<P> Social work practice consists of the professional application of social work values, principles, and techniques to one or more of the following ends: helping people obtain tangible services; counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families, and groups; helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health services; and participating in legislative processes . The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior; of social and economic, and cultural institutions; and of the interaction of all these factors. "- National Association of Social Workers </P> <P> "Social workers work with individuals and families to help improve outcomes in their lives . This may be helping to protect vulnerable people from harm or abuse or supporting people to live independently . Social workers support people, act as advocates and direct people to the services they may require . Social workers often work in multi-disciplinary teams alongside health and education professionals ." - British Association of Social Workers </P> <P> The practice and profession of social work has a relatively modern and scientific origin, and is generally considered to have developed out of three strands . The first was individual casework, a strategy pioneered by the Charity Organization Society in the mid-19th century, which was founded by Helen Bosanquet and Octavia Hill in London, England . Most historians identify COS as the pioneering organization of the social theory that led to the emergence of social work as a professional occupation . COS had its main focus on individual casework . The second was social administration, which included various forms of poverty relief --' relief of paupers' . Statewide poverty relief could be said to have its roots in the English Poor Laws of the 17th century, but was first systematized through the efforts of the Charity Organization Society . The third consisted of social action--rather than engaging in the resolution of immediate individual requirements, the emphasis was placed on political action working through the community and the group to improve their social conditions and thereby alleviate poverty . This approach was developed originally by the Settlement House Movement . </P> <P> This was accompanied by a less easily defined movement; the development of institutions to deal with the entire range of social problems . All had their most rapid growth during the nineteenth century, and laid the foundation basis for modern social work, both in theory and in practice . </P>

Which organization developed the standard definition of social work in the united states