Introduction to Social Work was very enlightening and educational to me. Growing up, my family went through unfortunate life events that caused us to rely on the services of our local department of social services and protective services. I often remember social workers as my own personal body guards because when things got hectic in our lives, it seemed as though they appeared out of nowhere. As I got older, I learned that social work was so complex in its demand for purposes.

In Intro to Social Work, I learned how important it is to acknowledge diversity, how powerful our differences are, and how important it is to educate yourself about the needs of different cultures. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics is basically the founding format of the protection of ethics, morals and standards for all individuals in society. It is more than just a book of rules, laws, and limitations; it protects human rights and morals, and guides social workers through their profession of helping individuals in society.

The NASW Code of Ethics guides social workers through every dilemma or issue that they may question or doubt. As social workers, it is our obligation to understand human development, defend client well-being, and to protect human rights. We are obligated to be the voice for a child who cannot defend themselves. We are obligated to enlighten those in abusive relationships who need guidance and protection. We should reach out to communities and extend all resources to meet the needs of individuals in communities. As productive social workers, we should be able to provide guidance to those seeking to better themselves in cases such as: substance abuse, financial hardships, abuse and neglect, basic survival needs, healthy life choices, mental health, physical well-being, education, gerontological needs, etc.

Intro to Social Work challenged students to search relevant social work job advertisements that we were interested in. We had to break down the job advertisement and give specifications, such as; job title, organization, qualifications, responsibilities, social work roles, level of practice, population specifications, and the advertisement link. This was intimidating for me because it revealed just how important and tedious social work is. Mental Health and trauma abuse is so critical and requires a mental skill set, passion, and patients. School Social Work requires a passion to help school aged children in all aspects of life and you should be able to sense and see issues before they get out of hand.

Human Diversity and Populations SWK 2450

In SWK 2450 Human Diversity and Populations at Risk, our portfolio assignment was titled, “Developing Cultural Awareness”. I learned that in order to effectively help the individuals of humanity, it is crucial to learn the needs of each culture and the differences of others. The needs of a low income project community are very different from a high-income individually home-owned community. The needs of a Hispanic populated culture are different from the needs of an African American community. Not because of color, gender, or stereotype, but because of cultural beliefs and ethical standards, personal relationship, and acceptance.

My family and life history experiences taught me much more about my culture and upbringing than I thought I needed to know. Before taking Human Diversity and Populations, I didn’t think much about how important cultural awareness is to a career in social work. I plan on becoming a school social worker, and I must say, my eyes were opened to so much about cultural diversity.

In this assignment, we were assigned to explore a culture different from our own, that we were not familiar with. We were to study they culture and conduct a complete research project. I chose Asian American, simply because I do not know anything about them. What an enlightening and complete challenge. I learned so much about Asian Americans. In researching this culture, I realized the complexity in different cultures in regards to their beliefs, morals, standards, laws, spiritual preferences, and family importance. It is one of the most important lessons to remember…to be cautious of the cultural limitations of clients you are serving. It is important to be mindful of cultural awareness with all clients and families involved.

During this assignment we were also asked to tell our story of any cultural diversity experiences we encountered in our lives. My experiences are a little complicated. As both sides of my family were born and raised on completely opposite sides of the country. And I have had the rare opportunity of experiencing both cultures in my life. Through my experiences and what I learned in Human Diversity and Populations at Risk, I have learned a great and valuable lesson in respecting diversities within cultures. It is important to know the territory you are on and examine and learn any boundaries or limitations that families may have to provide the best social work services possible.

Success in Social Work SWK 3050

In SWK 3050, Success in Social Work, we were assigned to research a social issue or problem and a solution or treatment for the issue. I chose Substance Abuse and the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation. I chose this subject because of the a loved one has experienced a similar issue and I was able to see all the condition from all aspects. While doing my research, I learned so much more than I thought I knew. I was able to learn that addiction rapidly becomes a disease, a sickness, and a chemical imbalance. Helping an individual suffering from substance abuse is very exhausting and takes patience and the ability to lay your personal opinion and feelings aside to be able to take on the challenge with the abuser to help them face the dilemma.

Illegal substances are available everywhere and becoming more and more easily accessible. Drugs are becoming more potent and aggressive to abusers. It has become so overwhelming that there are not enough facilities and rehabilitation centers versus victims of addiction. In other words, there are more opportunities to abuse illegal substances than there are facilities to help them.

In writing this research paper, I learned the many different circumstances in life that can lead a person to become dependable on prescription drugs. I was able to learn that once a victim becomes an addict, his or her body chemistry changes and when they become clean, they face additional challenges, called possible triggers. I learned how trauma in life, whether you or old, can cause an individual to slip into the unintended habitual use of illegal substances.

I live in Robeson County, and this county is rapidly growing into the unsafe and unfortunate cascade of substance abusive communities. Through this research project, I learned so much about how and where addiction starts, what to avoid, how to look for signs of addiction, how to approach individuals who may need help, and most importantly learning about all the valuable resources available to those in need. As scary and relentless as addiction is, it takes someone with a strong will and mind to step up and be a help to someone in need.

Social Work Practice I SWK 3800

Our e-portfolio (Capstone) assignment for SWK 3800 was a Process Recording Google document form that we were instructed to complete on an assessment interview of a potential client (role play). As we conducted the assessment on our client, we were reminded to be mindful of the NASW Code of Ethics, Principles, and standards.

            In this assignment we completed the google form by documenting the assessment interview verbatim (word for word). We were instructed to use the key social assessment interview skills that we have learned throughout the BSW program. The skills are as follows: active listening, empathy, open-ended questioning, critical thinking, cultural sensitivity, non-verbal communication, establishing rapport, summarizing information, and reflecting listening. These skills help to fully understand a client’s situation and focus on the individual needs. We learned how to work on building trust and positive and professional relationships during the assessment process.

            While practicing these skills and documenting our progress, we learned a lot about ourselves and how to properly engage with clients, being careful to avoid biases and judgements of any kinds. I learned a lot about empathy. Open ended and close-ended questions were quite challenging for me, but they became easier the more I practiced with different client situations.

            During the documentation process of this assignment, we were also given the opportunity to critique ourselves on our progress. We documented areas we did well in as well as areas we needed improvement or correction. The skills I used in this assessment interview were; engagement, furthering, summarizing, confront/address congruencies, interpret, open-ended questions, reflecting, clarification, and silence. I learned the valuable lesson of silence. Sometimes just listening is all it takes to break the ice with a difficult client. Vulnerable clients often feel ignored, over-looked, or devalued. It makes a difference in response and sets a more positive tone in a situation when the client feels like they matter and when they trust that their interests and concerns are your top priority.

This was an important assignment, in my opinion, because it required students to really look into our skillset as upcoming social workers. Even when you think you know what you are doing, you may be heading in the wrong direction if you engage in the wrong or inappropriate way.

Human Behaviors and Social Environment SWK 3450

In SWK 3450 Human Behavior and Social Environment, we were assigned to watch a movie from a suggested list and provide a theory evaluation based on two of the seven theories of development from our textbook, “Development Through Life”. Following the theory evaluation, we were then assigned to write a component on a self-evaluation, followed by an annotated bibliography.

This assignment was very interesting and beneficial to me because it challenged me to evaluate behaviors and influences and to learn how others’ thoughts and actions are influenced through different experiences. All past experiences have impacts, whether great or small, good or bad, on our current behaviors. This section of the assignment encouraged us to focus on perception and reaction, processing and understanding, and decisions and responses.

For this assignment, I chose to watch “The Blind Side”. This movie focused on an African American individual who had suffered so much trauma in his childhood that he suffered from attention deficit, eating disorders, detachment,  separation anxiety, and many more neurological and mental setbacks. He was under-educated and because his issues were so severe, he was often passed along in school just to get him out of the system. Michael, the main character (the victim), was taken from his mother at a very young age due to substance abuse, neglect, and trauma. He and his brother were passed from home to home through the foster care system, until Michael became a runner.

In evaluating the trauma Michael suffered, it helped me to learn about cognitive behaviorism. How we react to behaviors portrayed upon us. The two theories I decided to use for this assignment were Social Role Theory and Cognitive Behaviorism. What an eye-opener! Learned expectation perfectly defines Michael’s behavior throughout his adolescent years. Because negative actions were repeated in his life, a cognitive map was developed in Michael’s mindset. Behaviors were developed.

I learned so much about developmental psychology. I learned about the relationship between experiences and habits. I learned that when the human mind is exposed to negative life styles for so long bad habits are programmed and processed in life. Not all habits are harmful, but nevertheless can be detrimental in most cases.

During this assignment we were able to tell of our own experiences. We were able to reflect of incidents in our lives that may have had an impact on our lives and somehow formed us into who we are today.

Social Welfare and Policies SWK 3480

In SWK 3480, Social Welfare and Policies, we were placed in groups to create a group project. Our paper was separated into various sections. Section one was our main topic, which was to research a social services department or service. Our group chose to do research on child welfare. The next portion of our group paper was to choose something about our department that we would change or improve. We had many ideas and opinions. One suggestion that stuck out to me was allowing Child Protective Services (CPS) to make unannounced home visits. I know, in some extremely rare cases, CPS does not have to announce a home visit, but it just doesn’t make sense to announce a visit, giving a home under investigation an opportunity to portray a false livelihood. It allows for false illusions and deceit to the legal system. With this project, we were able to study different policies and laws. We learned a lot about what the law requires and what the law allows.

Section three of our paper was used to explain our concerns and possible outcomes if there was a change in policy of unannounced home visits. We were also able to explain the pros and cons of current policies and possible outcomes of changes we would suggest.

Section four of our paper was used to express the main goals of our proposed policy change. There is simply no sense in allowing suspected abusive families to be aware that they will soon be visited so that CPS would never know how life is really live in a specific home.

The next portion of our paper was to provide evidence of what we are looking for in this policy change. We researched statistics that support the need for unannounced CPS home visits. This research paper and the statistics we studied were very educational and enlightening to learn the policies and laws of child welfare and the protocol leading to investigations.

Social Work Practice II SWK 3850

                In SWK 3850 Social Work Practice II, we were able to work in a group of four to conduct a community needs assessment on a critical need within a community. This was an excellent opportunity, as all four of us lived in four different counties/communities. The diversity set the stage for a challenging opportunity. We learned how different the needs are in different locations and communities.

            Our group decided to conduct our community needs assessment on “Critical Issues Within Foster Care”. Our focus population was teens and adolescents. This was extremely eye opening and quite a challenge, as we all learned the complex system of foster care. Some of our main concerns were lack of foster care placement, lack of foster care takers, lack of funding and resource, placement and transition for aged-out foster children, etc. The list would go on and on. And though there was a lot of information and resources on these topics of foster care, the solutions and assistance was and is very limited. We also learned that beyond the red tape and confidentiality boundaries, there is more than we imagined that goes on behind the scenes of the entire process of foster care.

            In this assignment, we were also instructed to apply our research to reflect micro social work, macro social work, and mezzo social work. This didn’t take long as there were many possibilities within the foster care process to reflect all areas of individuals, communities and organizations, and world wide networking.

Other areas of our community needs assessment with issues within foster care, was teen pregnancy and sex education, mental health issues including suicide. We then included statistics from our native counties, which were; Wake county, Richmond County, Robeson County, and Hoke county. For each county, we gave geographic characteristics, community history, and cultural and social characteristics. The differences were enlightening. We found many differences as well as similarities between all four counties.

The next portion of this community needs assessment project was to conduct interviews and explore network and resource gaps in each county. We all learned a lot about the importance of networking and communication. We were exposed to community needs that we were previously unaware of. Thankful for learning experiences.

Understanding Social Work SWK 3910

In SWK 3910 Understanding Social Research, I chose the topic, “Depression in Adolescents: How Adolescents are Affected by Homelessness and Poverty”, because I have always had a passion to help young people, especially through mental struggles. I worked in the Student Services department with the Public Schools of Robeson County for over 13 years before I transferred to another department. I witnessed the amazing, passionate, overwhelming, never ending hours of love labor that our department poured into the public school system every year. I was assistant to all school social workers, school counselors, youth development specialists, school nurses, and anyone who contributed to the student services department. I was able to witness, first hand, as school social workers worked hard, wearing many hats to ensure school students were safe, attended school regularly, while making sure mental and physical needs were met.

Mental health is important and plays a big role in mental and physical development. Mental health is affected by home life, financial status, social status, as well as genetic make-up. Many students go to school struggling with mental health. Besides the obvious issues of finding one’s way as an adolescent, there is peer pressure, possible struggles at home or with parents and siblings, underlying mental instability, financial hardships, abusive relationships, poverty, and homelessness.

This assignment challenged me to research the following subtopics; Background of the social problem and the client population, the objective of study, interventions, rigorousness of strongest intervention, and ethical issues and concerns.

My main focus of this topic was how adolescents deal with homelessness and poverty and balance a life of school and home. Robeson County has one of the largest population of people living in poverty in the state of North Carolina. The county is large, but over populated. Many jobs have moved overseas, many families are divorced and separated, and welfare is in a dilemma for the less fortunate. There are simply not enough resources. I’ve seen many family’s needs met through programs offered throughout the county and our school system. I must say that this is the most rewarding feeling to see a family’s needs met in the middle of tragedy or dire hardship.

Mental health is vital in a child’s life. School social work is hard, but it is worth it if you can help a young mind hold on to hope until a way is made and help arrives.

Human Behavior and Social Environment II SWK 4450

In SWK 4450 Human Behaviors and Social Environment II our focus point was on the Psychodynamic Theory and the Humanistic Theory. This paper was very challenging for me because my perception of psychodynamic and humanistic theories was not entirely correct.

            We were assigned to break down the two macro theories in this research paper. In the first portion of this assignment, psychodynamic theory is described as dealing with conflicts from traumas and conflicts that have not been resolved or counseled through, therefore having a long lasting negative influence on one’s behavior and overall personality. The studies are connected to conclusions drawn from Sigmund Freud.

            The next section of this research paper is “Strengths and Weaknesses of Psychodynamic Theory”. Here, we were to discuss the pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses of the entire theory. What are the benefits? What are the set-back? I learned that this theory Is connected with issues from being short-lived and not giving clients enough time to deal with issue, therefore failing in legitimate success.

            Humanistic theory gears more toward self-help and self-empowerment. It has potential to help clients fulfill dreams and ambitions by enforcing positive thinking. It emphasize on humanistic natural goodness and humanity. This theory gives social worker the opportunity to help clients reach their potential in life. Social workers should learn what drives their clients and what motivations can help push their clients to self-value and progress. It teaches freedom and autonomy of learners.

             The next portions of this research paper in theories, is “Social Work Specialization of Choice”, “Problems Impacting Populations”, “Policies”, and “Interventions”. Then, we were instructed to focus on an issue of our choice to reflect psychodynamic and humanistic theory interventions. I chose substance abuse. Our county suffers from the epidemic of substance abuse, which has devalued individual’s ability to advance in life and make reasonable and positive life choices.

Social Justice and Practice Ethics SWK 4600

Social Work Practice III SWK 4800

During SWK 4800 Social Work Practice III, we recorded an intervention video, where we assessed the client concerns, issues, and needs. Then, through a series of intervention meetings, we were able to challenge our client to implement a plan of action to follow, and closely monitor progress, while documenting behaviors, strengths and weaknesses, and allowing them to implement self-worth as they were able to vision their own progress. 

Field Work SWK 4910