Functions of Social Work

1. Restorative/curative/remedial/rehabilitative functions - to assist individuals and groups to identify and resolve or minimize problems arising out of disequilibrium between themselves and the environment.                               

• curative aspect - seeks to remove factors which have caused the breakdown in the person's social functioning. 
• rehabilitative aspect - tries to put back the person to a normal or healthy state of social functioning. 

One example for curative aspect is helping a girl who engages in prostitution for a living to change her ways through counseling relationship and effecting necessary changes in her home or environmental conditions. the rehabilitative aspect could involve helping her avail herself of opportunities for schooling, skills training, and legitimate employment. 

2. Preventive function - to identify potential areas of disequilibrium between individuals or groups and the environment in order to prevent occurrence of disequilibrium. This involves early discovery, control and elimination of those conditions or situations which may have a harmful effect on social functioning. 

Examples of this function include counseling on premarital and other family problems, sex education of youth to prevent early marriage, sexual abuse; and working for the enactment of laws and policies that would help prevent abuse of women and children.

3. Developmental function - to seek out, identify and strengthen the maximum potential in individuals, groups and communities. The aim is both to help the individual make maximum use of his potentials and capacities as well as to further the effectiveness of available social or community resources. 

Examples of developmental function would include helping unemployed and underemployed breadwinners to avail themselves of opportunities for skills training while at the same time providing necessary supportive services.

Reference:
Lee-Mendoza, T. (2008) Social Welfare and Social Work. Central Book Supply