Category: Social Work

Introduction

Just like any other field in social sciences, Social Work has been marked by the influence of various personalities. People like Achmat Zackie, Alexander the Great, Altman Dennis, Anne (Queen of England), Anthony Susan B. Apuzzo, Virginia, Arden Elizabeth, Atherton John, and Baden Powel have left great impacts in the field of social work. However, this paper focuses on the life of Jane Addams, the daughter of John Adams, a former politician of the United States.

Biography of Jane Addams

Jane Adams was born in Cedarville in the State of Illinois into a successful and large family in the north. By the time she was eight years, four of her siblings had died. She was not brought up by her mother because she passed away when Jane was two years old.

Like most children, she had most of her childhood spent reading indoors, playing outdoors, and attending church service and Sunday school. At age four, she was attacked by Pottss disease (tuberculosis of the spine). This made her back curve and she also had other health complications. The curvature made her have lower self-esteem because she thought of herself as being ugly.

As a child, she loved her father greatly. This is portrayed in the stories she wrote in her (1910) memoir; Twenty years at hull house. It was her fathers wish that she pursues higher education near home. He, therefore, enrolled her at Rockford Female Seminary currently called Rockford College in Illinois. In 1881 she completed her studies at the college earning herself a college certificate. Her father died the same year and her family members moved to Philadelphia where she joined Womans College to satisfy her medical career dreams. However, this dream was not fulfilled because she dropped out along the way due to health problems originating from the curvature in her back.

She passed away on 12th May 1935.

Social Welfare Policy That the Jane Adams Influenced

Brown (2003) says that at a very early age, Jane Adams had wanted to do great things in the world. Her dreams were big right away from her teenage years. She had a great interest in the poor and this was motivated by her mothers generosity in Cedarville. Thinking of democracy as a social principle inspired her greatly. However, being a woman, she was not sure of her role in enhancing the same. Nevertheless, she felt that it was not right for women to be put under pressure to marry and focus their attention on their children and husband. Looking at her surroundings, she realized that as a result of social problems like immigration, urbanization, and industrialization, there was a need to come up with a solution for settlement. Jane Addams initiated the formation of the Hull-House Reform Movement to look into residential problems around Hull-House. The group created settlement houses for densely populated urban centers for immigrants from Russia, Greece, Italy, Germany, Mexico, etc. The group also provided daycare facilities and kindergartens for mothers who were working. The complex extended to also provide employment bureaus, libraries, art galleries, classes for English and citizenry, museums, art and music classes among another extended array of events of culture.

The settlement house strategy as a solution to the housing problem was adopted throughout America and Europe. It was seen as an internal solution to settlement problems for urban residents because it allowed the government to serve the public through the people who lived within the community.

Furthermore, the people got skills through the strategy, which empowered them to help themselves, and this increased sustainability of the program.

Murrin, Johnson, and McPherson (2008) say that the group further initiated projects like the Juvenile Protective Association, Immigrants Protective League, Juvenile Court, and Juvenile Psychopathic Clinic. The group also put pressure on legislators to create laws that protected children and women and this took place in 1893. Through the groups efforts, the Federal Children Bureau and the Passing of the Federal Child Labor Laws had taken place by 1916.

Jane Addams also wrote a lot of books and articles on the activities connected to Hull-House. She also spoke actively, locally, and internationally on various topics related to social welfare.

In the years around the beginning of the First World War, she greatly campaigned against the war and lobbied other women to support her cause. Her peace movements across nations were channeled towards attempting to prevent the war. Jane Addamss peace campaigns were carried out through the Womens Peace Party which converted to Women International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) formed in 1919 with her as the first president.

Her influence in society was marked by legislation on child and women protection which she campaigned for in writing and speech, the settlement solution to poor urban dwellers as well as her peace movements, she was the first American woman to be awarded a Nobel Peace Price in 1931.

Conclusion

Jane Addams is celebrated for living a life directed towards society development, children and women protection, and empowerment of the poor. Her ideas continue to dominate economic, social, and political reforms not only in America but also across the world over.

References

Brown, V.B. (2003). The Education of Jane Addams. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Printing Press.

Murrin, J.M., P.E. Johnson, & J.M. McPherson (2008). Liberty, Equality, Power. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

This weeks case is focused on the psychological struggles of Michael Brown, a 17-year old African-American male. The social worker analyzed and attempted to understand the environment of the client from different perspectives. With the assumption that understanding a client cannot be considered in isolation, the social worker paid attention to how Michaels life circumstances, his social, physical, and cultural environment shaped his perspective on the world.

The social worker incorporated the life model approach into the ecological perspective by analyzing the main stressors that caused the clients depression. Namely, significant stressors such as difficult life transitions and dysfunctional transactions played an essential role in Michaels attempt to develop while maintaining person: environment fit (Teater, 2014). The social worker implemented the life model approach in four stages: first, in the preparatory stage, the social worker attempted to get to know the client and his environment (Teater, 2014).

Secondly, in the Initial: getting started stage, the client shared his experiences, and the social worker expressed empathy while remaining non-judgmental (Teater, 2014). At this stage, the worker and client identified main stressors and goals to address them. Thirdly, the Ongoing: working towards the goal phase characterized Michaels finding a school and job, a new apartment, and working on his feelings about his mother and siblings (Teater, 2014). Finally, in the Ending stage, the social worker and client evaluated the achievements (Teater, 2014). Thus, the author incorporated the life model approach with an ecological perspective to analyze the clients interaction and interdependence with other aspects of his environment.

The case presents a situation in which pressures from different environments intersected and affected each other negatively. Michael struggled to connect with the school socially as he did not understand its usefulness (Teater, 2014). Although his relationship with the foster family and CPS workers was good, he missed his siblings who lived in different foster families (Teater, 2014). The client was isolated from his foster family in a physical environment and had limited contact with them (Teater, 2014). Lastly, since he left his siblings, Michal felt that he did not meet the cultural expectations of being a leader and caretaker (Teater, 2014). He also had to take care of himself and become independent, for which he did not feel prepared (Teater, 2014). Hence, these different environments intersected and caused Michael to feel as if everything was meaningless to him and that there were no prospects.

Reference

Teater, B. (2014). Social work practice from an ecological perspective. In C.W. LeCroy (Ed.), Case studies in social work practice (3rd ed., pp. 35-44). Wiley.

Management practices and their specifics have always been a core component of the organizational culture, and the two are largely intertwined. As it evolved throughout the years, so did the methods of supervision across companies. Ways in which ones work is supervised can be a significant influence on productivity, engagement, and overall level of satisfaction at the workplace. In this essay, I aim to discuss which organizational culture would allow me to thrive professionally and perform at the top of my abilities, and which would stifle me. Furthermore, I will characterize the supervision style I find the most effective and list three questions I would initiate on the job interview to determine the quality of the supervision.

Organizational culture is the concept generally used to characterize the way different processes are maintained and perceived within the firm. It affects multiple levels aspects, including organizational traditions, ideology, day-to-day rituals, values, and professional jargon. It develops upon the combination of assumptions and unspoken rules a group of colleagues has developed for themselves and can be frequently perceived as common knowledge within the company. Generally, researchers define 4 existing types of the organizational culture: clan, hierarchy, adhocracy, and market.

Personally, I believe the clan culture would allow me to perform in the organization the most effective. Its core values are commitment, communication and mutual development, and this type of culture rewards the spirit of camaraderie and collaboration in the daily tasks. It would allow me to develop facilitation skills and engage in teamwork on a daily basis, getting access to the multiple perspectives of my colleagues. In the contrast, the market culture seems the most stifling to me. Although its orientation to productivity can certainly lead to extremely efficient work performances, its encouragement of inner rivalry could in the long run decrease my level of commitment. Despite the certain competition is undoubtedly beneficial for the quality of the output, I find it disheartening and counterproductive when this approach is promoted culturally and affects daily interactions.

The question of which professional supervision is the most effective in social work and in other occupations, in general, has been a point of debate over the recent years. I believe it to be a case where each particular workers skills and psychology are what make the difference. Supervision is a management tool, and like any other tool, it cannot be strictly effective or ineffective and is determined by who uses it and how. The four main models of supervision include authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and neglectful, defined by their positions on the scales of the levels of demand and cooperation.

I find the authoritative model to be the best suited for my needs as an employee, as it combines a demanding work rhythm with a highly cooperative leadership style. This supervision model provides the worker with a sufficient amount of control to stay on schedule and achieve goals efficiently and in a timely manner. However, at the same time, it encourages co-operation and swift productive feedback from the management team. Arguably, a highly demanding work environment is essential for consistently excellent performance, I would need consistent communication with my superiors to keep growing as an employee. In terms of style, I find the more open and spontaneous communication style with the supervisor to be preferable over the strictly determined one. It allows for more freedom in general, but, most importantly, leads to clearer and more honest feedback and advice when proceeding with difficult projects.

Furthermore, I believe it to be more effective when dealing with the diverse workforce of modern organizations. Cultural competence and ethical sensitivity are required to deliver effective supervision in a company that allows many individuals from different backgrounds to work together (Lusk et al., 2017). Relatively informal communication is better suited for this goal, while work process integrity can be maintained through consistent attention to deadlines and targets. To achieve this type and quality of supervision in my workplace I could utilize the internal feedback programs if I felt the companys supervision practices were restrictive or unresponsive.

Frequently, employment interviews provide candidates with an opportunity to learn almost as much about the company they are entering, as the company learns about them. However, one has to take initiative for this to happen, and therefore I came up with three questions related to the supervision in organizations. First, I would ask how frequently, if ever, feedback sessions between employees and team leaders are being held. Second, I would enquire about the vertical communication style of the company and how much formality it entails. Finally, I would ask how the onboarding process for the newcomers is structured in the organization, as it is often implemented by the current or future supervisors. My rationale for these questions would be to get a general idea of the organizational culture and supervision style of the company. These are the crucial parts of the internal environment, and I find it beneficial to familiarize myself with those in advance to perform at the top of my abilities.

Reference

Lusk, M., Terrazas, S. & Salcido, R. (2017). Critical Cultural Competence in Social Work Supervision. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance. Web.

Letter to Congress Representative

The following letter is meant for Cory Booker, one of the two New Jersey senators, regarding the escalation of gun violence in New Jersey.

Dear Senator, Cory Booker,

I am writing to draw your attention to the escalating incidences of gun violence in New Jersey. According to recent statistics, 44% of Americans indicate that they know someone who has been victimized by a firearm (Vargas, 2019). Another 23% report that a weapon has been used to intimidate and threaten them or a family member (Vargas, 2019). In New Jersey, police reports reveal a 19% spike in gun-related incidences compared to 2019 (Santana, 2020). For instance, in the first week of July, 39 shooting incidences were reported, resulting in the deaths of 13 people (Santana, 2020). Consequently, residents of New Jersey are increasingly becoming afraid of engaging in outdoor activities, which reflects the adverse social implication of the gun menace (Cook & Ludwig, 2019). Studies indicate that tighter gun laws are directly related to fewer firearm death rates (See fig. 1). Despite the implementation of policies concerning gun violence, the state requires your input and additional efforts through Congress to formulate and enact more progressive gun-control measures.

With gun-related deaths escalating by the day in New Jersey, the legislation and enforcement of sensible gun laws, which amplify the effectiveness of the existing framework, are the immediate short-term solutions. While the traditional approaches have focused on regulated gun purchases, the existing loopholes have been exploited and aggravated by the absence of a strategic ban of dangerous weaponry from the market. Additionally, individuals with questionable profiles identified through mundane crimes, such as altercations and intimidation, should be prohibited from purchasing guns. The approach taken by this legislation proposal is predicated on the statistical evidence, where the prevention of ordinary aggressions ultimately translates to the eventual decline in gun-related hostilities (Cook & Pollack, 2017). The subsequent law should focus on eradicating military-class firearms from the public, inculcating gun safety culture, and recognizing that firearm brutality is a preventable public health crisis. The formulation and enactment of these two elaborate laws can drastically reduce gun violence incidences in New Jersey and avert an impending crisis.

Please consider the challenge of gun violence as an emergency with devastating social, psychological, and financial implications on New Jersey residents. Look forward to your response on the matter.

Sincerely,

[Students Name]

Explanation

The United States is the leading country with the most privately-held guns globally. Statistics reveal that for every 100 persons, there are 101 guns, resulting in the daily loss of approximately 32 lives (Jehan et al., 2018). Apart from the deaths and incurred injuries in gun-related incidences, the U.S. health system is under immense pressure, and the annual economic burden is high. Additionally, the psychological, economic, and social turmoil triggered by firearm hostilities weighs heavily on the affected communities. From this perspective, firearm hostility is a major public concern whose detrimental impacts are almost impossible to enumerate. Therefore, the government should exploit all avenues to address the gun issue effectively.

Gun-related incidences directly increase social workers burden, exacerbate the current shortage, and hamper efficient service delivery. Many people are affected by the shootings, and others are forced to live with the chronic impacts of the injuries, including mental health challenges or even permanent disabilities. Additionally, the victims families and the community suffer lasting effects, which cumulatively erode their overall health and increase their dependence on social workers. Moreover, the youths exposure to violent gun incidences compounds their adverse childhood experiences, enhances the likelihood of social risk factors, substance abuse, mental health challenges, and promotes the adoption of dangerous adult behaviors. The cyclic nature of these situations frustrates social workers efforts in supporting shooting victims and their families to heal from the traumatic and psychological experiences of shootings. Therefore, the growing prevalence of firearm-related hostilities results in declining mental health among Americans since they eternally live under the fear of violence and the associated ramifications.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, is an ardent believer in developing innovative and unconventional legislation to address the gun menace in the United States. During the Democratic Party presidential nomination campaigns, he revealed a 14-point plan, which was ranked as the most progressive gun-control intervention in the United States (Corasaniti, 2019). Bookers fire-arm licensing recommendation, the ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and the sealing of gun purchasing loopholes is a comprehensive suggestion that captures the gravity of gun violence. Cory lives in Newark, one of the worst-hit cities which struggles with daily firearm aggressions. Moreover, his recommendations do not intend to breach the Americans right to bear arms provided by the constitution but eliminate gaps in the existing laws and remove destructive weapons from civilians. Thus, Booker is the right candidate for the gun proposal.

Although previous gun control interventions have been considerably successful, firearm incidences are rampant across the United States. Comprehensive proposals which integrate law enforcement and minimize weapon availability would substantially reduce and prevent gun violence. By advancing the existing provisions to enhance their effectiveness, the proposed approach ensures that all aspects of the Second Amendment are preserved. Further, the strategy corresponds with New Jerseys realities, where residents express their growing anxiety and fear of engaging in outdoor activities for fear of being shot. Bookers robust proposals support the safe and responsible use and ownership of firearms, meaning that he is the right candidate to present this proposal to Congress.

References

Cook, P., & Ludwig, J. (2019). Understanding gun violence: The contribution of a public health framework. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 38(3), 787-787. 

Cook, P., & Pollack, H. (2017). Reducing access to guns by violent offenders. The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, 3(5), 2. 

Corasaniti, N. (2019). Cory Booker on gun control. The New York Times. 

Jehan, F., Pandit, V., OKeeffe, T., Azim, A., Jain, A., Tai, S.A., Tang, A., Khan, M., Kulvatunyou, N., Gries, L., & Joseph, B. (2018). The burden of firearm violence in the United States: Stricter laws result in safer states. Journal of Injury & Violence Research, 10(1), 11-16. Web.

Kriss, C., Mastro, D., & Mister, M. (2015). West Virginias lax gun laws contribute to violence statewide. Mountaineer News Service. Web.

Santana, R. (2020). Increase in gun violence seen throughout New Jersey. NJ Spotlight News. Web.

Vargas, E. W. (2019). Gun violence in America: A state-by-state analysis. Center for American Progress. Web.

Appendix

While conducting social experiments, it is essential to gather accurate data. However, there are several factors that may interfere with this process and threaten the credibility of the information. First of all, the term of internal validity should be defined; researchers note that it is a component, according to which the results are attributable to the independent variable (Rubin & Babbie, 2016, p. 273). There are a number of elements that should be taken into account while conducting research since they are considered threats to internal validity. One of them is selection bias, which is an error that takes place in cases where the participants in the research do not represent the target population. For example, it can occur when a researcher calculates the outcomes of the trial and excludes those who decided to drop out of the experiment. However, their results should also be in the study since they represent the target population that had no benefits because of an intervention or a program discussed in the study.

In addition, while evaluating the outcomes of the social experiments, the investigators can encounter some practical pitfalls, including fidelity of the intervention, contamination of the control condition, resistance to the case assignment protocol, client recruitment and retention (Rubin & Babbie, 2016, p. 212). Nevertheless, there are methods that can help to avoid such mistakes. For example, it would be helpful to monitor the work of agency staff. It should be done in order to control the proper implementation of all protocols regarding the study. Moreover, conducting a pilot study is also beneficial since it can help to discover initial mistakes of the research and to mitigate them before the main one.

Reference

Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. (2016). Essential research methods for social work (4th ed.). Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning

Introduction

Once the problem of stigmatization is identified, it is necessary to develop strategies for eliminating it. Unfortunately, the stigma around social welfare programs is strong on the micro (self), meso (family, society, institutions), and macro (cultural) levels (Grand Challenges for Social Work, 2020). The approach to stigma elimination should be complex, focused on each of the levels mentioned above. Thus, it is essential to involve social workers in helping people deal with the stereotypes they encounter.

Main body

Social workers interact closely with the stigmatized people and can effectively integrate their professional knowledge in the stigma management process. As it was mentioned above, each level of stigmatization should be targeted in order to solve the issue in the long run. It means implementing inter-disciplinary measures, including psychology, public health, the legal system, economics, and other important disciplines, including social work.

Social workers are particularly trained to assist individuals, families, and certain social groups to cope with issues they encounter and improve their quality of life. When encountering social stereotyping and stigmatization among the poor, social workers are there first to identify the level-based structuring of the issue (Grand Challenges for Social Work, 2020). Then they suggest a system of complex actions that include working on the individuals self-isolation coming out of the conflict between the persons position in the society and the societys standards.

Conclusion

To conclude, social workers play a crucial role in stigma management. They communicate with people who need help, identify levels of stigmatization, and propose effective strategies to work on eliminating both the welfare programs stigma among the society and the consequences it brings to each individual. Whatever the social worker decides to implement, they should never forget about integrating comprehensive solutions into their practice.

Reference

Grand Challenges for Social Work. (2020). Reducing the impact of stigma. Web.

Introduction

The management of stress is a fundamental attribute for all workers throughout the globe. The free and undistracted mind is able to facilitate and accommodate working conditions by implementing strategies to relieve stress. Essentially, extroverts are able to live social lives by making friends who can solve problems, provide company, and uphold personal diligence. In this regard, this essay evaluates how social workers are able to benefit from the management of stress.

Skills versus Income

The figure above shows the benefits accorded to the social workers in respects to their state and occupation. Social workers are able to share their problems with other people and seek resolutions. Such people work hard through stress-free conditions facilitating the discovery of new ideas and the development of the prevailing ones.

Researchers argue that distracted minds often deviate from the right and normal working conditions (Atherton, 2009). These distractions motivate the worker to reduce the period of working, which minimizes financial outcomes. Furthermore, social workers manage to attract other people around them. In such cases, social workers pull many customers and bring larger income because the patients are able to approach them.

Income

The social workers earn from helping couples and families solve various issues within their relationship. In fact, organizations have been created to help social workers in developing their skills in order to help other people.

They hold a public meeting to help people in managing stress. Essentially, social workers assist other people to pass through their difficulties by providing company and counsel. Since there are many people experiencing such issues within the globe, these workers have attained enormous relevance within the globe where they benefit financially.

Public and Personal Counseling

In another dimension, social workers are employed by the government in order to deliver their skills and render them useful to the public. The receive insurances, job security, salaries, and resources that facilitate successful lives.

These people are able to advocate the less fortunate and vulnerable community, which prevents risks. They also benefit from using their skills to solve their personal issues that can affect their normal process. Furthermore, they take pride since they help other people to manage their stress.

Solution against Demises

Essentially, social workers make a difference in the lives of many people. They prevent suicides and curb the possibilities of negative happenings in the lives of other people. There is an intense demand for people delivering such services where employers are seeking them.

These range from the hospitals where people are affected mentally or need professional assistance to cope with some problems. They are also needed by the armed forces and many other government agencies where people need assistance.

Expansion of Employment opportunities

Some researchers argue that the social worker has tight schedules. However, this aspect is not always the case since such social workers as clinicians attend the normal schedules. In fact, the demand has allowed many people to take the course in order to become professionals working on alternating schedules.

Furthermore, the demand for social workers is expected to rise by 25% by 2020 (Atherton, 2009). The need for these workers has shown great improvement in the mental health fields, schools, families, and children, among many other fields.

New Skills for Free

Some employers consider re-educating their social workers in order to develop their capabilities and improve their skills (Evans, Huxley, & Munroe, 2011). They orient the workers to make them aware of the issue apparent within their area. This aspect benefits the worker by providing additional skills for free. This orientation is accompanied by appraisals and promotions that facilitate professional development through motivation. Other forms of benefits include; healthy and flexible working, leisure, affordable housing, and season ticket loans.

Conclusion

It is, therefore, apparent that the knowledge of stress management benefits social workers in various ways. The most significant benefits involve finances, security, personal health, and community advantages where everyone, including the social workers, avoids violence.

References

Atherton, C. (2009). Book Review: Stress in Social Work. International Social Work, 13(23), 97-98.

Evans, S., Huxley, P., & Munroe, M. (2011). International Recruitment of Social Care Workers And Social Workers: Illustrations From The Uk. The Hong Kong Journal of Social Work, 7(3), 93-93.

Description of the Agency referred to and the roles and functions of social workers

Scott is a young Russian boy who suffers from autism. He has communication problems with his peers. He has poor social skills and thus unable to interact with fellow students at school. Several social agencies can address Scotts problem. For example, the School of Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) is one of the agencies that can help Scott to develop his social skills.

The SSWAA will benefit Scott in terms of improved social skills, creativity, emotional control, and flexibility. The School has two social workers- Libby Nealis and Myrna Mandlawitz- who promote the interests of the families and children (like Scott) enrolled in the SSWAA in Washington DC. Scott stands to benefit from this School because the SSWAA has effective education programs used to train its social workers on how to improve their professional skills so that they can assist children which social problems (Streek, 2009, p. 6).

The Social Work Podcast is another social agency that has well train trained social workers who can help Scotts parents to learn how to take care of Scott. According to Ruth McRoy, the current Social Work Podcast runs several programs that address adoption cases in the US. The agency helps families manage children adopted from another race or culture. Thus, the Social Work Podcast is the right agency that Scotts parents can use to address the social problems of their adopted son.

According to Eileen Flanagan, a social worker at the agency, the Social Work Podcast runs several programs to educate social workers on how to address social problems such as suicide; stigma; cognitive- behavior therapy; and autism. Scotts parents should thus consider hiring a social worker from this agency to help their son (Social Work Podcast, 2011, p.6). Craig Winston Lecroy, one of the social workers at the agency, states that the agency helps children with social problems (such as Scott) learn how to interact with their parents, peers, tutors and other people. The social workers at this agency will thus employ behavior modification guidelines to help Scott improve his social skills at school and home (Social Work Podcast, 2011, p.9).

The importance of the conscious use of self, empathy, and tuning in

Most social workers face social dilemmas especially when they have to determine whether their actions are ethical or right, in light of their professional engagements (Mattison, 2000, p.201). Granted, social workers strive to uphold values that guide their professional decisions. For example, a social worker must make a decision on the optimal treatment method to be administered to a client by making relative comparisons of the merits and demerits of other treatment options at his disposal. The ultimate treatment strategy selected should be in harmony with the ethics of the profession that are used to guide the professional conduct of the social worker (Mattison, 2000, p.202).

The response by a social worker to an ethical dilemma is base on two scenarios: first, whether there is a confluence between the standard ethical practices and the ethical issue at hand; and the ability of the worker to comprehend the current ethical issue he faces. The gist of ethical practice is grounded on the knowledge of the worker concerning precise ethical practices that guide his decision-making process when dealing with a client. A social worker cannot randomly decide an ethical issue. His action depends on the factors and circumstances related to the client, the nature of the ethical problem and the stipulated process (Mattison, 2000, p.203). There are several perspectives that a social worker can use to guide his engagements with a client.

For example, the system perspective can be used to determine the likely outcomes of a given course of intervention. Thus, the main tenet of this approach is that the outcome of the suggested course of action ultimately determines the action plan. This means that an action plan will be highly favored if it results in a desirable outcome. Consequently, an ethical decision is preferred based on its outcome. However, this theory is in stark contrast to the deontological approach which demands that an ethical decision should be made based on the strict conventional moral guidelines. This school of thought is based on the tenet that is deemed to be right or wrong irrespective of its outcome. Thus, a social worker is compelled to observe ethical rules when dealing with a client regardless of the outcome. The ethical rules are thus rigid in all circumstances (Mattison, 2000, p.204).

Social workers are aware their clients have legal rights to self-determination and confidentiality. These should always be the guiding principles when they engage with their clients (Mattison, 2000, p.204). For example, a social worker selected to help Scott must weigh his decision to reveal confidential information about the boy to his parents against the legal and ethical obligations of his profession. Thus, the social worker must weigh and determine the likely courses of actions and the outcomes of his choices before making a decision (Mattison, 2000, p.207).

Main issues in the clients system that the social worker must address

A strength-based approach is an important strategy that a social worker must use when preparing for the first session with a client suffering from a mental illness such as Scott. A social worker must employ this approach when assessing the client in terms of his abilities, competencies, hopes, and values irrespective of how they may be twisted by the mental illness. The social worker must integrate the strength-based approach to understand what the victim of mental disorder is able or not able to accomplish.

The worker must adopt an objective opinion and be receptive to what the client tells him. Usually, the officially recommended language and lexicons used in social therapy programs may limit the ability of social workers to understand and help a client with a mental illness. It is thus vital that the worker adjusts according to the abilities of the client and communicate in a manner that the victim will be able to express his thoughts in an effective way (Saleebey, 1996, p.297).

Social workers must learn how to help a client to develop an optimistic conviction about his prospects of recovery. Thus, the worker must develop an enabling environment that will convince his client that his mental conditions can be corrected. Also, human emotions are known to be an important ingredient in the healing process. When a victim develops positive emotions about his prospects of recovery, his bodys healing abilities are boosted (Saleebey, 1996, p.301).

The strength-based approach focuses on two aspects: the ability of a client to initiate a self-healing process; and the need for a communal support that foster an optimistic view about the prospect of a better life. It is thus vital social workers help victims learn about their conditions so that they can express themselves effectively. The task for the helper is to assist the client (such as Scott) to develop social skills, invent the plot and deal with the prejudices they experience in the society they live in.

Also, the social worker must use the strength-based approach to connect with the client on terms. The helper must be ready to meet directly with the victim of mental disorder and to take part in a beneficial discussion. The social worker must make an effort to share knowledge, concerns, hopes, tools, and respect with his patient. This process of sharing knowledge should be done on a collaborative basis because the ability of the victim to express his thoughts and desires marks the first step towards the healing process (Saleebey, 1996, p.303).

The strengths apparent in the client system

It has been established, through the community empowerment model, that mentally deprived victims have an inborn knowledge and flexibility that can be utilized to achieve individual desires and enhance community vigor. The model postulates that each person (client) has innate wisdom, resilience, health, positive motivation and intelligence that can be accessed via support, education, and motivation. The aims of community empowerment and health realization is to reengage the client to their innate health then guide them in helping other members of the community to realize their health.

The outcome is a transformation in individuals and communities that develops from within. This thesis is based on the assumption that individuals (like Scott) do possess inherent abilities for rebound and restitution. It further states that individuals with emotional problems such as Scott can be assisted to overcome their conditions by developing conviction based on the values and prospects of renewal. Thus, the community empowerment model proposes that resilience and health as community schemes, an outcome of communal relation, the cumulative dream, and the reality of being part of the community (Saleebey, 1996, p.301).

The initial process of engagement with the client

The social worker selected to assist Scott should start the engagement process by explaining to the boy how he came to know about the case and who referred it to him. The social worker must also share with Scott his opinion about the reason for this first contact and discuss with the boy how he can be of help in the consequent sessions. Thus, the social worker should make an effort to develop a rapport that will facilitate productive communication with the client.

This is especially vital because it encourages Scott to share his experiences and attend subsequent sessions without any form of inhibition. By developing a good rapport, the social worker will be able to convince his client that he is interested in his welfare. Also, the social worker must address other factors that may hamper effective communications such as ethnicity, race, gender and sexual inclinations (Social Work, n.d., p.35).

There are several characteristics exhibited by involuntary clients (such as Scott). To begin with, they consider themselves to be well and thus do not need any help. However, social workers with enormous skills and experience are usually able to surpass the initial resistance by the involuntary clients thus giving credence to the tenets of the system theory which postulates that motivation is directly affected when s social worker and client interact.

In some cases, the client may accept that he has a problem but inactive during engagement sessions waiting for the social worker to solve all his problems. This poses a seemingly impossible task to the helper. One useful strategy that the social worker can employ is to expressively state the clients problem and make out all efforts the client is putting in action to solve the problem. This strategy will serve as a motivation for the client to take an active role during the sessions (Social Work, n.d., p.35).

During engagement sessions, the social workers can also enhance the self-efficacy of his client. It has been noted that self-efficacy is a powerful tool that enhances the healing process of the client. A social worker can employ this strategy by helping his client in implementing certain manners that are a precondition to attaining their objectives. Moreover, the social worker must endeavor to congratulate his client whenever he makes a small positive step towards attaining set objectives. Self-efficacy can also be boosted by the clients family members and friends.

For example, the social worker can teach the family how to help the child accomplish his tasks and giving the child credit for carrying out the task successfully. Motivation can also be perceived concerning phases of change. A client may sometimes be in the pre-contemplation phase which means that he is not aware of his illness. A client can also be in a contemplation phase when he knows his problem but does not know remedial options available. In this case, the social worker can assist the client to survey options available to treat his condition (Social Work, n.d., p.36).

Therefore, social workers must tap into the innate motivation of the client and help persons who readily admit they have a problem but are not willing to work towards solving it. Social workers must, therefore, offer relevant information to the prospective clients concerning the benefits to be reaped from the engagement sessions. Other efforts entail recognizing the types of clients issues that the agency and social workers can help alleviate, the rights of the clients such as confidentiality and situations which may warrant their violation and information concerning the type of conduct to expect from the client and the social worker.

A social worker must also reveal empathy while engaging with the client. This is an important element during the engagement sessions since the client will know that the social worker understands what he feels. The client is motivated even further to be open and share his deep feeling with the social worker. When the client is more willing to share his deep feelings, the social worker can understand the situation of the client and the role played by emotions concerning their abilities and difficulties. This implies that the ability of the social worker to communicate effectively will boost the relationship between the client and the social worker; and create an environment where the client is free to share his experiences (Hepworth, 2008, p.36).

References

Hepworth, D (2008). Direct Social Work Practise: Theory and Skills. Canada: Cengage learning. Inc.

Mattison, M. (2000). Ethical Decision Making: The Pearson in the Process. Social Work, 45(3), 201-212.

Saleebey, D. (1996). The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice: Extensions and Cautions. Social Work, 41(3), 296-305.

Social Work Podcast. (2011). Web.

Streek, F. (2009). School Social Work Association of America. Web.

Introduction

The postulates of the formal theory never change from the perspective of their relation to the world. In this way, regardless of a situation under consideration, the theory for explaining it is always the same. So, it is complicated to apply basic theory to a dynamically changing behavior and explaining modern crises because of its non-movement. Therefore, the opportunities for interpreting behaviors and crises are static and limited because there is only one viable explanation of the world and no other interpretations are accepted and recognized (France, 2015).

Analysis

In this way, there is a significant difference between a dynamic and non-moving theory. For instance, even though there are different contributors to the crisis theory, its primary postulates remain the same, but they are supplemented with dozens of new nuances. From this perspective, the desire to work on developing new details and making the traditional theory more complex, thus creating variances, makes the theory dynamic. More than that, the application of new nuances to the analysis of different situations and crises as well turns the theory into a dynamic one because it evolves with the world and common behavioral patterns. So, the creation of the new material on the theory is what makes it dynamic (James & Gilliland, 2016). On the other hand, in case of applying only traditional and basic postulates to estimating varying situations without making an effort to modernize a theory makes it static. It means that no new material is generated. So, the primary difference between non-moving and dynamic crisis theory is the relation of its postulates to the world  whether they evolve with the emergence of new crises or remain unchanged.

From the abovementioned perspective, it is complicated to perceive a static theory as an adaptive one. So, in case of the emergence of new crises, the development of a new theory or supplement to the existing theory is needed. However, to work on them, time and resources are critical, while people require instantaneous help in order to cope with the crisis. Think, for example, of September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This crisis resulted in a series of studies focusing on the effectiveness of different crisis theory postulates. Here, it is essential to mention that numerous details were added to the theory because of the novelty of the crisis that resulted in delays in treatment (Yeager & Roberts, 2015). On the other hand, recall other terrorist attacks that occurred after the 2001 crisis (for instance, 2013 bombings in Boston, Massachusetts). Even though the number of victims was significantly lower compared to the first example, this time, social workers had a well-developed approach to addressing the consequences of the crisis, including group treatment, interagency cooperation, and detailed guidelines and protocols for actions (Yeager & Roberts, 2015).

Conclusion

That said, it is paramount to work on developing the crisis theory in order to improve the ways of treating major crises and making them more progressive and effective. Of course, it is impossible to foresee some disasters. Nevertheless, preserving static postulates is connected to increased risks due to potentially critical delays in providing help to those in need.

References

France, K. (2015). Crisis intervention: A handbook of immediate person-to-person help. Springfield, MO: Charles C. Thomas Publisher.

James, R., & Gilliland, B. (2016). Crisis intervention strategies. New York, NY: Cengage Learning.

Yeager, K. R., & Roberts, A. R. (2015). Crisis intervention handbook: Assessment, treatment, and research. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Social workers seek to empower people and communities in their everyday lives. Unfortunately, the field has garnered a reputation for being a noble but dreary profession. As a result, a leadership crisis currently besets the social work labor market. Experienced leaders in nonprofit administration are abandoning the field. Watson and Hoefer (2016) hypothesize that the negative representation of social work by academics is contributing to the current crisis in leadership. Watson and Hoefer (2016) argue that it is necessary to inform students about the joy of social work administration to attract new talent to the field.

Firstly, the paper outlines the current state of the social work market. The present challenges affecting nonprofit administration include high educational requirements, lack of funding, lack of research and evidence-based programs, and a leadership crisis. Social workers are expected to advocate for marginalized groups, navigate complex moral situations, and deal with a bulwark of bureaucracy. Watson and Hoefer (2016) argue that graduate-level classes in social work administration focus too much on emphasizing the hardships of the profession, which fosters reluctance in students to work in the nonprofit sector. To overcome this problem, principles of positive organizational psychology should be applied in teaching administration. Academics must warn students of the challenges of social work but also focus on its joyful elements.

Secondly, the design and method of the experiment are presented. To conduct a study on the joy of social work administration, Watson and Hoefer (2016) first define joy as the self-confidence that comes from fulfilled potential and free expression of feelings. Over three semesters, graduate-level students in an Advanced Administration class conducted 20 interviews with a human service organizations executive director or administrator (Watson & Hoefer, 2016).

They came from organizations such as school service programs, home health agencies, adoption agencies, and mental health clinics. The basic question posed to every interviewee was: What, if anything, brings you joy in your work as a human services administrator? (Watson & Hoefer, 2016, p. 180) Students then wrote a seven to ten-page detailed summary of the administrators verbal and nonverbal response.

The study revealed five major sources of joy in social work: making a difference, mentoring staff, finding meaning, being an advocate, and receiving recognition (Watson & Hoefer, 2016). Students noted how body language, facial expression, and tone shifted from stressed to passionate as administrators discussed their professional accomplishments. Without exception, all extolled the rewarding nature of realizing they had a positive impact on both their clients lives and their staffs professional development. Working for organizations that prioritized helping others over financial gain made them feel like they had attained meaning in their lives.

Many took pride in being able to advocate for marginalized groups and facilitate community services for them. Respondents reported satisfaction when receiving compliments and seeing the community come together in a common goal. In general, employees loved coming to work because it made them feel like useful, respected members of society.

Finally, Watson and Hoefer (2016) call for more rigorous and replicable research on joy in social work administration. They believe this is the key to reversing the current labor shortage. Studying positive aspects of social work administration will encourage employee retention by helping avoid burnout, stress, and early retirement and attract much-needed new talent to the field (Watson & Hoefer, 2016).

In conclusion, Watson and Hoefer (2016) conducted an interesting and unprecedented study in job satisfaction among social work administrators. They argued that focusing on the rewarding elements of work-life according to the principles of positive psychology would solve the current leadership crisis. Their study revealed that joy in human service administration mainly came from positively impacting other peoples lives. Educators must present both the difficulties and these joys to produce more graduates willing to enter the field and avoid employee burnout.

Reference

Watson, L. D., & Hoefer, R. A. (2016). The joy of social work administration: An exploratory qualitative study of human service administrators positive perceptions of their work. Journal of Social Work Education, 52(2), 178-185. Web.