RURAL IS REAL

In Scales and Streeter’s book, Rural Social Work (2004), in chapter 4 on Rural Is Real, the author states that “Human relationships tend to be more genuine among rural people. The potential is great for a small group of committed individuals to achieve something of lasting impact or meaningful change” (Yevuta, 1999, p. 43). I believe that this can be true of rural social work-in that the contacts which you make are smaller and more intense with the people that you meet. In a suburban or urban environment, the contacts that you make are more spread out, and you are less likely to spend an adequate amount of time with them. I would like it very much, if I were to work in a rural environment and get to know the people of that environment. Of course, the ethical dilemma that comes to the fore, is one of multiple relationships. This dilemma, which I’m sure that all social workers at sometime have to meet, can best be met by doing your assigned job while using a strengths perspective and respecting the right of the other to be aided and assisted. If one remembers that the natural assets of people are important, and to help them in a culturally sensitive way, I believe that the social worker will be able to function. But, one must keep this in mind at all times when working with other people.

Scales, T.L. & Streeter, C.L. (2004). Rural social work: Building and sustaining community assets. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Yevuta, M.A. (1999). In Scales, T.L. & Streeter, C.L. (2004). Rural social work: Building and sustaining community assets. p. 43. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.