Reflective Essay About Social Work

This section of the paper will discuss the definition of social work, values associated with social work and arguments for and against the use of systems theory in social work practice. Social work can be described as a field of study that encompasses individuals and their environment. Social work can be defined as work trained professionals do to elevate stressors of individuals so they may become more self-sufficient and empowered to live to their fullest potential.

The journey towards the attainment of the Bachelor of the social work degree has been an enlightening and educational experience, as the individual is exposed to the realities of many social and political issues in the society. As a student, I ventured into the degree, with minimal insight as to how the degree can influence and shape the way I perceive the social world, and the way I relate these matters to myself. However, throughout my endeavour, which encompasses years of theoretical studies, and two intensive placements at two drastically different organisations, I believe I have accumulated the bare minimal knowledge to possess a solid foundation about the unfairness and inequality that people in disadvantaged conditions face. Social workers are predominantly found in welfare organisations which Howe (as cited in Limber, 2015) suggested largely influences the practice, direction and values of the social worker, and impacts on their ability to act autonomously (Lymbery, 2015). During my placements, there was a dominant theme that frequently stood out and enticed my attention. This was the accepted practice of focusing on the individual’s problem, as opposed to the social problems that existed and the lack of acknowledgement about the social restrictions of the human agency that limited self-determination. The realization that organisations were managed this way was important in ensuring that I made a proactive effort to understand and untangle the reasons behind such

Studies have shown that this type of care brings about the best results. The use of

I am applying for the School of Social Work Graduate program at Boise State, beginning in the summer of 2017. In the spring of 2017, I will graduate from Warner Pacific College in Portland Oregon with my BSSW and a minor in sociology

When applying to the social work program I knew that it would be a rigorous curriculum. I also knew that I had to also mentally prepared myself for the demands of the program. Over the past year, now I have been so challenged in school and have learned so much from the MSW program. When finishing my first year of grad school I felt confident and excited about entering my second year. I was even excited about starting to do therapy despite of knowing it would not be easy. Therefore, I knew that I would just have to try my best to put into practice my therapeutic skills. My passion has always been working with children and families, therefore, felt so thrilled to start this new journey as I knew I could possibly make a difference in someone’s

Throughout my progression through the social work curriculum, I have become interested in working in two different settings, hospitals or schools. I decided to pursue a service learning opportunity that would allow me to work with a population in one of these settings. Dream Outside the Box gives me this opportunity. Dream Outside the Box is an organization founded on the premise of going into “dream deserts”, schools where students are not likely to pursue higher education, to teach them about future careers in the hopes of sparking a desire to attend a four-year college or a technical college. Every Friday my role at Bells Hill Elementary School is to teach these students about different potential careers that they could pursue such as physics, chemistry, etc. This is an important program that I will continue to work with even after this assignment is completed.

In order to be the most effective social worker we can be, it is critical to reflect and analyze who we are and what has happened to us in our personal lives. Doing so will help us be mindful of how these things may impact our work with our clients. The Adverse Childhood Experiences survey is one way of assessing where we may have to start addressing our personal experiences. Once we are aware of how our experiences impact our work, we can strive to protect our clients, so that we can provide the quality of services our clients deserve.

1.) Ever since I was a child, I enjoyed helping people. It gives me a sense of fulfillment. I 've worked in the medical field and I know it has prepared me for this profession. The key life experiences that have led me to choose social work as my major was because I enjoy making a difference in the lives of others.

After taking to the student who lives on campus, I became aware that she was pregnant. She had a strict parents and was afraid to tell them of her present situation. She stated that her parents were going to kill her if they found out that she was pregnant. During the interview, the student said she went out with some friends to have some few drinks and one thing led to another. She ended up sleeping with a guy she didn’t even know of. She was contemplating on aborting the pregnancy and looked depressed and anxious.

I’ve almost completed a full semester at my internship. There is so much I have learned and many tasks that I feel I’m beginning to feel comfortable with. There is also so much that I have yet to learn and hope to become competent in during the next semester. I’m feeling comfortable administering cognitive/mood assessments, charting notes, understanding the company’s policies and model, and gathering social history information. These tasks are small parts of the larger picture. I think I’ve been learning these so that I put together the small parts so that I will understand the big picture next semester. Social workers in my practice sector have so many responsibilities and must be so organized. There may only be a few social workers to the ratio of residents, but everyone, including staff relies on them so heavily.

People who work as social workers help residents who live in their community deal with a variety of intractable issues such as child abuse and drug abuse, instruct them how to obtain and utilize some community resources (such as housing and childcare) and ensure these welfare programs really work well. There are different types of social workers. For example, social workers who specifically work with children and family, those who specifically cope with mental health and substance abuse, and others who work with refugees.

Everyone is entitled to legal aid regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This project will expand access to CrescentCare’s legal services and fill the gap in legal services for the LBGT community and build on CrescentCare’s service model of holistic care. The Gillis Long Poverty Law Center provides the opportunity for law students to intern with deserving nonprofits in the New Orleans Area. As the Gillis Long intern with CrescentCare, I became familiar with the community this project will serve. Even though I never considered myself prejudiced, I realized that I hadn’t reached a full acceptance and understanding either. My summers with Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy and CrescentCare, were eye opening to the connection of access to legal services and individual health outcomes. What’s evident is that every person is complex and has complex needs which require specialized expertise

I found this to be one of the most thought provoking courses thus far in the social work master’s degree program because the following four topics not only enhanced my professional development as a culturally grounded social worker from an academic stand point, but also as a human being. (1) One of the most challenging issues for many people are those about gender identity and their inherent personal feelings or religious beliefs. I will make sure I take this into account when offering services to members of the LBGTQ population. (2) As an advocate for those who have disabilities, I have realized after taking this course that I can do more to help this population. (3) In my culture, your family helps you with personal problems rather than to

As a Social Work student in VCU’s Masters in Social Work program, I have found that there is a similar friction between wisdom derived from experience and data produced by controlled research. I have noticed this tension in some classes more than others. For example, in my first research class I notice less friction concerning the two very important aspects of social work practice. My first research professor came from a social work background and therefore, understood the importance of both wisdom derived from experience and data produced by controlled research. However, my second research professor seemed to have more of a background in statistics and an interest in meta-analysis. Therefore, this incongruence between the two components of social work practice became more apparent to me. In regards to my practice classes, I have had a practice teacher who taught by emphasizing wisdom derived from experience. She taught using case studies and provided “what would I do” answers to questions rather than “why did I

As the saying goes, “Our children are our future” and who you are as a child can determine who you can be later on in life. It is important for a child to be in a safe, comfortable and loving environment during its development so that the child can have the full advantage to become the best he can be in his future. My future career as a social worker will ensure just that. I chose this profession because of my own history. Growing up, I’ve had my share of social workers in my house. I experienced them as people who helped my family during a hard time. This is a career where I can fight for people’s rights. I will also be able to protect