Imagine a world where social work education addresses human needs and harmonizes with the natural environment, creating a transformative approach to societal well-being. This capstone project examines environmental justice within social work education through a systematic literature review, a conceptual framework, and practical applications. The literature review reveals that social work clients are increasingly faced with ecological justice challenges, such as climate change, pollution, and resource disparities, which disproportionately affect the vulnerable populations that social workers serve. Despite the significance of these issues, many social workers report feeling unprepared to address them, indicating a gap in current educational practices.

The conceptual framework highlights the importance of integrating environmental justice and an eco-centric perspective into social work education. This integration enhances social work practice and helps address ecological challenges more effectively. The project emphasizes incorporating environmental justice concepts into social work training. By doing so, future social workers will be better equipped to tackle inequalities and advocate for marginalized communities.

The proposed curriculum focuses on eco-centric perspectives and intersectionality, integrating ecological systems theory with positive psychology. It aims to equip social workers with essential skills such as environmental assessment and community organizing to address environmental challenges and support marginalized communities. The curriculum will also examine how ecological degradation affects mental health, emphasizing the need to incorporate these issues into social work practice.