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Importance of advocacy and empowerment in social work
Social work concepts and theories
Self-analysis and reflection
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The NASW Code of Ethics’ Connection to the Sanchez family Case The Sanchez family is a multigenerational family, not unlike other families living in the United States. Current person-in-environment conditions and lifestyle choices hinder the capability to improve their quality of life. Intervention from competent and committed professionals will change the dynamic challenges the family faces.
First and foremost I just want to thank you for sharing your practicum experience with us. This week’s assignment required us to compare and pick a social work metaphor that describes our journey. In my original journey I did not pick the same metaphor that you have chosen, but this metaphor can be related to my social work journey. Practicing social work and striving for social justice is a practice of journey.
Power is one aspect of social work practice that needs to be considered in reflecting on any situation or action. Reflection focused on anti-oppressive practice is concerned with the social worker’s understanding of the institutions of power and his or her understanding of power, and his or her understanding of identity as being constructed within a society that creates interlocking oppressions. Power is seen as ‘a social relation that may open up or close off opportunities for individuals or social groups’ (Tew,2002: 165) where ‘opportunity’ may involve anything from accessing resources and social or economic participation, through to developing personal identities and capabilities, expressing needs, and feelings and renegotiating. Power Dimensions below are relevant to our case. Ethnicity (Cultural deficitism), There is a common view that prevails that 'immigrants’ try to adhere to cultural patterns and beliefs which are
Who I identify as, including identifying as a social worker once I graduate, will have some level privilege and power attached to the chosen identities. Gelfand, Sillivan, and Steinhouse (2002) noted that there are may dimensions that influence our personal and professional relationships with others, and these dimensions shape how we see and interact with, include or exclude them, and ways that we oppress or discriminate against them. As a social worker whose clients share my same identity, we may benefit by my having a shared understanding of cultural norms and expectations to reach a common goal. For clients who share commonalities with me, we may benefit by being able to work more collaboratively and possibly a more trusting relationship than one that must be built over time. However, just as similarities can be empowering, I must remember that the client knows best despite our shared identities that may speak otherwise.
“A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds” (“Child Abuse Statistics”). Social workers help the children who are abused get out of their unsafe homes and getting them proper education and care. As one prepares for a future in the field of social work, one must consider the job description, educational requirements, the NASW Code of Ethics, the duties and responsibilities, the type of social work, the work environment, and the wages and benefits. There are many different types of social workers, but they all have one thing in common: helping people. Social workers help with people's problems ranging from mentally, emotionally, physically, or even just helping with their daily lives.
I had to keep this in mind when assessing the clients needs. Also, I did a lot of self reflecting. As a social worker, I wanted to ensure that I was not counter transferring my feelings onto the client. In addition, Dr. McGhee, the professor of SW in Social Service Environment, gave the class numerous of opportunities to enlighten us as to how professional social workers engage with clients. We were afforded the opportunity to visit a community based agency and assist the agency with putting together supplies for an upcoming health fair that was beneficial for the
As part of my developmental learning for final year of social work is my emerging practice framework. A practice framework is designed as a tool for practitioners (Connolly, 2006). It is a statement about how I will practice as an emerging social worker. This semester I will work on this document throughout my final placement.
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
My belief is that interventions can be put in place along with social programs giving them the best opportunity to flourish. Another population that holds a special place in my heart is the geriatric population. I believe that it my duty to help the population that has once cultivate our society to adjust to and cope with problems they may experience. In addition to working with children and geriatrics I have also worked with people who were diagnosed with Post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer 's disease to name a few. These experiences have allowed me to understand the role of a social worker, as I have opportunity to be exposed to multi-disciplinary treatment teams.
Modern social workers are frequently tasked with certain objectives by their agencies, which leave little room for any work beyond specific treatments and timeframes (Gitterman & Knight, 2016). Although social workers are bound to the set of ethics put forth by the NASW, practitioners are often limited to focusing on the issues of the individual rather than the larger societal issues that may be behind those concerns. Additionally, many social work students end up working in direct practice, rather than macro work. There is a need for social workers to engage at the macro level in order to facilitate community organization and empowerment. Critics suggest this theory may not take into account the unique experiences of each individual and perhaps key characteristics of the individual or group are not taken into consideration (Sadan, 1997).
Social work is a career that I have recently become interested in pursuing. I spent many years with misconceptions concerning the sector. However, following three years of working close by these experts, I have picked up a more profound comprehension of the significance of the work. I am especially interested in working in child welfare along with terminally ill children. I have got to a stage in my career where I have started to search out instruction that will make me more efficient in creating plans and providing services for vulnerable people.
Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities (National Association of Social Worker) (2018). Value: Integrity Ethical Principle: Social workers behave in a trustworthy
I want to strive to be a better person, so I could make a change in a young person’s life and know when I go home on a night, that I made a difference and that's why I want to pursue my career as a social worker. When I realized that I wanted to be a social worker, I was in my junior year of high school. I knew I wanted to help people, children especially, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to go into. I thought I wanted to be in Neonatology or another profession like it. When I first witnessed a social worker, I was getting a treatment in the hospital and saw a social worker working with a family who child had a broken pelvis.
I am also able to implement a range of interventions based on a comprehensive client assessment. I also have the ability to apply social work knowledge and theory to practice using critical thinking in a practice approaches and decisions. It also gives me the ability to engage in social work practice that is sensitive to issues of culture, ethnicity, religion, race, class, sexual orientation, age, gender, and physical and mental abilities. It also instill in me the appropriate and the effective communication skills. I am also able to demonstrate self-discipline, the ability to reflect upon and resolve ethical dilemmas.
Over the semester I have learned many new aspects of social work that have helped deepen my understanding of what social work is really about. This course has taught me things that will help me become a better person and will also help me with my future working with children. Self reflection is a key skill to have when working in social work. We need to understand how we are, and our social location, influence everything we do with social work. My beliefs and values would be beneficial for being a social worker because I have a caring no judgment, personality that allows me to be a neutral and to listen to people.
