The Preamble to the Code of ETHICS of the National Association of Social Workers states:

The PRIMARY mission of the social work profession is to ENHANCE human well-being and help meet the basic human needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.

A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession's focus on individual well-being in a social context and the well-being of society. Fundamental to social work is ATTENTION to the ENVIRONMENTAL forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.

The Preamble to the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers states:

The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.

A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession's focus on individual well-being in a social context and the well-being of society. Fundamental to social work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.