Evaluation of ecological social work from the perspective of social work academics

Social work has changed and transformed in the historical process in order to respond to the changing problems due to its structure. In the 21st century, due to the increase in the visibility and perceptibility of ecological deterioration, various disciplines and professions produce answers and solutions to current issues within their own scope. Efforts to produce solutions and answers to ecology-related issues within the field of Social Work, which is one of these fields, constitute Ecological Social Work, and discussions continue in the fields of theoretical/conceptual dimension, ethics, practice and education. In summary, it is seen that the question of how ecological social work can be possible has shaped the literature. In order to contribute to answering the same question, this study aims to reveal how social work academics, who are at the intersection of theory, practice and education, evaluate ecological social work. For this purpose, the study is a phenomenological study designed in qualitative research method. In the study, in line with purposeful sampling, interviews were conducted with 15 social work academics who had academic production on ecological social work. The interview form is a semi-structured interview form and the questions were prepared by the researcher. The obtained data were analyzed with the help of the MAXQDA program and examined within the scope of eight main themes and sub-themes related to these themes. According to the results of the research based on participant statements, in order to realize ecological social work, ecology issues should be included in education both theoretically and practically, the existing environmental understanding should be expanded beyond the social environment as the physical environment, and an interdisciplinary approach should be adopted on the basis of practice and knowledge. In the context of roles and duties, it was seen that advocacy, activism and educator roles were emphasized with macro and community-oriented tasks. In addition, since the social work practice is not independent of policy, it has emerged that legal justifications are needed and ecological social work requires a macro approach and level of practice. It has been understood that an inclusive ethics for ecological practices will be possible by understanding that human beings can continue to exist together with and thanks to other living things, and by recognizing the right and importance of life of non-human creatures. As a result of this study, the knowledge and inferences obtained from the theorists/academics of the field, showing how ecological social work is evaluated in Turkey, as well as a broad consideration of the literature, what ecological social work is in general, how it can be added to education and curriculum and ethics, and finally what its equivalent is in practice. A basis for understanding has been established. Finally, the study was completed with suggestions for academics who provide theory and knowledge basis for ecological social work to be possible, educators who train new practitioners, and stakeholders to work with for practices and projects. Keywords: Ecological Social Work, Ecological Degradation, Ethics, Education, Practice.