Social Work in Iran: The Evolving Role of Iranian Social Workers Media

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Executive Summary

The landscape of social work in Iran presents a complex interplay of historical development, professional fragmentation, and the transformative influence of digital media. Tracing its roots to the pioneering efforts of Sattareh Farmanfarmaian in 1958, the profession has expanded significantly, integrating deeply into state welfare structures. However, it continues to grapple with an “unfinished professionalization,” characterized by a lack of a unified governing body and internal disunity among professional associations. Amidst these complexities, Iranian Social Workers Media (ISWM), particularly the iraniansocialworkers.ir platform, has emerged as a pivotal, independent digital nexus for professional development, knowledge dissemination, and advocacy.

Social Work in Iran: The Evolving Role of Iranian Social Workers Media

This report highlights the formidable challenges confronting social work and its media in Iran, including pervasive internet censorship, state-controlled information environments, and a persistent digital divide that limits equitable access to vital resources. Internal dynamics, such as inter-association conflicts and insufficient support for independent media, further impede the profession’s progress and contribute to high rates of practitioner burnout. Despite these obstacles, significant opportunities are present. Digital platforms offer powerful avenues for grassroots empowerment, community engagement, and destigmatization of social issues. Independent media complements formal education and research, elevating the scholarly profile of Iranian social work. Furthermore, there is substantial potential for enhanced international collaboration and reciprocal knowledge exchange. Realizing the full potential of social work in Iran necessitates unified governance, strategic investment in digital inclusion, and sustained support for independent media initiatives.

Introduction: The Landscape of Social Work in Iran

This introductory section provides essential context on the historical development and current state of social work in Iran, laying the groundwork for a detailed exploration of its media dimension.

Historical Foundations and Evolution

The formal establishment of social work as a recognized profession in Iran is largely attributed to Sattareh Farmanfarmaian. After obtaining her social work degree from UCLA and gaining experience with the United Nations, she returned to Iran and founded the first Social Work school in Tehran in 1958.1 This marked a crucial step in formalizing social welfare practices within the country.

The educational program at the Tehran School of Social Work initially offered a 2-year training course that combined theoretical instruction with practical fieldwork. This curriculum quickly evolved, expanding into a 4-year Bachelor’s degree program. By 1970, a 2-year Master’s degree course was also introduced, reflecting a growing commitment to advanced professional training.1 The school’s early affiliation with the International Organization of Social Work Schools in 1960 underscored its dedication to adhering to global standards and practices in social work education.1

Farmanfarmaian’s approach was characterized by a profound understanding of the necessity for cultural relevance. She actively adapted the profession to the specific cultural and religious context of Iran, even coining the Farsi term “madadacar,” meaning “one who helps,” for social workers.2 Her influence extended beyond academic instruction; she played a pioneering role in introducing family planning initiatives and significantly shaped social legislation through her leadership of the Family Planning Association and Community Welfare Centers.2 This foundational period reveals a persistent negotiation within Iranian social work between universal professional principles and local cultural, religious, and political specificities. This dynamic has likely influenced curriculum design, ethical considerations, and the very definition of social work practice in Iran, potentially leading to unique approaches that could inform global social work. It also suggests that external models, to be effective, must undergo significant adaptation to local contexts.

Following the 1979 revolution, the landscape of social work education underwent restructuring, with some schools merging, notably into Allameh Tabatabaeie University. Despite these changes, a substantial demand for trained social workers persisted, leading the government to establish the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR) in 1992.1 Currently, numerous universities across Iran, both governmental and private, offer various social work degrees. Graduates from these programs find employment in a wide array of fields, including health and medical services, the judiciary, family and children services, care for the aging and disabled, disaster intervention, and community development in informal settlements.1 The early institutionalization of social work within the state’s social protection and welfare apparatus, where the Tehran School of Social Work “undertook the duties of the Ministry of Welfare” 2 and graduates are employed across various governmental ministries, indicates a deep integration. While this integration provides stability, employment opportunities, and broad reach for services, it also suggests a potential for state influence or control over the profession’s autonomy, priorities, and scope of practice. This close relationship might limit the profession’s capacity for independent advocacy or critical engagement with state policies.

Table 1: Key Milestones in the Development of Social Work in Iran

Year Event/Milestone Key Figure/Institution Significance 1958 Establishment of the first Social Work school in Tehran Sattareh Farmanfarmaian Formalized social work education and practice in Iran. 1960 Tehran School of Social Work joined International Organization of Social Work Schools Tehran School of Social Work Signified commitment to international standards and global integration. 1970 Introduction of a 2-year Master’s degree course Tehran School of Social Work Expanded advanced professional training opportunities. 1979 Post-revolution restructuring; Farmanfarmaian forced to leave Iran Allameh Tabatabaeie University Led to mergers of social work institutes and a shift in leadership. 1992 Establishment of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR) Government of Iran Addressed the continued high demand for trained social workers. Present Numerous universities offer social work degrees; diverse career choices Various governmental and private universities and organizations Reflects the widespread presence and varied application of social work across Iran.

Current Structure and Professionalization Efforts

Despite its crucial role in addressing societal needs, social work in Iran is characterized as a “fragmented field” that lacks a “clear, centralized governing body” and a “unified, specialized system” to oversee its standards, ethics, and practice.4 This absence stands in stark contrast to the well-established professional governance systems found in fields such as medicine or engineering.

Efforts to establish a unified professional body, such as the proposed Iranian Social Work System Organization, have consistently failed to gain approval, often due to perceived flaws or shortcomings in the suggested structures.4 This ongoing inability to unify leaves the profession without a singular point of reference for critical functions, including professional licensing, ethical oversight, and quality control. This fragmentation is a critical barrier to the profession’s maturity and effectiveness, as it means social work lacks a strong, unified voice for advocacy, standard-setting, and ethical enforcement. This internal disarray can reduce its leverage in policy discussions and its ability to address systemic issues, potentially leaving individual practitioners and smaller associations vulnerable to external pressures or resource limitations. The “unfinished” nature of professionalization is thus a consequence of both internal power struggles and a broader political environment that may not fully support professional autonomy.

The current landscape of social work in Iran is comprised of a patchwork of various national and provincial associations. Among these, the Iranian Social Workers Association (IASW) is recognized as one of the oldest and most influential professional bodies. Its membership includes both social work graduates and non-social work professionals who contribute on a voluntary basis.4 Other significant entities include the Scientific Association of Social Work in Iran and the Association of Social Work Clinics of Iran, which represents private social work clinics licensed by the State Welfare Organization.4 The IASW has historically exerted considerable influence, at times hindering the independent identity and operational framework of the Association of Social Work Clinics. This influence often manifests through IASW representatives holding leadership positions in provincial social work clinic associations, which blurs the lines of responsibility and authority.4

Beyond professional associations, the broader social protection system in Iran is primarily managed by three main governmental institutions:

• The Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare (MCLSW) functions as the central ministry for social protection. It is responsible for policymaking, coordination, and monitoring, and it oversees the Iranian Welfare Database (IWD), a crucial tool for social protection programs.5
• The Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation (IKRF) is administered by the Office of the Supreme Leader and stands as one of the largest institutions providing social protection services. In 2022, the IKRF reportedly covered approximately 4.48 million individuals through cash or in-kind transfers.5
• The State Welfare Organization (SWO), also known as the Behzisti Organization, is affiliated with the MCLSW. It provides care, treatment, and empowerment services to a substantial population, reportedly serving about 7 million individuals. Its extensive programs include special needs education, addiction treatments (excluding Article 16 centers), suicide awareness events, and various counseling services offered through a national telephone hotline. The SWO also maintains a database of elderly people and retirement homes and operates a national social work emergency hotline.5 While the SWO provides extensive services to millions, reports of “child physical torture” and “cover-up of deaths of disabled people in agency centers” 6 raise profound ethical and accountability concerns within the state-controlled social welfare system. Such incidents can severely erode public trust in social services and highlight the urgent need for robust, independent oversight mechanisms. The absence of a unified, autonomous professional body means there is no strong, external professional entity to consistently advocate for client rights, enforce ethical standards, and demand accountability from these large state organizations. This gap underscores the critical importance of achieving professional unification for the protection of both clients and practitioners.

Table 2: Major Social Work and Social Protection Entities in Iran

Organization Name Type Affiliation (if any) Primary Role/Services Key Characteristics/Notes Iranian Social Workers Association (IASW) Professional Association Independent Professional development, advocacy, knowledge sharing One of the oldest and most influential; membership includes social work graduates and non-professionals; exerts considerable influence over other associations. Scientific Association of Social Work in Iran Professional Association Independent Academic research, scientific discourse Focuses on scholarly advancements in social work. Association of Social Work Clinics of Iran Professional Association Licensed by State Welfare Organization Represents private social work clinics Historically influenced by IASW, hindering independent identity. Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare (MCLSW) Governmental Central Ministry Policymaking, coordination, monitoring of social protection; guardian of Iranian Welfare Database (IWD) Main ministry for social protection in Iran. Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation (IKRF) Quasi-Governmental Charity Administered by Office of the Supreme Leader Provides social protection services (cash/in-kind transfers) for poor families One of the largest institutions offering social protection services. State Welfare Organization (SWO) (Behzisti Organization) Governmental Affiliated with MCLSW Care, treatment, empowerment services for disabled, needy, orphaned; special needs education, addiction treatment, counseling hotlines Covers millions of individuals; reports of accountability concerns (e.g., child torture, deaths). University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR) Academic Institution Governmental Social work education (BA, MA, PhD), research, clinical training Established to meet the demand for trained social workers; active in theoretical and clinical subjects. Allameh Tabatabaeie University Academic Institution Governmental Social work education, research (e.g., Journal of Social Work Research) Result of post-revolution mergers of social work schools. Iranian Social Workers Media (ISWM): A Digital Nexus for the Profession

This section delves into the core subject of the report, examining the genesis, structure, and impact of Iranian Social Workers Media as a critical platform for the profession.

Inception and Mission of iraniansocialworkers.ir

The Iranian Social Workers website (iraniansocialworkers.ir) commenced its journey in the winter of 2011 with initial social work blogs. This foundational phase involved two years dedicated to needs assessment and identifying challenges within social work media in Iran. This preparatory work culminated in the official launch of the website in 2013 by Javad Talaschi Yekta.7

The overarching mission of ISWM is to serve the community of social workers in Iran and globally, fostering awareness and understanding of the profession.9 It aims to bridge the gap between social work professionals and the public, promoting a deeper understanding of complex social issues and underscoring the vital role that social workers play in addressing them.8 The very act of establishing an independent media platform for social work in Iran represents a strategic response to a restrictive information environment, which is known for severe internet censorship and state control over information.10 This signifies a proactive effort to carve out a space for professional discourse and advocacy that is free from state influence or self-censorship pressures. This positions ISWM not merely as a communication channel but as a critical infrastructure for professional autonomy and potentially, a subtle form of resistance against monolithic narratives, highlighting the deep-seated need for independent voices within the social work community.

A defining characteristic and core principle of ISWM is its “steadfast independence from both governmental and non-governmental organizations”.9 This autonomy is considered “imperative for ensuring that the voice of social workers remains uninfluenced by external pressures,” thereby allowing for honest discussions and critiques of prevailing social issues without institutional constraints.9 This independence is not just an organizational feature; it is central to its impact on professional empowerment. By providing an unconstrained platform, ISWM enables social workers to articulate their perspectives, critique existing policies, and advocate for changes based on their professional ethics and experiences, rather than being limited by governmental or institutional directives. This fosters a stronger professional identity and a more robust capacity for self-determination, which is crucial in a fragmented field lacking unified governance.

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