MARY RICHMOND: BIOGRAPHY, METHODOLOGY AND WORKS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

Mary Richmond (1861–1928) was one of the pioneers in American social work. She had the idea of turning this work into a formal work; created techniques, systems, content and theories of social work inclined towards the formation of a discipline.

On the other hand, it completely revolutionized the idea of ​​doing social work and the way in which those most in need were helped. He tried to apply a strategy that would attack the root problem, looking for the causes of poverty in order to eliminate it.

By The Providence Plantations for 250 Years by Welcome Arnold Greene, 1886., via Wikimedia Commons

She is considered one of the most important public figures to have fought for social work. One of her most important attributes was her ability to organize communities, as well as the ability to teach and speak intelligently about various social issues.

Biography

Early years

Mary Ellen Richmond was born on August 5, 1861 in Belleville, United States. She was the second daughter of Henry Richmond, a carriage blacksmith, and Lavinia Harris Richmond, the daughter of a major real estate broker.

Both his parents and his brothers died after suffering from tuberculosis, so he had to move to Baltimore to live with his grandmother and aunts. Richmond grew up idolizing her grandmother, a radical activist who fought for women's suffrage as well as a feminist and spiritualist.

Since she was little, she lived in an environment of political, religious and other controversial discussions. This made him develop great critical skills and an affectionate attitude towards those most in need.

Her grandmother did not believe in the traditional education system, so she was educated at home until she was eleven years old. Then they sent her to a public school. Richmond took advantage of any occasion to dedicate herself to reading, which made her a self-taught and intellectual woman.

In 1878 she graduated from Eastern Female High School in Baltimore at the age of sixteen; later, she moved to New York with one of her aunts. When her aunt fell ill, Richmond was left alone and in poverty for two years until she decided to return to Baltimore.

Society for Charity Organization

In 1889 she began working as an assistant treasurer in the Society for Charitable Organization, also known by its acronym in English "COS". From there, she became the first woman to hold a position that was traditionally held by men.

The Society for the Organization of Charity was born as an initiative in order to take responsibility and coordinate all charitable aid of the bourgeoisie of the moment for the most needy. After her incorporation, thanks to her commitment and dedication, she was chosen to occupy the position of general secretary.

Within the organization, he carried out other activities in favor of the needy: he visited some homes in precarious conditions and tried to help them improve their quality of life.

During her time with the Society for Charitable Organization, she proved herself to be efficient, a leader, theorist, and a teacher. He held the position for ten years and it was such work that he welcomed his social contribution.

Contributions as a social worker

In 1897, he presented his ideas at the National Conference of Charitable Institutions. He had the intention to reform social work to professionalize all those interested in improving the quality of life of those in need. I wanted to achieve this through the application of a strategic methodological plan.

A year later, he materialized his idea with the creation of the New York School of Applied Philanthropy. At first, she joined as a teacher with the faithful idea of turning social work into a profession that at that time lacked technical training.

She was director of the Organizational Department of Charity at the Russell Sage Foundation in New York. She took advantage of her position and in 1909, she helped establish a network of social workers and a strategic method for getting the job done. Being the director of the foundation, she helped create new social works.

With his leadership in social work, he was able to encourage a large number of people to continue financial support and to get involved in this discipline.

Methodology

Professionalize social workers

Much of his life was devoted to field research; She explained how to gather information, as well as developed interview methodologies, established contacts, and conducted conversations.

Mary Richmond's program had a background in scientific methods and drew on philosophical theories and ideas from the European Enlightenment. It built a revolutionary pattern for the time and, in a way, for today as well.

Correct attitude towards the disabled

Mary Richmond was able to train social work professionals to give them tools to know how to treat the poor or disabled, in such a way that they can emotionally help them out of poverty.

In his methodological and professional explanation, Richmond emphasized the idea that the disabled cannot be treated as susceptible, inferior, or impoverished; She understood that it is common to treat them that way because it appeals to the sentimental.

Otherwise, their potential abilities and skills should be appealed to for their development as a person despite their disability. Although it is difficult, the idea is to insist on them and make them feel like useful people in society.

Finally, Mary Richmond explained that there are errors in the world that must be completely eradicated and that the best way is with the help of a professional capable of promoting them.

Plays

Handbook for Charity Workers

In 1899, Mary Richmond published her first work which consisted of a small manual for charity workers. With this first work, she expressed her desire to train professionals in the area of social work.

In the manual, by way of summary, he reflected all the research he had carried out throughout his life. He explained in detail how to collect information and how to conduct interviews based on the scientific method. In addition, he explained how to establish contact and lead conversations in order to obtain relevant information.

The social diagnosis

In 1917, at the age of fifty-six, he reflected in a work the fifteen years of research and the 2,800 cases that he worked on in his first book dedicated to the techniques and methods of social work, entitled Social diagnosis.

Through this book, he explained what later became his professional method; He applied interview techniques to develop confidence and his strategy of empowering the impoverished and inviting them to change their way of social life.

What is case social work?

In 1922, he published a book entitled, What is case social work ?, which explains the correct way to behave a professional dedicated to the area of ​​social work.

Richmond in his book handles concepts based on the philosophy of the human being, affirming that human beings are not domestic and dependent animals, but beings with logical reasoning.

References

1. Mary Richmond, Wikipedia in English, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
2. Mary Elle Richmond, Nasw Foundation Portal, (nd). Taken from naswfundation.org
3. Richmond, Mary, Portal de Social Welfare History Project, (nd). Taken from socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu
4. Mary Richmond's Program and the fundamental bases of professional methodology, Enrique Di Carlo, (2011). Taken from magazines.ucm.es
5. Social work at Mary Richmond. The foundation of her theory, García P, García R, Esnaola M, Curieses I, Álvarez D and Millán R, (2014). Taken from trabajoocialhoy.com