report feeling unprepared to address these challenges with their clients and communities. To understand the disconnect between education about and application of environmental justice principles, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with graduate social work students (n = 14). Findings suggest this disconnect is catalyzed, in part, by the environment's meta nature and a lack of facilitated education on the dynamic feedbacks between the physical environment and social justice issues. Implications for social work educators are discussed.