Getting my Masters of Social Work Degree

Social work is based on respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people as expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights(1948) It is therefore of paramount importance that a social work professional should work towards promoting the best interests of individuals and groups in society. I very much recognize the contribution that social work brings to inclusion having worked alongside social workers during the course of my shadowing placement. I possess a real commitment to promote equality which I have had the pleasure of doing in a multitude of different roles. From academic journals as well as my lecture notes I now appreciate the central importance of using the fundamental principles of human rights and equality to underpin my practice, and the inherent need to promote justice in relation with the people I will work.

The role of the Social worker is varied as it involves the facilitation of change and empowerment of the individual through social, cultural and environmental influences. Between 1910 and 1970, the role of the social worker was significant due to the impact of the Stolen Generation on Australian society. The Stolen Generation was a dark period in the Australian history where many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were often taken without consent from their homes and families by the government, police and welfare authorities. The children were taken from their homes in order to try to ‘"civilize" them by assimilation into white society’ (McCarthy 2000). The impacts of this period often resulted in severe psychological consequences for the children, the loss of identity, social isolation, depression, alcohol abuse and an increased level of violence. The role of the Social Worker was significant during this period as they were often involved with removing children from their homes and were also required to participate in the reconciliation process to improve the relationships between Indigenous peoples and the wider Australian community. One of the lasting effects of this practice is the distrust of indigenous people towards the social welfare profession.

There are several goals that I hope to achieve by pursuing a graduate degree in Social Work. Pursuing a MSW will provide me with the knowledge, tools, and skills-set that will be fundamental to the achievement my career goals outlined below.

On September 21, 2015, I met with Ms. Katie, a student in the MSW program at NCSU, to conduct an interview. We met at Starbucks in Cary, in the crossroads shopping center. Ms. Katie’s responses helped me learn and think about social workers in the child welfare social field. As a prospective social worker, my questions were formed based thoughts that I was concerned about my responsibilities in the social work field..

The results were obtained through surveys administered in 2010 at a social work conference, with 226 subjects completing the survey in full. The majority of the subjects were female and/or Caucasian, and a most of them had achieved at least an MSW.

With a focus on the University of Pittsburgh’s MSW program, I anticipate a curriculum that will give me tools and unique procedures to analyze and understand clients’ different life situations. This program will provide me with the knowledge to evaluate and apply research methods. I will become more activity oriented to the prevention and alleviation of social problems. Upon completion of master degree, I would have demonstrated empathy along with a genuine desire to improve the quality of the lives of others. The University of Pittsburgh’s MSW program will not only offer a path of

The NASW Standards for Cultural Competence addresses the standard of empowerment and advocacy, which I find both reassuring and admirable, because, as a social worker becomes more culturally aware of their clients, they need to have the desire to ensure equality for all of them. From the text, social workers become specialists in understanding the effects of demeaning social policies against their clients, where they find the medium between aiding in producing positive change without imposing their own beliefs. Mastery of this standard requires the cohesion between a social worker and client to seek minimal changes in social policies to prove that advocacy imposes change before shifting towards revolutionizes social policies and laws.

Based on the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it is necessary for human beings to meet their basic needs and social care, (e.g., food, shelter, and protection from harm) and opportunities to meet his or her psychosocial needs (e.g., belongings, acceptance, and self-actualization). This includes security of the body and health care, these rights are the fundamental human right that should not be denied. Now that I have a solid understanding of some of the challenges and oppression the vulnerable populations, such as the people with refugee status encounter in Canada; I will be able to provide an efficient service to them during my placement as a developing Social Service Worker, and after graduation when working as a paid employee in the field. I will be able to work with them according to their social location, and as a worker who is privilege in terms of having free access to health

MSW Graduate Admission Statement My current motivation to pursue a master’s degree in social work stems from my deep desire to promote change and create a lasting difference in the lives of others. My compassionate and empathetic nature is what undoubtedly drives me to dedicate my life to the service, advocacy, and care of impoverished and underprivileged individuals. I am confident in my future ability to restore new hope in people who need it most and help them see they have the ability to succeed and live their best life possible.

Addressing this policy concern has changed over the years but still the CFCSA lacks the adequacy to provide social workers with the proper guidelines to work with Indigenous children. Using a social work lens in the next section will help demonstrate how the CFCSA inadequately addresses the social policy concern, while exploring recommendations made within the TRC.

I am interested in becoming a master-level social worker to gain the skills necessary to become a well-rounded advocate for change. Likewise, I am interested in having the opportunity to work with faculty who are conducting research and making an impact in the Charlotte community. As a social worker, I plan on working towards eliminating the school-to-prison pipeline, which directs youth into the juvenile and criminal justice system without taking into consideration how social problems, such a poverty, abuse, and drugs, directly affects their behavior. In addition, I would like to tackle the issues surrounding adolescent sexuality, including teenage pregnancy, STI transmission, and sex education in schools. My target population are vulnerable youth within urban cities. Since The University of North Carolina Charlotte is located in one of the largest and most diverse cities in the nation, I have decided to seek admission into the MSW program. Having the opportunity to utilize the skills I will be learning in the classroom while working hands on with my target population is of utmost importance to me. Upon graduating with my MSW, I plan on continuing my work in the Charlotte community and working as a full-time school social worker. UNC Charlotte’s MSW programs puts emphasis on serving vulnerable populations, which is congruent with the type of people I would like to work with.

Social work has become a recent interest due to the Georgia Southern psychology program. The information presented regarding Masters of Social Work programs peeked my interest to become a licensed clinical social worker. My Motivation for obtaining an MSW is to support the black and brown communities and become an advocate for poverty, education, and advancement. Most importantly, my second motivation is my son, having a Master’s degree will allow me to provide a better future for my family. Although I have little experience in social work, I am currently in the process of volunteering with Pineland Mental Health Counseling Center in Statesboro, Georgia working with licensed social workers.

My motivation for applying to the MSW program stems from my passion to help children and families that have endured pain and/or suffering. Growing up I remember having to deal with workers from the department of children’s services every so often. They would come to my school to ask me questions and I would have to attend court hearings to see which parent I wanted to eventually reside with. As a little girl I did not understand what the system was like since I did have options. However, most are not as lucky and have to deal with the burden of their parent’s poor choices.

1. What motivates you to pursue a master’s degree in social work at this time?

For this reflective journal, I have decided to draw parallels between approaches to social work that I have learned in my placement, and what I have learned during my academic career at Carleton University. Placement thus far, has been an eye-opening and rich experience, which has taught me about the profession that I aspire to be a part of. I am a third year student, and much of my time spent at Carleton, has been studying theories, and becoming exposed to different schools of thought. Theories are incredibly beneficial, to teach and inform the practice of the next generation of social workers. However, placement has provided me with the opportunity to apply theoretical ideals, to real life social work practice.