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Social Work Personal Statement Examples

1228 Words5 Pages

I had the privilege of teaching at Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work where I became familiar with the five components of a Jesuit education: experience, reflection, action, context, and evaluation. These five principles embody my personal and professional narrative and motivate my desire to join the social work faculty at Seattle University (SU). I aged out of foster care. Aged out youth face many challenges securing affordable housing, pursuing higher education or training, obtaining employment, meeting their health needs, and much more. Through faith and reflection, I managed not to succumb to my circumstances and decided to leverage my experiences to improve the plight of other aged out youth. I dedicated my life to serving …show more content…

These perspectives allow me to ground academic material in everyday experiences, essential to informed and effective social work education and research. As such, I would come to SU as an academic who deeply cares about what I teach and study, always with an eye toward educating future social work practitioners who can themselves have the competence and humanity to respond to contexts that advance human rights and social and economic well-being through delivering and promoting effective social work services and justice-based social welfare policies. My experiences, beliefs, and values demonstrate SU’s and the Social Work Program’s mission to prepare competent, responsible, and empowered social work practitioners, with the aim of promoting diversity and social and economic justice in the Seattle area through the provision of quality education, rooted in faith, and theoretical and scientific …show more content…

The constructivist paradigm emphasizes the importance of developmental, social, and cultural contexts in the construction of meaning. Authority rests not in the instructor or students, but in the discourse around the subject itself (á la Foucault). The aim is to facilitate meta-awareness and paradigm shifts toward a greater connection with the context-driven nature of understanding. Toward this goal, I place primacy on developing students’ critical thinking skills so they become aware of and explore previously unacknowledged preconceptions and biases in the courses I teach, which is a core competency of the Council on Social Work Education and aligns with SU’s primary values of educating the whole person as a means of developing leaders who serve their communities to promote social

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AOP Theory

1331 Words | 6 Pages

In addition, it is difficult to compare the research conducted on the integration of AOP into social work practice, since many researchers define AOP in differing ways or only explore certain aspects of it (Sakamoto & Pitner, 2005), such as intersectionality. Therefore, it may be challenging for practitioners and students to use this research to grasp a better understanding of the topic. Another limitation is that the term “anti-oppressive practice” may upset some social workers who do not necessarily use AOP to inform their practice because it implies that social workers not practicing with this orientation are not working towards social justice (Sakamoto & Pitner, 2005). Furthermore, because AOP is so focused towards creating social change on the macro level, it does not provide any solutions “to ‘immediate’ problems of individuals and families” (Sakamoto & Pitner, 2005). Another limitation is that because changing oppressive societal structures is a huge task for a group of professionals to accomplish, social workers using AOP in their practice can become discouraged that they are not able to make significant, lasting change (Sakamoto & Pitner, 2005).

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CSWE Core Reflection: Engage Diversity And Difference In Practice

350 Words | 2 Pages

I see as implications of my results for my social work practice to continue in my development of cultural competence and awareness. As an evolving social work professional, I have learned in regards to this course, that I have much to develop, in becoming cultural compete. As I continue my evolution into my social worker professional identity, I will attain to the CSWE Core Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice by applying and communicating understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. I will present myself as a learner and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences. I will also apply self-awareness and

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Strengths And Limitations Of Intersectionality And Life Course Theory

558 Words | 3 Pages

Introduction Integrating theory into social work practice is essential in defining why social work is needed and how to practice it effectively. This paper will discuss two theories; intersectionality and life course theory, as I believe that these two theories are collectively suitable and effective in interrupting the cycle of oppression. I will draw upon both my own experiences and literature to analyze the strengths and limitations of intersectionality and life course theory. This discussion will exemplify how intersectionality and life course theory enhance each other and can work synergistically to inform my social work practice. Intersectionality Intersectionality is a macro theory, which looks at the complexity of an individual’s identity

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Social Worker Field Placement

994 Words | 4 Pages

During my field placements at the Boone County Department of Health and Human Recourses (DHHR) in my foundation level and the Davis Child Shelter currently in my advance level, I believe I have had a great idea of what the social worker profession is, understanding ethics, and working with populations who live in Appalachia. With both of my field placements, I see both sides of social worker, the “demander,” child protective services, and the “supplier,” Davis Child Shelter. Being able to experience both sides of this field, I have also worked with a wide range of different races, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, religions, mentally under developed, etc. Looking back at my field placement at the Davis Child Shelter, I have really enjoyed

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Social Work Ethics

1886 Words | 8 Pages

Before pursuing a career in social work, I was never really aware of what social workers were nor how valuable their role in society is. Throughout my childhood, I was never exposed to a life in which social workers were common figures. It was not until I went to high school that I got a better understanding of what the world really looked like and the importance of social workers. I went to a low-income high school in Homestead and it was truly an eye-opening experience. I was always accustomed to an environment with no violence or crime and when I moved there it was a depiction of a reality that I was not aware existed.

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Case Study: County Acres Nursing Home

1028 Words | 5 Pages

Some positives that occurred in this case study were Cecilia, advocating for Medicaid services for Mr. Brown. In addition, she was pro-active in addressing her concerns about the way Mr. Brown was treated by her supervisor, and some of the hospital staff members. Cecilia, demonstrated a caring and respectful attitude for Mr. Brown, that showed a perfect example of dignity and worth of a person. This core value of social work allows “Social workers seek to enhance clients' capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own needs. Social workers are cognizant of their dual responsibility to clients and to the broader society.

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Personal Identity In Social Work

1353 Words | 6 Pages

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.

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Personal Statement For Social Work

1064 Words | 5 Pages

Doctor of Social Work Program Application Personal Statement Ashley Newberry LCSW, LISW As I child, I was introduced to the human service field in a unique way. For as long as I can remember, my mother has had a human service profession and provided me with daily examples of how to help others. One of my earliest memories is riding out a hurricane while we stayed in the adult group home where my mother worked, assisting with safety measures for residents and providing comfort to her community. My mother worked in multiple residential programs throughout my life, specializing her work with individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.

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Social Work Self Analysis

1681 Words | 7 Pages

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.

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Critical Reflection On Social Work

1278 Words | 6 Pages

Practice based on empirical knowledge helps reduce bias, enables workers to study interpretations, perspectives or alternative solutions, and makes social workers more accountable for their decisions JD Hudson (1997). The dialogue between theory and practice In the past and present, there is hesitation among practitioners in social work to adapt theory and research because they feel that the reference to theory is the loss of connection with reality when practicing social work. In order for the social worker to be an effective practitioner, man must have a sound theoretical basis and this is not easy to achieve.

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Social Constructivist Approach In Social Work

895 Words | 4 Pages

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

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Infrequent Coarse Language And Its Effect On Children Essay

538 Words | 3 Pages

). These ratings were created with the help of parents who took part in national polling surveys and through regional focus groups. According to TV Parental Guidelines, the ratings are listed as follows, “TV-Y: (all children) this programming is designed to be appropriate for all children. Whether animated or live-action, the themes and elements in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience, including ages 2-6. This program is not expected to frighten younger children.

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Social Work Personal Statement Examples

1290 Words | 6 Pages

I am confident that the skills that I will gain from completing a social work master’s degree will help me collaborate with people in need and aid sustainable growth in their lives. My first introduction to social work as a profession came while living on a small

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Social Worker Personal Statement

684 Words | 3 Pages

My passion for helping and supporting those whose economic and financial standings have hindered their growth in our society, has driven me towards social work. I feel I have exhausted every possible avenue in my current degree field. Pursuing a master’s in Social Work, will give me the diversity that I need, while aiding me in bringing my dreams of working more in depth with clients, by helping assist them with their individual needs and issues to reality. The Social work field also offers versatility which allows me to work in many dimensions, such as clinical, case management, and many other composites which enables me to help every population. Becoming a social worker gives me other benchmarks in which I can use to evaluate programs,

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Social Work: Ethical Principles: Importance Of Human Relationships

1782 Words | 8 Pages

Social workers understand that, because of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. Social workers also understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and values, including social, economic, political, and cultural exclusions, may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create privilege and power (2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards). (2015, July 15). My personal and

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