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...
At the Muncie police department victim advocacy, I have increased my ability of communication in a few different ways. The first way that I have increased my communication skills is in the writing area. The way that I have increased my writing skills is by writing briefs about the police reports that come in to the office. The police reports that come in the victim advocate officer are ones that deal with people who have been victimized (battery, domestic violence, or threats of harm). The reason why I write briefs about this is because they have to be put into a police outreach system where letters are sent out to the victim offering the services of the victim advocate office. These briefs have taught me to provide as much information as possible
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
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.
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 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
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.
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.
The goal of the Lindenwood Victim Empowerment Task Force is to aid and support victims of crime as they move throughout the criminal justice process, provide them with assistance, resource information and services. Purpose: Our purpose is to empower victims by promoting their rights and wellbeing which have been affected by crime, in all aspects of the criminal justice system. Also, to advocate for the enforcement of these rights, coordinate with other organizations in the community to ensure victims of crime are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.
There are many duties and work tasks that a victim advocate must complete. They do everything from educate the victim of his or her rights, help victims with their safety plans, help victims find transportation and shelters, and fill out paperwork and reports to law enforcement about the crime committed against them. A victim advocate also is a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear to the victim. They help the victim get through the questioning, the court appearances, the testimony they give, and notify
When creating and implementing a policy for trauma-informed care for clients there are several components that should be taken into consideration. The purpose of a Trauma Informed Policy is to promote resiliency, health and wellness for those who have experienced trauma as well as their families (Clackamas County Behavioral Health Division (CCBHD): Trauma-, 2014). To do this the policy must create a minimum standard of care for those helping individuals with mental health and addiction challenges created by the impact of trauma. The policy must establish a standard to provide treatment in a trauma informed manner, increase access to effective and appropriate services for individuals who have experienced trauma, and alleviate vicarious traumatization of treatment providers along with any other person working with traumatized individuals.
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
Vulnerable populations is refer to social groups or individuals that are who have an increased propensity to unfavorable health outcomes which include premature death or mortality, decreased functional status, relative morbidity, and diminished quality of life (Rewlett, 2011). In maryland, the community of Conowingo fall into these categories due to shortage of primary care providers as a result escalating the vulnerabilities to this community. The people of Conowingo in Maryland are victims of lack of access to care, poor utilization of health promotion and negative health outcomes (Rewlett, 2011). In order to care for this population, the two model identified are the vulnerable populations conceptual model by Flaskerud and Winslow (1998), and health belief model by Becker, 1977 will be used (Rawlett, 2011).
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
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.