Social work is a practice-based profession that promotes social change, development, cohesion and the empowerment of people and communities. Social work involves the understanding of human development, behavior and the social, economic and cultural institutions and interactions. Social work professionals have made significant contributions to society through their work with families and institutions in areas that include:

In the United States, social work has been around for over 100 years, with notable pioneers such as Jane Addams, Frances Perkins, Whitney M. Young Jr., Harry Hopkins, Dorothy Height and Jeannette Rankin.