1. What is Social Work?
Social Work can be defined by different definitions. According to NASW, Social Work is the professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and to create societal conditions favorable to their goal. In Social Work, it is important that one knows the methods and levels of practice in the Social Work field. The methods of practice include social case work, social group work, community organization, administration in social work, research, policy, and planning. The levels of social work include micro practice which works with individuals, mezzo practice which works with families, and small groups, and Macro practice which works with communities.
In the practice of social work, it is very important that the worker applies their professional applications of social work values, principles, and techniques in every situation when helping their clients. Some ways that workers can be beneficial to their clients is by helping them obtain tangible services; providing counseling and psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups, and helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health services. According to NASW, the profession of social work is the profession that provides the formal knowledge base, theoretical concepts, specific functional skills, and essential social values which are used to implement society’s mandate to provide safe, effective, and constructive social services.
The profession of Social Work is different from many other professions because it has the responsibility to provide social services. Many people may think that the profession on social work is one of simplicity, however a social worker needs training and expertise in a wide range of areas to effectively handle problems faced by individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities. Social Work can be complex because there are many different aspects of the field. However if one has the determination and drive to handle challenges, social work is the profession for them. Social Work is beneficial and rewarding, in the sense of a worker being of great help to individuals who are in need.
2. Why are people poor?
To simply state one reason as to why people are poor would be incorrect, due to the fact that being poor can be measured by many different causes. Some of these causes include both personal and environmental factors. When looking at the personal risks of why people are poor, some of the more specific factors include physical health and disability and mental health and disability. When someone is faced with physical health disabilities it tends to limit their capabilities of being able to work a successful job, thus leaving them in a state of poverty. This of many other cases is one that tends to get overlooked, due to the fact that people often times look past the physical limitations of a person, thus blaming the victim. When a person is faced with mental health problems, the same issues arise as far as not being capable of working. Research shows that mental health issues develop from different life events such as moving house, losing your job or the death of someone special.
Other personal factors of why poverty exists are because of substance abuse, and gambling abuse. When people abuse these things they tend to spend what money they have on things that they feel are more important rather than things that are necessities. They fail to realize that in order to get out of poverty it is important that they save their money and spend it in ways which they can have a better quality of life. In addition to substance abuse and gambling, cognitive abilities can be a determinant of why people are poor. Ones thinking process plays a major role in their ways of living. If a person is determined to get out of poverty they will do whatever they can get out, that is if no other limitations are in existence.
In addition to personal risk being factors of why people are poor, environmental risk are also reasons. Some of the environmental risk includes family income, family size and structure, informal social support, geographical region, unemployment rate and many other factors. Family income and family structure are risks of poverty because one’s family determines their outcome when it comes to growing up. If one lives in a family whose socioeconomic status is low then in results to them being forced to grow in poverty leaving them without a choice. If their family’s size and structure is not one of great means, it also results to them being poor.
There can many reasons as to why a person can be poor. It can not only be measured from one aspect. It is important that when answering this question that we don’t blame the victim. Many times it is not always the persons fault as to why they are poor; their environment can have a part as to why they live in poverty. From family issues to health care issues, there are many problems that they have to face within their environment. However there are also personal factors of why a person is poor, from education, to drug abuse, and sometimes coming from laziness.
3. Cycle of Poverty
The cycle of poverty can also be known as the culture of poverty and this is when poverty is passed down from one generation to the next generation. According to the article “The culture of poverty: evaluation of the theory and its application to client situation”, Lewis states that the culture of poverty comes from extended periods of economic deprivation in highly stratified capitalistic societies. He also says that the poor are poor because they have a distinct culture or lifestyle. In the culture of poverty, unemployment and the low wages of many individuals result in despair and hopelessness. These types of attitude tend to get passed to the next generations, therefore resulting in them having to also live the life of poverty. In this culture of poverty, the hopeless attitudes continue on throughout life even though some of the barriers hindering them from getting out of poverty no longer exist. People tend to stay in this culture because this is all they know, and when other methods are shown to them of how they can get out, they tend to reject it due to the fact that their content with staying in their culture. These methods can often times be rejected because individuals view them as a way of being dominated by people of higher class.
4. Two Scenarios
Value Questions
Question #2
Beth should tell her friend Carmen that she is not able to disclose any information with her about her client. Beth should explain to Carmen that in her working profession confidentiality is a very important aspect. She should explain how she values their friendship, but just as she values their friendship she also values her career. As a true friend Carmen should understand because there are many boundaries that one cannot cross in certain professions. However if Carmen is not understanding, Beth still should not disclose any information. After all if she does it can cost her the trust of her client as well as her job.
Value #12
I think in this case the worker should advocate sterilization, however only if that is what the client desires. As a social worker my goal would be to use self determination. I would be able to offer options and consequences but this would be a decision that would have to made by the client and the client only. No matter how much persuasion was used, the client would still have to make the final decision. I also feel that as the worker, I should not only advocate sterilization but also self sufficiency. The sterilization would only be a minor solution to the issue. Seeing as though the client is on TANF and has four different children by four different people, the issue goes deeper than just sterilization. Sterilization would take care of the client no longer having any more children; however the issue still remains with the client being on TANF and having children by four different men. I think as a worker my goal would be to get to the root of the issue by completing an intake process. Once the issue was figured out, I would say we should go from there as far as getting the issue resolved.
5.
1. How did you become acquainted with social work?
I became acquainted with social work through many encounters that I faced in high school. I knew many people and had many friends who were in the foster care system and who were adopted. After a while of knowing these people they began to share many experiences with me of the things they went through as far dealing with social workers and things in that area. After hearing these things, in which many were not good things, I became interested in this field. I had decided then that I wanted to be a social worker, and not one that my friends spoke of, but better. I became determined then to make a difference in the lives of many people, and be someone in whom they could relate to, as well as being an advocate for them having better societal conditions. Once I entered college and began to take social work courses; I learned that there was more to social work than I had once thought. I immediately became intrigued in the field and have stayed with it since the beginning of my college career.
2. How has your social work education affected your goals, lifestyle, values, and beliefs?
I think that my social work education has strengthened my goals, values beliefs and my lifestyle. It had taught me many things, things that I never knew that I obtained. When it comes to the many things that I have learned thus far in my social work education, it has caused me to set higher goals for myself. My social work education had also taught me to take a closer look at my values and beliefs and how important it was for me to hold on to them. I have learned that there will be many things that will try to deter me from what I believe and even though those things might take place, I have to realize the importance of my values and beliefs. There also have been many values and beliefs added to my character as a result of learning things in the social work profession. When it comes to my lifestyle, the social work mindset it something I’m beginning to live on daily bases, from the observations that I make to always wanting to help someone live a better life.
3. What about diversity and self awareness in relation to
A. culturally diverse groups
B. Disadvantages groups
C. Women’s issues
D. Sexual Preference issues.
I think that my social work education has increased my knowledge on working in all of those different aspects of the social work career. I feel that it has increased my knowledge on some aspects more than others and that even though I have gained much needed knowledge in all different areas, there is still much to be learned. I think that when it comes to sexual preference issues, it becomes something I need to work on keeping my personal opinions aside from my professional ones. However overall I think I have a great understanding in which it has affected my diversity and self awareness in a positive way.
4. What have been the major influences in your social work education? How have the following been influential?
A. persons
B. Course
C. Book
The major influences in my social work education have been mainly through the different courses I have taken as well as the people who took the courses with me. I feel that I have learned a great deal of information in each course that I have taken related to social work. However I think the most influential thing related to my learning of things in the social work education come from my peers. It’s amazing how much you can learn from people that are your peers. I think just being around them and forming that bond with many of them has caused me to have great learning experiences in my social work education.
5. Which social work roles do you feel comfortable doing? Uncomfortable?
I don’t think there is any role that I would feel uncomfortable doing. I feel comfortable doing each one. Being an outreach worker, teacher, behavior changer, consultant, community planner, administrator, and an advocate. However I think the one I would feel most comfortable doing would be the advocate role. I believe that fighting for someone’s rights that are not able to, is something of great importance.
6. What are your professional strengths and weaknesses?
I think my professional strengths include being a great listener, knowing how to be a leader as well as a follower when it comes to certain situations. I posses the strength of being a dedicated and hard worker and very determined at whatever I put my mind to. I am a positive thinker and a very well rounded individual. My only professional weakness would be my procrastination in which I will one day turn into strength.
7. Do you recognize a need for personal change in tolerance of different opinions?
Yes I recognize a need for change in tolerance of other opinions. I am always respectful of everyone’s opinion on different issues. I understand that everyone has a different way of thinking, however I sometimes have issues with tolerating others opinion if is not one similar to my own. I believe this is also an issue in which I am improving on.
8. Upon graduation, where do you see yourself?
Upon graduation I see myself having a great amount of knowledge related to social work. I believe that I will have enough knowledge to go out and work in the profession. However my goal is to go beyond my bachelor’s degree and obtain my masters. After graduation I will be going to grad schools to receive my MSW.
