The Role of Financial Social Work in Strengthening Socio-Economic Recovery of Families Post COVID-19 Pandemic in South Africa

Implications for Practice, Education, and Policy Considerations

Abstract

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 found a vulnerable South African economy. In fact, when the pandemic reached our shores, the South African economy had experienced two consecutive quarters of a recession. As a result, the Covid-19 pandemic deepened the economic crisis. Many people lost their jobs, many have gone without income for extended periods, and many are going hungry every day. As it is known, the family as a pillar of any society has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein families have lost breadwinners due to deaths associated with the pandemic. In addition, the cost of living has increased significantly in South Africa, resulting in families battling to sustain themselves financially. Against this background, this paper aims to argue that South Africa’s agenda for socio-economic recovery should prioritize families. As such, financial social workers need to play active and central roles in strengthening the socio-economic conditions of families in South Africa. The financial social worker may act as an advocate for families that are struggling to survive financially. Given the difficult financial positions of families, psychosocial services in the form of counseling and empowerment must be offered to families to help them survive and overcome their financial challenges. This paper is important since it seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge about financial, social work as an area of specialization in social work. There is no specific literature in South Africa that refers to financial or social work. The paper concludes with some implications that need consideration from different social work levels, such as practice, education, and policy.