Which core value encourages social workers to challenge injustices within social systems?

The core value that encourages social workers to challenge injustices within social systems is social justice. This value emphasizes the importance of advocating for the rights of individuals and groups, particularly those who are marginalized or oppressed. Social workers who are committed to social justice actively work to identify and address inequalities and advocate for policies that promote equity and inclusivity.

In the context of social work, this involves engaging in practices that seek to improve the social conditions affecting individuals and communities, ensuring that everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. This core value serves as a framework for understanding how social structures can perpetuate inequities and provides social workers with the motivation to promote systemic change.

The other core values, such as competence, service, and dignity and worth of the person, are essential in their own right but do not specifically focus on the challenging of injustices within social systems. Competence underscores the need for social workers to be skilled and knowledgeable in their practice, service highlights the commitment to helping others, and dignity and worth of the person emphasizes respect for individuals. However, none of these values directly address the imperative of confronting and transforming unjust systemic structures, which is the hallmark of the social justice value.