Title: Empowerment Theory in Social Work | VCU Online
Headings: Empowerment Theory in Social Work
Empowerment Theory in Social Work
What Is Empowerment Theory?
Important Concepts
Direct Power Blocks
Indirect Power Blocks
Dimensions of Empowerment
Self-Efficacy
Critical Consciousness
Tool Development
Micro-level Tools
Macro-level Tools
Empowerment Theory Social Work in Action
How Can Social Workers Empower Groups and Communities?
Public Policy Reform and Empowerment
Empower Communities by Earning a Master of Social Work
Recommended Readings

Content: It centers on helping marginalized people at individual, group and community levels gain the personal, interpersonal and political power to improve their lives. Additionally, the model seeks to challenge systems that prevent or hinder people from having their needs met. Important Concepts
What can prevent marginalized people from feeling empowered to take control of their lives? Empowerment theory social work explores several key factors: Direct Power Blocks
Direct power blocks are the structures that stop people from achieving goals such as better employment, advanced education or safe housing. Examples include inequitable access to well-funded and high-quality schools, discriminatory lending practices in housing, or sexist attitudes in corporate culture. Social workers can help promote awareness of direct power blocks and energize social movements against them by developing programs that help individuals overcome marginalization. For instance, programs that cultivate pride in LGBTQ+ youths could also help take action against the discrimination of their community members. Additionally, social workers can advocate for policy reforms and corrective laws. Indirect Power Blocks
Indirect power blocks refer to internalized oppression.