Okay, so you know how we all have things we like and things we don't like, and some things make us happy while other things make us sad or angry? Well, grown-ups have those same feelings too, and sometimes things in the world can make them feel really upset or angry.
One thing that can make grown-ups upset is when they see other people not being treated fairly or being hurt. Critical social work is about grown-ups trying to help those people who are being treated unfairly or hurt, especially by things like racism, sexism, or poverty. They do this by talking to those people and finding out what they need, and then finding ways to make things better for them.
Sometimes, grown-ups who do critical social work also try to change the bigger things in the world that are causing the unfair treatment or harm, like laws or policies. They want to make the world a better place for everyone, especially for those who are being treated unfairly or hurt.