Social Workers And The Social Work Field

Social work is a professional and academic discipline that works to improve the quality of life and enhance the wellbeing of individuals, families, couples, groups, and communities. Heather Holland is a Social Worker at Uniontown Hospital who has over 12 years’ experience in the field. She explains that a typical day on the job is far from easy. “Days in this career are crazy, busy, and mostly, undetermined” Holland explains of her days on the job. Social work is a very important job. Social workers work with clients who are vulnerable and in need of serious help. It is so extremely important that social workers are properly trained and are always giving their best in their work because client’s lives often depend on it. Social workers are

Many people are driven to pursue a career in social work due to personal experiences that have led them to a desire to help others. Ben Carniol, author of Case Critical: Social Services and Social Justice in Canada, is no exception to this. He brings years of experience to a new perspective on where social work is headed for this country. He discusses why anti-oppressive and progressive social work practice is effective, and vital for future success, what systemic and societal barriers stand in the way of said practice, and what steps can and are being taken to overcome these obstacles. Carniol’s book brings readers on the journey that many social workers take throughout their careers, and is inspiring to those headed into this career

As a social worker, we are essentially given the opportunity to utilize our past and personal experiences, educational background, and diverse relationships to make a difference in countless people’s lives. Whether we choose to dedicate ourselves to practicing micro or macro social work, we can influence the outcomes of social policies, assist clients with obtaining basic necessities, or change a person’s thought processes by applying psychosocial theories as necessary. However, we are obligated to pay close attention to the ways in which we interact with our assigned clients, administer and assess outcomes of therapeutic interventions, and do what we think will ultimately benefit our client’s well-being. Considering that a Master’s in Social Work is a professional position, general practitioner’s guidelines must be followed; hence the purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics, the CSWE Educational Policy and Standards, and precise HIPAA adherence.

In this paper, I will be discussing of an organization that caters social services and contributes to the social work field. In addition, I will go in details where the organization is financed from and what is the mission of the organization. Moreover, I will discuss of the structure that the organizations conduct to accomplished their missions and explain the organization 's different services provided under their organizations umbrella. Furthermore, I will discuss of the organization accountability to their services, overall impact, and the power in organization. Lastly, I will explanatory the workers role in the organizations and discuss of my overall experience referring to my future social work profession.

If there is one specific lesson I could take away from life it would be helping others. Everyone in this world is born for a reason and sometimes we are not able to discover what specifically brought us here. I was born to help others in those of difficult times of needs. I was born to learn from others and inspire human beings to do better for themselves. One of my favorite quotes is by Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He once said “All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don’t discover why. Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.” Danny Thomas’s quote inspires me to help others in order to be successful in life. If the world didn’t have professions that required helping others, humans would never be able to learn from mistakes and promote social change. Social work is a profession that requires helping others. Not everyone can be a social worker, and those who are fortunate enough to be a social worker have the opportunity to learn something new about others every day.

Working in the world of Social Work can be many things; educating, adventurous, and at times emotional fulfilling and or draining. Every person brings their own contributions as well as their own strategies and problem solving techniques that are set by the social work guidelines. Getting into the world of social work can be intimidating, stressful and many questions are often internally asked. As an aspiring social worker I have had the opportunity to meet up with Tracey Hodgins; a micro social worker who has been in the industry for 15 years, and has had a Bachelor of Social Work Degree for 13 years. She is the mother of a friend of mine who agreed to let me interview her. Currently she is Adult probation officer; she deals with managing

Social work is a profession which seeks to better the lives of those in need. The need can look like anything from political advocacy to those who are hungry. A social worker can be found in an organization which has a purpose that is enhanced or aided by the work we do which is guided by the ethics and values of the profession. From social workers in a clinical setting to those in public libraries, these ethics and values unite professionals in a variety of places and roles. The accountability and standards social work has aids the individual and profession to keep the best candidates in the different positions we take. A social worker is like a medic in the military. A medic is part of a unit that is there to assist the mission and provide medical aide when necessary. The thread of social work connects good people to a common goal.

I interviewed Kim, a LICSW working in private practice in Providence along with her two brothers. She takes on a person-centered approach to her therapy and is very focused on helping her clients achieve their goals, whether it be overcoming grief or dealing with a large adjustment in their lives. Kim certainly appears to be running a very successful practice and by being able to speak to her directly, I learned much more about the social work field.

There are significant changes in the field of social work, and these changes have both challenges and opportunities. At the February, 2007, Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Directors’ Meeting, Dean Kay Hoffman, CSWE president opens by making the statement, “

“As a process, empowerment actively engages people in decisions about their well being, potential life satisfaction, and the outcomes of realizing control over their lives to the extent possible” (Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney, & Strom-Gottfried, 2013, p.442). An empowerment framework examines the environmental circumstances that may be unjustly imposed on a client. The focus of this approach is to help individuals or groups of individuals regain a sense of control of their situation and make decisions on their own behalf. Social workers can assist clients in discovering their strengths and teaching the client that they do have the ability to make change. According to Dustin and Montgomery “Individuals should have a sense of control over their own lives (as cited in Ishizuka, & Husain, 2015, p. 971) and be able to exercise self determination and choice”.

Social Workers (SWs) come across different issues affecting the society and are required to play their role and reduce the adverse effects of the problem. The social work profession is faced with challenges and must keep themselves up to date with the necessary information and practice ethics. (Asquith, Clark, and Waterhouse, 2005). They work with individuals to make sure that the issues that are keeping them down are solved, and the community becomes a better place to live in.

As graduation nears, I find myself reflecting on what it means to be a social worker. I have questioned if the original purpose of me becoming a social worker was still my main focus, or had something changed? I originally decided to become a social worker because I saw a need for someone who could relate too and understand the military culture, and the experiences are men and women in the military who need help. However, from my studies, I have learned that shared experiences alone will not equate to me becoming a good social worker. I will still need to further and continue my education. Such as becoming aware of new theories and evidence-based practices, policies and culture changes. Nevertheless, I felt then and still do today that I can

A social worker principal is to give guidance to people that are in need and to address the social problems. Social workers uplift service to others above egocentricity. Social workers tend to draw on their values, knowledge, and skills to advise people in need and to address social issues. It is encouraged for social workers to volunteer some portion of their professional skills with absolutely no expectation of significant financial return. This can also be referred to the “Pro Bono Service”. As social workers service others, their focus should as well be servicing for

My vision of the social work field is being able to help people in need and being the person that people can look back on and remember as a huge help in time of need. I think my core values and beliefs will help me be an effective social worker and help me succeed in this field. It is in my belief that a person should never be knocked down when they are going through hardships, and rather empowering them. I also believe that not everyone could be a social worker because it takes a certain kind of empathetic and self-aware person. I truly believe that my upbringing has humbled me to understand and not be judgmental of people’s issues since I’ve seen a lot in my short twenty-one years.

Social Work is a field of interest to me because of the positive effort it contributes to society. Within the social work profession individuals are striving to improve the welfare of those in need of assistance. Social Workers assist a variety of individuals; from children, young adolescents, older adults, mentally ill, substance abuse individuals, and many other minorities; as in LGBT members, veterans, homeless people, and low socioeconomic status individuals. The broad mix population fascinates me because within this field one will always be able to work in a flexible environment. Social Work is used in multiple settings as in hospitals, nursing skilled homes, mental health and substance abuse clinics, schools, correctional facilities, community centers, child welfare agencies, employee assistance programs, and private practices.