Life Struggle, Challenge and Possibility of Social Work Profession in Carona (Covid 19) Crisis

Abstract

This research provides a holistic examination of the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social work profession globally. It explores the tripartite theme of Life Struggle, Challenge, and Possibility, analyzing how social workers navigated unprecedented personal and professional turmoil while adapting service delivery in a crisis. The study documents the severe challenges: heightened client needs (mental health, economic distress), systemic breakdowns, remote work limitations, and the personal vicarious trauma and risk faced by practitioners. Simultaneously, it investigates the emergent possibilities: rapid innovation in tele-social work, strengthened community mobilization, expanded roles in public health, and advocacy for more resilient social systems. By synthesizing global experiences, this paper argues that the pandemic served as a critical stress test, exposing systemic fragilities while catalyzing a transformative redefinition of social work practice, ethics, and professional identity, pointing towards a more agile, technologically integrated, and advocacy-focused future for the profession.