SOCW6202week 2
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Get Help Now!Discussion 2: Gender Sensitivity in Social Work Practice
SOCW 6202 week 2
A. Respond by Day 5 to at least two colleagues with suggestions as to how that person might address his or her identified challenges with APA Style.
APA Writing Tutorial
I found reading through the APA Style: Overview very helpful. I have not used APA since my undergrad program. After reading through that and watching the crash course video there are two things I think I could easily incorporate into my writing. The first one is using the APA template. I have followed one before and found it easy to utilize and implement when I am writing a paper. I like that Walden offers different templates to use for different types of papers. I also like the APA checklist. It has everything listed to follow and will be easy to go back to when I need to cite or put a reference page together. I plan to print that page out so I can utilize it better.
Two challenges I expect to have would be remembering the different types of citations and how to correctly utilize them. Looking at the crash course video I need to look those over again to make sure I include them correctly in my paper. I also need to look at the rules on how often to cite. I have struggled with that before and could see that as another challenge. I have never cited myself in any of my past papers. That is something new that I do not remember from before.
Walden University. (n.d.-b). APA Style. Retrieved June 11, 2013, from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/APA.htm
Two aspects of APA style that I think would be easy for me to incorporate are word choice and general formatting. Whether writing a review or report, I have been utilizing APA format all throughout college. Therefore, I think it would be easy for me to showcase what I have learned in my MSW graduate program. Due to using APA styles in my undergraduate courses, I have never had a problem with general formatting or the basic requirements.
One challenge would be mastering the correct use of in-text citations, proper usage of commas, and footnotes and endnotes if needed. I plan to familiarize myself with them, because there have been some cases when I was unsure. In addition, it is crucial to make sure that all in-text citations are located on the reference page. Often papers have a lot of references, but no in text citations should not be missing. Another challenge would master the majority of the APA style guidelines. However, I could use this website as a guide to prevent using too many citations and proper wording. Word choices could possibly distract the reader and defeat the purpose of the paper. The purpose of the paper is to inform and educate the reader. By familiarizing myself with APA style guidelines that I’m unsure about will help me in this MSW program.
Walden University. (n.d.-b). APA Style. Retrieved June 06, 2017, from
SOCW6101 Week 2 Discussion 1
B. Respond by Day 5 to at least two colleagues by explaining two potential barriers your colleague might face in becoming a culturally competent social worker working with the population your colleague described and offer a skill you might use to overcome each barrier.
Cultural competency is the set of knowledge and skills necessary to be effective when working with multicultural groups (Kirst-Ashman and Hull, 2014, p.29). Before we can develop the competencies we must first be able to identify the diverse cultures that we can serve. While reading our text book I came across a point that will forever be embedded about social workers, that is a social worker must be competent in a wide range of areas instead of being focused only on one area. Even though we may choice a specific area; when there is a person in need we must have the tools on hand to deal with any situation be it refugees, wounded warriors or inner city youth, that is why having cultural competency skills are so valuable.
This week’s discussion is concentrated on the population we chose last week, mine being inner city youth. One of the skills that I believe is important for cultural competency is being able to develop an awareness of personal bias and assumptions. A primary goal of social justice educators is to engage students in a process of self-discovery, with the goal of helping them recognize their own biases, develop empathy, and become better prepared for culturally responsive practice (Negi, Bender, Furman, Fowler & Prickett, 2010, para. 1). Being an older black male I get upset when I see younger black males walking around with their underwear showing. This is a personal bias of mine and I automatic assume that he is a trouble maker, but I have started to see other races dressing the same and I do not think they are trouble makers but sad youth following an ugly trend. I know this is a bias and a stereotype, but it is one that I am aware of so it can be changed. It is this types of biases and stereotypes that leads to statistics like the following: Black students that act out in school are disproportionately labeled troublemakers and/or potentially dangerous, are referred to the office, expelled to disciplinary alternative education schools, and sent to jail or prison more frequently than their White counterparts (Slaten, 2016, para 7). As a social worker I hope to find the cause of not only way there is such a disparity but more importantly I hope to find out why are the kids acting out.
The other skill is I want to understand how stereotypes, discrimination and oppression impacts these youth. “At-Risk” means youth who require temporary or ongoing intervention in order to succeed academically, these youth may find themselves disproportionately involved in the juvenile justice system and alternative educational settings (Slaten, 2016, para 7). From my experience I have notice that a lot of these youth are products of the crack epidemic. Covered with bruises, he was hiding from the monsters that hurt him — his crack-addicted parents (James, 1998, para 4). By getting a better understand of what some of these kids have experienced can help destroy stereotypes and help the social worker to concentrate on a plan of action that will help restore the youth self-worth.
There are going to be a lot of barriers to overcome but knowing my own biases and recognizing stereotypes will make me a better social worker.
References
James, Jennifer (1998). Crack kids: Cocaine’s living legacy. Do it Now Foundation (177). Retrieved from http://www.doitnow.org
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2014). Understanding Generalists Practice (7th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning
Nalini J., N., Kimberly A., B., Rich, F., Dawnovise N., F., & Julia Clark, P. (2010). Enhancing self-awareness: A practical strategy to train culturally responsive social work students. Advances in social work, Vol 11, (2), p 223-234. Edsdoj:1d312fb5503f4f579f2cd065ff4aa94f
Slaten, C. D., & Zalzala, A. (2016). Person-centered educational practices in an urban alternative high school: the Black male perspective. Person-centered & experiential psychotherapies, 19-36.
Cultural Competence is the ability to apply knowledge and skills that social work practice within a diverse group, they include a specific knowledge about the individual cultural, valuing of sensitivity to cultural and awareness of pattern of oppression. (Lum, 2011, NASW, 2007). The skill that I will be discussing will be valuing sensitivity which is a theoretically grounded approach which is design for the technology that accounts for human values in principled and comprehensive. When working with any population you must have a sensitivity to their cultural and values because if you don’t you want be able to meet their needs, and they may become offended and the work plan that you created for them won’t be a success because you weren’t sensitive to their cultural.
The United States is a pluralistic nation that are composed of Native Americans and other immigrants of the different countries, as a social worker you’re going to encounter diverse population and you must be able to look pass your own cultural and morals and values and assist them because you’re their advocate.
The article that I will be discussing will be examining partnership of experience in a community-based research project which involves an interdisciplinary team which is composed of nurses and social work clinical faculty and graduate students. According to this article there is a large emerging of literature that documents the need of a shift towards the community, which illustrate by an increasing focus on the clinical education, services. (Callen & Lee, 2009; Gillis, Mac Lellan, 2010; Kim, 2005; Mucus, et. al. 2010). This article is looking at the experience of nurses and social workers to see how their being effective in a community-based program.
Reference
Bowland, S., Martin, V., (2015). Partnership: A Journal of Services Learning Civic Engagement. Vol. 6 No. 2.
Kirst-Ashman, K., Hull, G., (2015). Understanding Generalist Practice 7th edition, Cengage Learning
SOCW 6101 week2 Discussion2
C. Respond by Day 6 to at least two colleagues by offering one skill you might recommend your colleague use to overcome differences in personal values when working with Eboni given your colleague’s position on teen preganacy and abortion.
During the video the social worker place guilt on Eboni by asking her why she got pregnant. Eboni already seemed confused and by the social worker saying that to her it added to her stress. Also when she asked her did she know who the father was in my opinion was out of line. From my point of view she was insinuating that Eboni slept with a lot of different guys. Finally from what I have learned about counseling body language speaks just as loud as words. When the social worker looked at her with pity it showed that she was ashamed of Eboni.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teenage pregnancy has declined but one in ten new mothers in the United States is a teenager (Pelt, 2012, p. 12). I am not sure if this social worker has ever dealt with this type of issue but she should have made Eboni feel like she had someone to open up with, she probably already feel isolated and alone. The social worker should show concern about her health. Eboni stated she was two months pregnant so the social worker should inquire about hospital visits, she should also give the power back to Eboni about the decision of what to do. I believe that she should also be supportive because one risk factor that teenage mothers face is mental health issues. Eboni can become depressed and suffer from anxiety because of the recent increase in responsible and thinking about the future. Eboni seems like she is a track star but being pregnant might limit her chance of continuing to participate in that sport.
I believe that a woman has a choice of what to do with her body, so I would try to empower Eboni to make her own decision. I would listen to what she has to say and try to support whatever decision she make. I would not be judgmental but a pillar to lean on when she needs. Eboni already seems to be feeling powerless, torn between what her mother and father wants her to do. A proficient social worker would help Eboni establish who she is and what is best for her (Kirst-Ashman and Hull, 2014, p. 481). As for my own bias with this situation it is all directed towards the father who we have not met. I know Eboni have not told him yet, but I would need to know what he was planning on doing, being a man and standing with her or being a boy and running away.
References
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2014). Understanding Generalists Practice (7th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Van Pelt, J. (2012). Keeping Teen Moms in School — A School Social Work Challenge. Social Work Today (12) 2, 24.
In my opinion, the social worker was extremely judgmental. First and foremost, the social worker asked too many irrelevant and personal questions such as “who is the father” and “how many months are you”. Social workers are supposed to show sympathy and empathy when working with their clients regardless if it’s on the micro, mezzo, or macro level. The social worker did not appear to be very knowledgeable of what is considered ethical and unethical in social work practice. The social worker obviously assumed Ebony sleeps with multiple by men by asking who fathered the child. This is what you may call having preconceived notions about some one. In the field of social work you have to be extremely careful to not form any opinions about clients without gathering all of the information beforehand. Even then, a true social worker will not place judgment even if he or she does not agree with decisions client(s) have made. Body language and facial expressions play an essential role in communication. It was clear to see that the social worker did not show sympathy or empathy for Ebony but more so of disappointment based on her facial expressions. Ebony reached out to the social worker because she was confused and needs guidance from a competent professional (Kirst-Ashman& Hull, 2014). The social worker placed certain expectations on Ebony simply because she is young and a female which is in my opinion highly unethical.
Although I did not have my first and only child until the age of 28, I am not a fan of teen pregnancy. However as a social worker my job is to assist the client with making the best decision for her life. My job as the social worker is to be supportive and non judgmental. As the social worker working with Ebony, we will seek out the best resources that may help her with her situation whether she decides to keep the child or have an abortion. As far as abortions, I’ve always been pro-choice until I gained a more spiritual connection with the Creator. So these days I’m against abortion however I won’t / can’t let my personal/religious views influence how I work with my clients as a helping professional. I have been working in the field of social work for seven years and I have had my share of cases where my clients did not meet my personal expectations of what and/or how a man/woman should be, however I’ve never judged nor have I ever made my clients feel less than. It is imperative to become knowledgeable of the NASW Code of Ethics.
