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Social work career goals
Interests about being a social worker
Career goal for social work
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1. What relationships and/or experiences influenced your decision to enter the field of Social Work? A personal experience that influenced my decision to enter the field of social work is when I joined the military after high school. While serving, I was able to assist the Director of the Combined Federal Campaign. This is a major campaign that is sponsored by the military and United Way, and it is geared towards raising money for nonprofit agencies. I enjoyed visiting various agencies, organizing events, as well as educating people about the available resources within their communities. This was definitely a season of growth; furthermore, after careful research I discovered the field of social work was the best profession for me. This was …show more content…
I have grown to appreciate diversity and I seek out opportunities that will increase my competency in this area. While working with diverse populations I have learned that diversity represents individual and human differences that impact how we problem-solve, work, and learn. Often times we sum diversity into three main categories, race, gender and ethnicity; however, diversity is expanding and we must include all aspects of diversity. There are several factors that distinguishes us and the dimensions of diversity may be hidden or visible. They may remain constant or fluctuate as life changes and they may not be easily defined. Social workers must embrace diversity as well as its dimensions and understand that diversity is multidimensional. 6. Describe your experience(s) in providing and receiving professional helping services. It is a pleasure helping others, but I have also received help through utilizing services within the military network. I am a military spouse who deal with long deployments, short visits, and managing and coping require assistance from time to time. I take advantage of the free counseling services provided through the military’s mental health services because it keeps me
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
Gender, racial, and ethnic diversity means different things to different people. Some believe that diversity is about quotas, and affirmative action. Others believe that diversity is something that will happen on its own with out intervention. Some experts who study diversity, however, believe that diversity is not something that should be left up to chance. It is important, therefore, for organizations to take action to encourage and foster diversity in the workplace (Clarke, 1995, p. 13).
Cognitive objectives covered in this course focused on understanding life experiences of diverse populations across the world as well as being aware of our own prejudices and attitudes towards diverse populations. The objectives focused on understanding institutional racism in both present day societies as well as in the past and focused on understanding oppression and injustice in society that diverse populations face. Cognitive objectives focus on a set of theories that leads to our understanding of cultural diversity in America. Cognitive objectives recognize social workers task in combating oppression and injustice in society as well as learning and understanding cultural diversity and supporting and encouraging strategies for social change.
Springer, J. F, Sale, E, Kasim, R, Winter, W, Sambrano, Soldad, C, (2004). Sandra; Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work: Innovation in Theory, Research & Practice; Vol 13(3); 1-23. Doi: 10.1300/J051v13n03_01
Diversity perspective is the up and coming theory that social workers need to be familiar with. In our area alone we have multiple different ethnicities, cultures, and people who will need assistance. Cultural diversity is something that you must be trained in to keep a license to practice. Social workers must have the ability to be competent working in diverse settings with diverse people. As time goes on, there will be more emphasis on culture
Personally, I’ve never had any contact with a social worker gratefully, but they do not have a great reputation. Social workers are not known for coming into people lives when everything is going well. Professions that help people have always caught my interests. It wasn’t until college however, when I gained a full knowledge of what social workers did. I have a passion for helping kids and wanting to do more for them. Volunteering has been a big part of my life and is where, my passion grew to become a juvenile attorney. Throughout school that is what my mind was set on. The knowledge I gained at the youth shelter made my passion for helping kids grow even more but changed my direction. Hearing the kids talk about their lives helped my passion grow even
I chose to pursue a degree in Social Work because I have a deep passion for helping people figure things out and get back on track. I have always tried to help people in the simplest ways without being over intrusive and giving them the respect and dignity they deserve. As a teen I found joy in the slightest things like helping people fill out and submit job applications, filling out medical forms, and explaining to them the process for things such as obtaining Medicaid, food stamps, their food handlers card and even on where and how to apply for your driver’s license. These things may seem trivial but I guarantee that for many people this was a huge help. Working with people is not just something that happens; first you have to want to help people and be patient and understanding with the people who you are helping and that does not happen overnight, second, you must be able to recognize your own limitations and know when to refer someone to qualified professionals.
In order to avoid unjust discrimination against various cultural groups and ethnic minorities, social workers need to have a good understanding of how delivery of services and their own practice are impacted by structural and personal issues in relation to ethnic and cultural differences and the theory of 'Otherness'(Littlechild, 2011). One of the main principles of social work profession is to promote social justice. Social workers have a duty recognize diversity and to challenge negative discrimination on the basis of numerous characteristics such as age, ability,
The main reason I chose the social work profession, manifested early within my stages of childhood. The importance of giving to and caring for those in need, were deeply embedded in my very soul. Being reared by my grandmother, a nurse and by my teenage mother, a psychology student, I was exposed constantly to acts of kindness and generosity. As a result to my empathetic personality, I was welcomed into many social and ethnic groups, not commonly open to a young gay black male. In these younger years with the assistance of my parents, my love for others allowed me to help other teenagers in crisis, often providing shelter, advice, monetary assistance and a listening
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.
Interning at the Jewish Adoption and Foster Center (JAFCO) was an exceptional experience. JAFCO is an agency which was originally created to meet an unmet need in the Jewish community. As of today, JAFCO serves abused and neglected children and those with developmental disabilities. JAFCO provides a host of services such as foster care, adoption, and etc. An emergency shelter, which JAFCO house children in crisis from birth to 12 years of age.
My reasoning behind deciding to pursue a career in social work stems from my seemingly innate desire to see others succeed in fulfilling their potential. Although it feels somewhat of a cliché, my passion and desire for the field of social work originates from a genuine wish to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Describe your understanding of the social work profession and its core values. How have you incorporated social work values in your human service experiences and interactions with others? What significant relationships and life experiences have you had in giving or receiving help that have motivated you to enter the field of social work? What personal qualities equip you for the social work profession? Discuss your experiences and feelings about the working with populations different from your own.
From working in an early childhood centre, I have been able to participate in providing children with learning experiences that promote Māori culture, customs, and traditions. For example, we have recently read the Māori legend, “Maui and the big fish” to the children during mat time. After, we have then participated in creating art work from the story. Secondly, a tradition we have included in the centre, is the use of a Karakia before each meal.
I obtained my Masters in Social Work (MSW) degree from India in the year 2006. As with most countries around the world, the emergence of social work in India was from charity aiming to eliminate poverty. Gradually it shifted from philanthropy to rights based approach and then to organized social work. Community organization surfaced as the most central method of social work practice along with practice of casework. Although social work is much more structured in nature now, it still operates along the conventional perspective of social work. Social work is not even recognized as a profession in India. An indicator of an occupation being publicly recognized as a profession is exhibited by