01/02/2026
Why Social Justice Is a Core Mandate in the NASW Code of Ethics — And What That Means in Today’s Climate
When I was in school to become a Social Worker, I remember reading the NASW Code of Ethics and feeling a deep sense of relief and validation that I had chosen the right profession for myself. I still didn’t know what I was going to do with that profession, I was just a baby social worker, but it was exciting to me.
I had fallen in to a degree that didn’t treat compassion as optional. Social justice wasn’t framed as a buzzword or a political stance—it was named, unapologetically, as a core value. Something we are obligated to pursue, not just something we care about when it’s convenient.
Over the years, as our political landscape has become more extreme, I’ve returned to that part of the Code more often than I expected. Sometimes as validating that my frustration was real. Sometimes as a reminder of why this work matters.
“Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups.”
It’s not framed as “may pursue.” It’s not “if it fits comfortably within your worldview.” It’s an integral expectation for every social worker, whether we’re in a hospital, a school, private practice, community work, or administration.
Social justice is not optional in social work. It’s part of our license, our duty to clients, and our professional identity. Social justice as a lens, not a political platform
One of the biggest misconceptions is equating “social justice” with a political ideology. But in our field, social justice is not a party alignment. It’s a human rights orientation.
It means:
• Every person has inherent dignity and worth
• Barriers to safety, opportunity, and self-determination are not neutral
• Systems can and do harm our citizens, and therefore systems must be examined and improved
• Advocacy is a responsibility, not an accessory
• Silence can be complicity when harm is happening
In practice, this lens shows up when we look beyond a client’s reported and observed symptoms and consider the environment they’re navigating. It shows up when we challenge policies that disproportionately harm marginalized people. It shows up when we talk openly with clients about how oppression affects their mental health as well as every aspect of their life.
Social justice simply means that human dignity is non-negotiable, and that we’re willing to do something about it.
What it means to practice social work today
Practicing social work in today’s climate means holding steady to an ethical commitment while everything around us feels louder, angrier and faster.
Every week, I meet people who feel overwhelmed by what is happening in our country and the broader world—by policies that affect their bodies, families, safety, identity, and access to care. I see the exhaustion clients carry from navigating systems that were never designed with them in mind and often designed to subjugate them. I see the way national rhetoric invades relationships, workplaces, and even self-worth.
In moments like these, the Code of Ethics is not just a document. It’s a compass.
Social justice in 2025 means:
1. Naming the impact of harmful systems—even when it’s uncomfortable.
We aren’t asked to be neutral about oppression. We’re asked to understand it and address it.
2. Centering the lived experiences of those most affected.
This includes believing people’s experiences of racism, discrimination, poverty, disability bias, gender-based violence, immigration stress, and more. They are the expert, not the therapist.
3. Holding space for complexity without losing sight of values.
We can understand why people believe different things while still upholding the dignity and rights of marginalized and targeted communities.
4. Advocating beyond the therapy room.
Whether it’s supporting access to mental healthcare, challenging discriminatory practices, or promoting community resources, advocacy is part of ethical practice.
5. Staying human in the process.
Working through a social justice lens isn’t about perfection. It’s about alignment, humility, courage, and showing up—even when the job is hard
Social justice is how we honor our clients
At its core, the social justice mandate exists because people cannot heal in environments that harm them. Therapy alone cannot undo systemic racism, poverty, anti-LGBTQ policies, lack of access to healthcare, discrimination in schools or workplaces, violent immigration practices, gender-based oppression, disability-related barriers.
But social work can respond to these realities with honesty and integrity. We can validate the pain they cause. We can empower clients to advocate for themselves. We can challenge systems that perpetuate harm. We can commit to a profession and refuse to pretend these issues don’t exist.
That is what social justice means. That is why it’s in the Code. And that is why it still matters.
https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Sarah Marty, LCSW (WI)
Photo Credit: www.socialworkfutures.com
