The disciplines of applied social sciences are informed by the core values of respect for the inherent dignity and worth of persons, pursuit of social justice, integrity -of professional practice, confidentiality in professional practice, and competence in professional practice. What we have discussed in this book are counseling, social work, and communication. They help individuals fit well in society and challenge the social environment to become a better place for all. These sciences cover a broad field, drawing on different social theories and perspectives and combines theory and practice to deal with the complexity of social issues that cover human pain, stress, threat to dignity, and threat to human rights experienced by individuals, groups and communities.
Applied social sciences are the purveyors of social justice, inclusion, and caregiving. Their presence is strongly felt in areas like: children and family agencies, health care settings, including community-based clinics and hospitals; schools; correctional facilities; settings that serve older adults, such as nursing homes; and military veterans and active duty military personnel agencies. Applied social sciences services are indispensable to the full transformation of a child because they are critical to unblocking all barriers to the individual’s, group’s, and community’s holistic development. They help the society to see beyond the behavior manifestations by looking beneath them, and to address and uproot the root causes through communication and journalism, social work, and guidance and counseling leadership.
Applied social sciences help us consider all helping situations to be multicultural in the sense that people’s uniqueness—such as personal history, culture, gender, social class, religion, language, etc. of individuals, groups and communities—has to be recognized in the helping process.