Chapter 36 Victims Service
Response paper
As I read the article on social worker for victim services I thought of how amazing of an individual you would have to be to do this type of work. To work with victims of a crime whether it is domestic violence, rape or murder, these people depend on you. This career to me seemed like it could go in two different directions. Going the way of the criminal system, helping in court for the victims or going more the way of the victim services, helping the victim through the hospital visit and decision making process at that time. With the ability to do internships while still working on your degree this gives you the opportunity to intern in both fields and see which one would fit your specific interests.
On the local level you are dealing with first the victims themselves helping them with the process of the hospital visit and then the decision if to press charges. You get to know these people very well helping them to overcome these horrible tragedies that have befallen them. You are with them during the court case where they may feel vi...
The Masters degree of Social Work (MSW) is a degree that defines who you are and where you are going career-wise. If you are getting a Masters Degree in social work you are most likely going into the field of social work. This deems the question of why I want to go into the specific field of social work. A main reason for me to go into the field of social work is that social work fits my set of values moreso than any other field I am qualified for. Social work is a profession inherently about helping people improve their lives. That kind of work is noble and something I would like to do for the rest of my life. I have always wanted to do things and have a career that would help people and empower their lives. I believe helping people is the only way I can have a clear conscience and sleep well at night. My personal values center around helping people but also about helping people help themselves and improve their own lives. I do not want to treat people who utilize social work services as charity cases or as victims. That is not fair to those people and strips them of their humanity. I hope I can utilize my career as a social work to do as much good as possible in the United States and in the world.
These careers fall into the category of “Micro” social work and they involve face-to-face contact with clients experiencing socio-emotional difficulties. However, that is not all you can do with a degree in social work, which many students are not aware of. I agree with Rothman that the landscape of social work is changing. With the economic roller coaster, micro social workers need to advocate for themselves and their jobs on a community level. They may see emerging trends with their clients or barriers to services that need to be resolved by the state or local government. Macro social workers need to understand how social work practice influences the issues they are championing as lobbyists and government agents. At the end of the day, social workers serve people and all of its levels of practice are important. To recalibrate the imbalance between micro and macro social work, I believe that macro policies and standards should be strengthened; macro faculty and the field instructors should teach more and share their experiences with students, more promotion and public support of macro leaders and practitioners and develop a unifying curriculum for both micro and macro
I first became interested in social work when I took a human rights course as a part of my political science major requirements. Throughout the course, I was fascinated and disturbed by the historic oppression of many large groups in society, and I realized my interests lie outside of the political arena; thus, I double-majored in social policy & practice because of my desire to learn more about how to enhance human well-being, fight social injustice, and pursue social change. I soon realized I wanted to pursue graduate social work education in order to gain a more holistic understanding of social problems and human ailments and, in turn, better understand the best ways to fix them. My background in political science and social policy gives me a unique perspective on the field of social work, as I have gained immense knowledge on social issues, the law, and public policy that will be useful in my graduate school and professional endeavors to fight for social
There are many different career fields you can go into as a social worker: from mental health, drug and alcohol abuse all the way to child welfare. Child welfare is my primary target when I become a social worker. I feel that I will have the biggest impact if I help the kids out that will be creating our future world. If I can help the kids of the next generation then maybe my influence will help more than just those few kids I see every day. Plus ever since I can remember people told me I need to be doing a job that helps children. I want to be able to make a difference in the community, and if I can help the kids, then I know I’ll be helping the community. Being a student at Wilmington College will help me fulfill these values and skills, but the thing that
I knew I loved to help others but it was not until I was an emerging adult that I knew what my calling was. My devotion to improve the quality of life for those who are disadvantaged is one of the reasons I have chosen to pursue a Master’s in Social Work. After obtaining my masters, I plan on diversifying my masters by getting licensed and becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I would like to study social work because I feel it will lead me directly to one of the most emotionally fulfilling careers available, as well as giving me the chance to combine helping people 's mental well being with their physical
Becoming a social worker is dependent on numerous factors, one of which being education. “A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) degree is the most common minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker, however, majors in psychology, sociology, and related fields may be sufficient to qualify for some entry-level job” (Chao & Orr, 162). Many people when pursuing the goals of being a social worker, however, are most interested in jobs in public agencies and/or having their own practices. “A master’s degree in social work (MSW) is necessary for positions in health and mental health settings and typically is required for certification for clinical work” (Chao & Orr, 162). One’s level of school is not the only thing employers are focusing on when looking to hire social workers. Along with one’s education, a social worker must have “a broad liberal arts base which includes a knowledge of the social sciences (sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, political science, and economics) to provide explanations about the nature of human society and the human condition” (Johnson, 48). There are many more skills that are just as essential, if not more beneficial, to the employer as well as client.
A victim advocate is someone who helps people who are victims of a crime or sexual abuse. They are usually only referred to as victim advocates, however they can be called victim coordinators, victim specialists, or victim service providers.
Another aspect of interest is to create a better intervention other than an Order of Protection for women who are victims of domestic violence. As such, pursuing graduate studies in Social work is integral in accomplishing this goal. Thus, I strongly believe that my career goals are a compatible match for what the prestigious Masters of Social work program at Simmons School of Social
Social work can be very rewarding in a number of ways, but challenges do exist before the reward. One challenge I may encounter if I was to become a social worker is becoming attached to the victim. I think I would feel emotionally connected and want to save them. Before taking the class, I had the mentality that it would be easy to help people and guide them to a better life, but this class has made me realize that it is not always that easy. When speaking to victims, I could see myself feeling sorry for them and wanted to give them everything to make themselves feel better. I feel like I would allow my personal life to interfere with my work life, where I would constantly be thinking about the clients and their health instead of focusing
My career goals after completing a Master’s of Social Work degree is working with victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. I want to advocate and empower survivors that have gone through these types of traumatic assaults. I also want to raise awareness within communities and help break the cycle of abuse that continues
Social work as a profession strives to help the welfare of those within the community whether its persons or families through advocacy. Often times clients are those who may be vulnerable and disadvantaged. Social workers aim to help people fulfill basic needs in their everyday lives and assist them by providing beneficial resources and intervention counseling. They do more than just help them in their current situation, it’s about helping them to survive and set attainable goals to live a fuller and better life for themselves, and most time for their families.
The prosecutor is supposed to represent the victim, however it is the interest of the prosecutor to represent the state. Due to this trend, many victims started to experience economical and psychological problems and most importantly a sense of injustice emerged. As a result of these factors, many agencies and local governments started to put in place some laws that guaranteed the basics rights of victims in the early 1970s. For example crime victims compensation was put in place and rape shield provisions (Paul G. Cassell). However, it wasn’t until 1982 that President Ronald Reagan appointed a Task Force on Victims of Crime; their biggest conclusion was that “ The Criminal Justice System had lost the balance that has been the cornerstone of its wisdom” (Presidents Task Force on Victims of Crime) and recommended various reforms to the way victims were treated in the Criminal Justice System. The task force recommended, “victims, no less than defendants, are entitled to have their views considered at sentencing” (President Task Force, Pg
My interest in becoming a social worker started at a very young age. I remember always possessing the desire to help people who were in need and have frequently being the person who others have approached when faced with difficult situations. Often, I felt as if listening was not enough. I remember feeling unequipped to help them. When I spoke about this career choice with some of the big influences in my personal life, I was told no matter what situation I have ever been faced with I have always managed to handle myself appropriately in what were, sometimes, delicate situations. Whether these situations were with complete strangers or people I have known for years, mediation, has been something that has come naturally to me. In addition to
My interest in social work stems from a love of volunteering that I possessed ever since I was a young child expressing great enthusiasm for church and school service events. As I grew older, I began volunteering for many other community events, such as serving over 200 hours at a local hospital, helping with free cancer screenings, and fitting children with free bike helmets. I even created my own donation drive for a local women’s and children’s shelter. I feel the best when I am striving to create positive changes in my community and for struggling, marginalized individuals. Social services have been a part of my life for a very long time, and I want it to continue to be on a professional level.
An education in social work is the start of building upon knowledge, skills and values. There are a wide range of career paths to choose from in the field of social work. A person can choose to work in the Child & Family Welfare System. Social workers who work in the Child & Family Welfare System can choose to work in a private or nonprofit agency. Most people in this field primarily work for county social services. People in this field usually work as child protection specialists, intake specialists, case managers or as adoption workers to name a few. Social workers are also needed in law enforcement, corrections and justice systems. Social workers in this field can work with both youths and adults. Working in law enforcement, corrections and justice systems the social worker plays a direct service role such as staffing group homes and treatment programs. They also can work as probation and parole officers. If this is the field a social worker wants to work in, they should consider getting a minor in corrections. The Healthcare field is another area that a social worker can choose to pursue. A person can work in a hospital, clinic, home health care, public health, hospice and mental health. In the health setting a social worker can also work in a nursing home, chemical dependency programs and even in rehabilitation facilities. In the hospital settings, the social workers deal with people of all ages,