Social workers are affected by the way they grow up and their own culture. They will form stereotypes and biases. A post-modern perspective turns our attention to our own cultural baggage. We are then able to separate our biases from our process and understand our clients (2001). In a five-stage model as discussed by Robbins et…
places these restrictions formally or covertly on oppressed groups so that they may be exploited…
Explore how historical events have shaped the social work profession. Recognize personal values in the context of one 's practice as social worker and identify roles…
“The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work (2001).”…
Social workers help people with their lives in a variety of contexts. They can work with families where there is domestic abuse, in situations of child abuse, with children and people with disabilities, assist with fostering or adoption and work with young people who misuse substances such as drugs or alcohol. According to The Sefton Local Safeguarding Children Board, the UN Convention states that young people have rights such as the right to life, the right to be treated as equal citizens, the right to live in a safe environment, the right to be educated without fear, and the right to be protected from abuse and neglect.…
The relevance of this struggle is significant to future work as a social worker. According to Cox (2008), there is a rise of inequality throughout America. As seen in the videos, it is important as social workers to understand and acknowledge the effects of mountaintop removal throughout Appalachia. This struggle results in implications and urgency for all individuals, especially those in the Appalachian, rural, and small town environments. Innovation has an important role in the inclusion of social policies (Pennsylvania municipalities, n.d.). According to NASW (2008), one of a social worker’s responsibilities is to enhance the well-being of all individuals. In other words, social workers improve the quality of life of individuals through research, policy, and direct practice.…
How do you serve a population you aren’t familiar with or have not been a part of? To many it may be impossible or very challenging. However, to a social worker it is possible with education, research, and the willingness to make a difference and service our people no matter the background or population.…
In the year 1978 there were two acts that were passed that dealt with Native American reforms. These acts are very important for Social Workers to be able to understand. The first act was the Indian Child Welfare Act. The purpose of this act was to protect the best interest of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families by the establishment of minimum federal standards for the removal of Indian children and placement of such children in homes which will reflect the unique values of Indian culture (bia.gov). The second act is the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.…
Social work is a profession committed to the development of the full potential of individuals, groups, and communities. “There are many ways to determine what people need from social workers. One can locate a service at the crossroads of life, observe the way people live, the strains they are subject to from their environments and their relationships, and the ways they react to these events” (Meyer,1976, p. 42).…
In this essay I will discuss how I feel that I have developed personally and professionally as a social work student during the first level of the degree course. I will do this through examination of reflective accounts recorded during the placement learning opportunity. I believe that the use of reflection has been very significant in enhancing my personal skills and learning about my own values. I also believe that the course has instilled me with more self awareness and has given me a better understanding of how I am perceived by others. I have learned that through anti oppressive practice, social workers are able to promote inclusion by challenging discrimination and inequalities. In this essay, I will examine the methods, tools, and techniques that I have learned to date. I will conclude by discussing my particular learning needs and plan for the remainder of the course. As part of this, I will consider my learning style and the necessary methods I will utilise to bridge the learning gaps.…
The aim of this essay is to explore and outline the role of the social worker. As Mark Dole highlighted, the role of a social worker is a complex and misunderstood role within a contemporary society. The role of the social worker ranges from being a wise eyed idealist to a realist. Social work is misunderstood by the public and media. Mark Dole in his book on skills required for social worker (2011) quotes Margaret Thatcher who famously said: ‘anyone could be a social worker: all that was needed was time on their hands some life experience’. This essay is aimed at outlining and explaining how complex this role is, and challenging it is to define social work.…
After reading several of my students posting for this week, I can see the similarities in ever practicum settings. Even though, we all complete our practicum at different settings, the overall role and services were the same. As a social worker our goals are to be that helping agent that connect people to different services. At Adult Protection Services, case workers are advocate, facilitators, case managers, brokers, and networkers. Personally speaking to be a successfully social worker, we have to be all those professional skills and roles. Our job consist of advocating on behalf of our clients, assisting with services, linking clients outside resources and services, and fighting the state and federal government to ensure these vulnerable people continue to have their rights.…
The interesting and most truthful take away piece to me from this exercise is learning how much I want to find a way to connect with everyone. Since being accepted to the Masters of Social Work Program, I have found a new motivation and I am hoping to become involved in a lot of different aspects of social work. I am finding new interests in the field of social work every day. For example, I want to be a part of the committee to develop programs for 18-21 year old youth who are homeless. I also want to facilitate the development of practice to streamline the paperwork end and make it easier and less stressful for the front line workers who are working with disadvantaged populations. Taking into consideration frontline workers ideas and…
Reflecting back on this course, my impression on the field of Social Work embraces that this fields rests far more diverse and incriminated into society than I previously thought; “Not only do they help the individuals cope with the situation at hand, they advocate for them and seek out valuable resources and other means of support for the affected person(s)” (XXX). Prior to this course, I detained a misconception that social workers predominantly counseled individuals, when in reality, social workers integrate collaboration, advocacy, investigating, counseling, planning, monitoring, and organizing into their occupational responsibilities. Assisting in a vast array of societal facets, social workers rely on theories and frameworks to pilot…
From all I have experienced, and lived through I know with all that I am that social work is the greatest equalizer, the only profession that offers the truest and most direct interventions for social justice. To choose social work is to choose the path of social justice, to be committed to every human having the right to a fulfilling life, free of persecution and marginalization, and equal access to appropriate resources. In truth, I was introduced to the concepts of social injustice before I was ever acquainted with the term. During World War II, my Jewish family fled Nazi Germany after my grandfather was a victim of the Holocaust, fleeing into neighboring Romania where we lived under communist tyranny. Eventually immigrating to the U.S,…