A Case for Critical Social Work Theory During COVID-19

Given the extreme circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, this article explores how critical social work can be an effective approach to social work practice during a global crisis. After analyzing the contemporary context of widening social inequalities spurred by the pandemic, an overview of the major assumptions, commitments, and the role of critical consciousness in critical social work theory is given. The destabilizing of the status quo paired with the exposure of deepening structural inequities during the pandemic offers an opportunity for critical social workers to instill hope and advocate for long-lasting systemic changes related to social care.