Throughout this text, Rachel and Hewitt experience racial issues. In the beginning, Rachel states she did not realize that, by marrying Hewitt, she would become a member of the Interracial Couples group. At first, it seems that Rachel is against this, as she calls the group “mewling” and “defensive”. However, she rectifies herself when she states that they have reason to do so, as she has seen from her own circumstances how microaggressions can make people defensive. For example, Rachel states “Everywhere I went with Hewitt, strangers commented- in subtle and not so subtle ways- on the fact of our unlikely union: me, a white woman, married to him, a black man.”
Upon completing this program I plan to work with individuals seeking support, guidance, and personal growth. To fortify this work, I intend to attain clinical licensure. Although social work practices can ameliorate client troubles, I would also like the ability to find possible solutions within diagnoses, further evaluation, and treatment. Utilizing the Advanced Clinical Practice concentration offered in this program will allow me to become familiar with working in clinical settings and apply my coursework knowledge to real work situations. A crucial piece I look for when entering an academic program or workplace is the ability to create real, tangible change.
A social worker has the ability to view the client from a multifaceted lens, person in environment. The capacity to do so will guide school social worker in supporting Toya. In working with Toya, social worker will explore the student’s individual special needs and struggles, and identify the outside sources that are impactful or resourceful. Toya is a student who attends a gifted program at Crenshaw High School an inner city school located in the center of Los Angeles. Toya was raised in family dynamic that led to physical and mental abuse.
Ethical Issues in Social Work Practice The social work profession and its Code of Ethics dictate that social workers must act in the best interest of the client, even when those actions challenge the practitioner’s personal, cultural and religious values. In practice; however, ethical decision-making is more complex than in theory. As helping professionals, social workers are constantly faced with ethical decision-making or ethical dilemmas. As noted by Banks (2005), an ethical dilemma occurs “when a worker is faced with a choice between two equally unwelcome alternatives that may involve a conflict of moral principles, and it is not clear what choice will be the right one” (as cited in McAuliffe & Chenoweth, 2008, p. 43).
The National Association of Social Workers has published twelve Standards for Social Work Practice with Clients with Substance Use Disorders. These standards were developed to help define services that social workers provide to clients with substance use disorders as well as their families. The standards are designed to enhance awareness of the skills, knowledge, values, methods, and sensitivities that social workers need to work effectively within systems dedicated to serving clients with substance use disorders; Ethics and Values, Qualifications, Intervention, Decision Making and Practice Evaluation, Record Keeping, Workload Management, Professional Development, Cultural Competence, Interdisciplinary Leadership and Collaboration, Advocacy, Collaboration (Anastas). “Standard 1.
The basic purpose of social work is to help individuals improve the quality of their lives. Social work is a helping profession and, resultantly, social workers are oftentimes referred to as change agents. They empower individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations to reach their full potential and enable them to make the necessary changes in their lives. They encourage clients to be self-determined and reinforce their ability to change and to focus on their own needs. Social workers strive to make contributions to the knowledge base of this profession.
The strength perspective is similar to “empowerment,” which is a method or system that allows “individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities,” to better their situation (Zastrow, Pg. 52). This perspective positively focuses on an individuals skills, beliefs/values, and goals. There are five principals that outline the strength perspective. These principals are guidelines that resemble the Code of Ethics described by the NASW by restating that Social Workers should truly care for their clients, and utilize the resources and organizations within their community to guide them up and overcome their situations. This allows clients to empower themselves, and build a confident foundation to move forward with.
Tasks:2 Make a critical reflection on any two areas of knowledge (knowledge base) in International social work practice. Social workers are often very concerned even when faced with situations that require effective decision-making. To achieve this, more information and knowledge must be obtained so that the quality of decisions taken is the most effective in the best interests of its clients.
I began college as a freshman at Central Michigan University thinking I was going to become an elementary teacher. I knew I wanted to make an impact on peoples lives but after my first week of classes, I remember telling myself becoming a teacher is not how I wanted to do it. I went to my counselor and added a social work course to my schedule. I had finally found courses I enjoyed taking and academically excelled in. Which brings me to where I am now, pursuing my degree in social work.
This is difficult process and should be coupled with use of theoretical approaches. Adams et al (2008) advocates that social workers need to use an eclectic approach to their practice by selecting different elements from theories in order to produce one approach appropriate for the individual’s needs. Epstein (1992) suggests that to overcome the limitations of theories continuous reflection and debate is vital to incorporate complex
Strengths: • Giving the autonomy to the service user/community: Both the theories provide the client or community; here children and families to utilize their self-determination and their individual power to bring change. • Sustainability: The system theory tends to fix the maladjustment between the environment and the client for a long-term whereas the strength perspective focuses on amplification of the innate strengths within client; focuses on sustainability. • Holistic approach: Both the theories show a holistic approach; they cover different aspects, traits and systems which define the client and his behavior in whole. • Social Work values: The theories embody the core social work values such as valuing the dignity and worth of our client, their self-determination and protection as the first priority.
In this paper, I will assess my identity and my personal history and how it relates to social work professions. I first address my personal history and cultural background, where I came from, as well as my experience in working in the community. I then talk about my overall strengths, both in personal and professional lives. My strengths are listening skills, open-mindedness, respect for diversity and eagerness to learn and improve my weaknesses. Afterward, I discuss my weaknesses, such as nonassertive communication skill and low self-esteem problems, and how I plan to address these issues.
Social work is a profession that dedicates its efforts to ensure the well-being of individuals and the well-being of the society as a whole. The primary mission of social workers is to meet the fundamental needs of every person, especially the ones with special needs such as those who are oppressed, vulnerable and the people living in poverty. As a social worker, I intend to use these core values such as service, integrity, and dignity as guidelines to my work to make a difference in the lives of as many needy people as I can. My main goal will be to offer services to needy people to help them solve and overcome social problems that they encounter each day in their lives.
A Discussion and Evaluation of the Usefulness of Sociology for Social Work Theory and Practice. Introduction. This essay defines, discusses and evaluates the theory and practice of sociology and its usefulness and application to social work and practice. The influences of a wide range of surrounding issues from, e.g. class, education, religion to culture and how they impact on social structure, e.g. with the family and the wider community will be researched and evaluated.
This involves systematically examining survival skills, abilities, knowledge, resources and desires that can be used in some way to help meet client goals (Saleebey, 1996). The helping process from initial contact, goal identification, assessment and intervention to evaluation has the underlying assumptions that human beings have the capacity for growth and change (Weick, 1992), knowledge about one 's situation (Early & GlenMaye, 2000), resilience (Garmezy, 1994) and membership (Walzer, 1983). The major focus in practice from the strengths approach is collaboration and partnership between social workers and clients. Other methods include environment modification and advocacy (Early & GlenMaye, 2000). Tim explained to the students that he “tell the folks what he can do and what he can’t”
