What is social work in broad sense?

Some say social work is a science, and some say it is an art. We would argue that it is both. However, once you become a practicing social worker, you quickly learn that most people have a fairly narrow conception of what social workers do and the kinds of jobs they hold. There are also a number of myths about the social work profession. If you want to try an interesting experiment, ask people you know the following question:
   "What do social workers do?" One of the following responses is fairly typical: Social workers "help people"; they "work with troubled children and families"; they "work with poor people who are on welfare". While these answers are technically accurate, they barely skim the surface in terms of the options that are available to those interested in a career in social work and the knowledge and skills required to do this job.
   One very simple definition of social work is that it is the study of social problems and human behavior. Thus, social workers address any number of important social problems in this country and around the world. Social workers are change agents who work with a wide variety of client populations in a vast array of settings. We work in schools; domestic violence shelters; courts and prisons; hospitals; in government agencies; for profit, non-profit, and faith based organizations.