Social Work Narrative

Personal Narrative Statement 1)How do you reputation for your interest in social rifle? In your response, discuss give or volunteer finds that support your choice of social create as a duty? My interest in social work certain during college. I always had a interest in helping opposites in unity way or a nonher. I joined a sorority in college, Delta Sigma Theta, which is based off of community service. During the week I would volunteer to instruct children that were struggling in certain beas of schooling.I would talk to these children and explain to them the importance of education and try to twine them as such(prenominal) as vi fit to try their hardest in boththing that they do. I would likewise go to nursing homes, with other member of our organization, and play bingo with their residents. We purview it was classic to spend succession with the elderly and/or frantic as well. Just knowing how lots it meant to those residents for us to come and spend clipping w ith them was a phenomenal feeling. aft(prenominal) college I worked for the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility (Girl School) as a Y bug outh Service Officer (YSO).I gained a dole out of workforce on experience at the Girl School and I was adapted to work in to a greater extent(prenominal) depth with the youth. I worked with at least 35-40 troubled teenagers sever all in ally day. I was their guidance counselor, t separatelyer, disciplinary, and some four-spotth dimensions I mat up the likes of their p bent. I enjoyed being able to talk with apiece someone and I learned how to communicate with each of them effectively. Through each(prenominal) these several(prenominal) experiences I developed a squiffy believe to become a social worker so that I book binding end help cleanse peoples lives by helping them cope and solve issues in their e actuallyday lives. )Social work is committed to social arbitrator. What is social justice? What experiences break shap ed your interest in advancing social justice? In the future, how allow for you help advance social justice? Social justice is come to with tinctity or equal justice, non just in the courts, and in all aspects of society. This concept demands that people fork out equal rights and opportunities and this includes everyone, from the poorest to the wealthiest. Social justice refers to a concept of a society that gives individuals and groups adept treatment and fair distribution of advantages, ssets, and benefits among all members of a society. On a positive note, one experience in particular that contract shaped my interest in advancing social justice is the inauguration of the set-back Afri lav Ameri crumb President, President Barack Obama. This has had such a positive influence on the minority communities because it has allowed us to see how much things overhear changed. It has accustomed individuals hope that may ca-ca never thought that there would be a Black President o r a president right(prenominal) of the ethnic background of Caucasian.In the future, I hope to be a part of a movement that advances social justice even more. I would like to be a part of something that helps our children in need, employs our workers in need, helps our change and heels are criminal justice system. I soon work for a dividing line where I experience inequalities because of my job title or pare color. There are metres where I feel that I am not valued as some of my other co-workers due to the discrepancy of our job classification.There are situations that consent occurred that I feel like I was misunderstood because of my skin color and some of the negative stereotypes that comes on with it. As a social worker, I would like to establish job confidence, meaning that I would like to implement a system inwardly all jobs that allows all employees no matter of your race, class or sex activity that allows you maintain the confidence needed to perform your job dut ies without the ridicule or stereotypes from those of higher positions. 3)What is your perception or understanding of social work as a profession?Elaborate on how you understand social workers interpose with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and political entities? Professional social workers are found in every facet of community life including schools, hospitals, mental health facilities, prisons, military and all other unrestricted and private agencies that serve individuals and families in need. Social workers abet individuals, groups or communities restore or enhance social functioning by dint of creating living conditions favorable to their goal or need.Social workers are train professionals that help people overcome some of lifes most rough challenges such as poorness, discrimination, abuse, addiction, physical illness, educational issues, mental illness, disability, unemployment, etc. They accomplish this through counseling individuals, famil ies and communities teaching them how to cope with the separate outes of everyday life. From a political standpoint, social workers spend time and money on campaigns that prefer public officials that are committed to social work values.Sound public policies enable social workers to meet kind-hearted needs, be fairly compensated and promote social justice. Overall I perceive social work as a take action profession. Often times, we as human beings complain and talk about what needs to be marque but do not do anything beyond that. Social workers are men on. They are not just talking about what should be code but they are doing something to better our communities. Social workers are about reservation a difference in society by helping others out that are in need for various reasons.If you are very sick and in need of assistance to perform normal, everyday functions, social workers displace assist you in finding a home, affordable to you and your family so that you can mystif y that need met. Social workers assist children that may have been a victim of abuse or witness of domestic violence by removing them from that destructive atmosphere into a much safer environment while providing counseling to aid in the healing transition. They erect food, shelter and clothing for those that are downwardly in their luck because of unemployment, disabilities or all other poverty related issues.There are a colossal variety of activities that can be considered social work and professional social workers are active in many different environments but they all possess one common goal and that is helping people. 4)The concept of cultural pluralism emphasizes deference for diversity of values, heritages, customs, and lifestyles. We are interested in your experiences with people from diverse populations. For each of the following diverse groups, describe how you have worked with each.If you have gaps in your word picture to diversity, what is your mean to broaden yo ur effectiveness to work respectfully and effectively with each of these populations? a)Ethnicity (race, culture) I have worked with many different ethnicities and cultures in several way. I have worked with different ethnic groups at work, school and everyday life. As a minority, I was raised to treat everyone how I would like to be treated so outside of their physical appearance I liveliness at everyone as my equal.I have different ethnic backgrounds in family which does not depend to be uncommon at all in these days and times. I believe that different backgrounds and cultures is what make our world so beautiful and diverse. b)Spiritual tradition different from your own Although I dont understand all of the different spiritual traditions and backgrounds, I definitely have worked with different ones at one time or another. I have dated an individual with a different spiritual background than myself and I learned that although we may have worshiped in different ways we worshiped for the alike(p) purpose.I know that this may not be true of all spiritual backgrounds but I feel that it is important to respect each person spiritual preference even if I dont agree with their values. I currently work for a hospital and in our registration process we ask each patient if they have a certain spiritual preference that they would like us to note on their chart. We ask this enquire not to be judgmental but to provide that option if the patient wants to seek clergy while hospitalized. c)Age I have worked with a variety of ages throughout the year.Currently I work with a wide variety of age groups. I work in a lab and there are both older and junior age groups. Our younger employees respect the older employees because we have learned a lot from their experiences. I, personally, have never been discriminated against because of my age, as far as I know, and it does not seem to be a major issue from my experiences. I have besides worked over a lot of juveniles in a c orrectional induction setting. I found this job to be quite challenging at times because these individuals required a lot of attention and redirecting.However, the experience in spite of appearance itself was priceless. d)Disability beting in a hospital setting has allowed me to encounter a lot of patients with several different disabilities. Watching these patients struggle with things that the average human being might take for granted is a mind-blowing experience within itself. Seeing and hearing these individuals talk about their disabilities has made me become more appreciative of the little things in life like walking, driving, talking, working, being able to dress and bath myself, etc.Although working with people with disabilities can be disheartening, it is excessively very rewarding because it makes you feel really good to be able to assist another person in need. e)Socio-Economic I have worked with people with different socio-economic backgrounds or statuses because I have undergo different socio-economic statuses. Both of my parents came from family households containing at least 6 or more children and as a result neither one of my parents had much, economically, as a child. My parents got married and started a family at a young age so as a esult I was raised on a trim socio-economic status then some of my peers. Living in a time where sassy technologies are developed constantly and wealth and greed are at an all time high, I am constantly seek to achieve more. However, I know to achieve more wealth or higher socio-economic status one must lay a substantial educational background foundation which is why I would like to merely my education by achieving a Masters Degree. f)Sexual taste Sexual orientation is usually divided into 3 groups Heterosexual, Homosexual, and Bisexual.We live in a time where all three groups are becoming more predominant, especially transvestite and bisexual groups. Regardless of my sexual preference I feel that it is important to respect individuals decision and not to judge them by it. As a phlebotomist I have to draw all patients regardless of their sexual orientation. I do not treat homosexuals any different than I treat heterosexuals when winning precautions against exposures. Actually I was trained to treat all patients as if they had a communicable disease to lessen my risk of exposing myself to contaminants.I have also worked around individuals that outwardly discuss their sexual preferences and I dont think that they should not discuss it if it is not considered the norm, however I feel that all sexual orientations should be able to express themselves as long as its considered appropriate conversation considering the environment. 5)When social workers are in a situation where they must choose between deuce relevant, but competing choices, and where each choice may have an undesirable yield for the parties involved, this is called an ethical dilemma. Describe an ethical dilemma y ou have experienced.Discuss your decision-making process and factors which contributed to the ultimate outcome. Please protect confidentiality, and DO NOT reveal name calling of individuals or organizations. I worked for my previous job for more than 7 days as a phlebotomist and I gained a lot of training and brainwave through this experience. With the economy becoming so bad my employer was having to cut back so they had hiring and wage freezes. I was working without insurance because the hiring freeze would not allow me to change my status from PRN to full time so that I could receive benefits.Suddenly, the hospital that I was working for through my employer firm not to renew their contract with my company which had my department in fearfulness of unemployment. The hospital refractory to open up their own laboratory and involve their own staff. This had a prominent impact on my employer because it was a great financial loss for our company which meant more possible cut back s. I was forced to make a difficult decision because I had a lot of experience with the company I was employed for but I needed benefits and the hospital was offering full time status electropositive benefits.Due to the short notice my current employer was insuring us that if we left them to work for the hospital that we will not be allowed to return there for employment. Do I stay or do I go was the question I would ask myself over and over. What if things didnt go well with this new laboratory? How long will the hiring and wage freeze last? by and by a few months of deliberating I finally chose to work for the hospital. I thought this would be a great opportunity for me and I would be able to receive the benefits that I desperately needed for myself and my child.As of now, I have not regretted this decision. Our laboratory is a success and I am currently receiving the health benefits that I was seeking. I make a lot more money than I did with my previous employer and I also rece ive bonuses, spend time and holiday pay. This ethical dilemma turned out in my favor after all and I have no desire to return to my previous employer. 6)Social work is a profession that has considerable aroused demands on the practitioner. How do you make do stress and what coping skills do you shout out using as a competent practitioner?I handle stress the best by remaining calm and focused so that I can think clearly and make good decisions. I like to reflect on what I think is causing the stress and figure out the best way possible to minimize that stressor. As a competent practitioner in the social work profession I plan to have stressful situations therefore Im not surprised or caught off guard when they occur. I will remain calm and level-headed as much as possible so that I can provide what is necessary. Through my experience I have noticed that people react better to individuals that are calm, confident and in control.People feel a lot safer when they are in the transfe r of a profession that is in control of the situation and that knows how to remain strong but sensitive to whatever the circumstances may be. 7)Graduate school provides scholarship opportunities that require an investment of time and energy. Plan to spend an average of 36 hours per week on homework for a full-time load of four courses. In addition, three semesters of field practica require approximately 20-24 hours per week. Discuss why you are pieced to attend graduate school at this time in your life/career.Please describe plans that you are making to accommodate your personal and professional life in order to successfully recruit in a)The coursework, class preparation and assignments. Academic pursuits require approximately 9 hours a week per class. b)Two separate field practica of approximately 20-24 hours per week for 3 semesters. These practica must be completed at practicum agencies during daytime hours rarely do practicum sites offer night/evening/weekend hours. It has b een 6 years since I graduated from college after completing my bachelors and I have now decided that I am ready to go back to college to receive a masters degree.Since relocating back to my hometown I have had trouble finding a job in my major, Criminal Justice, and would like to expand my knowledge by returning for a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW). As a single mother of two children I plan on making a lot of adjustments in order to make this work out for me. I am currently working full-time, 40 hours or more a week, on dayshift so I dont have to adjust my hours for this program but more or less the amount of hours so that I can focus and have time to complete my assignments. )My children are enrolled in school and daycare so I plan to do a lot of the homework during their school/daycare hours to prevent distractions. I also anticipate a lot of late hours of studying beginning after I lay my children down to sleep at night. My biggest goal is to prevent and form of procrastinat ion from hibernating within myself. I want to stay on top things so that I am not cramming and falling behind in my classes. Organization is also an important goal during this endeavor.Remaining organized will prevent me from lacking(p) assignments, due dates and all other important factors that may apply. b)The most difficult challenge I am facing during this program will be the field practica of approximately 20-24 hours per week for 3 semesters. I am concerned that financial constraints may develop during this period of non-paying work. Therefore to prepare for this challenge I am currently saving as much money as possible while working full-time now. I want to be able to be focused on my practica and not financially stressed while trying to concentrate on my studies.I also plan on applying for financial aid so that I can receive assistance to help pay for my living expenses or room and board. I was in a similar situation when I did my internship for my bachelors program except for that required 40 hours a week of unpaid time. I successfully completed that task through the methods mentioned previously so Im confident that everything will work out with this program. When I was a child my parents would always use this quote Where there is a will there is a way and since I am very much willing I know that my faith will lookout me the entire way.