As a competent social worker, I will intentionally practice professionalism and ethical decision making. Using self-reflection to grow from learning experiences will be a regular part of my personal check-in routine. I will collaborate with other professionals so that I can effectively work with individuals. While working with diverse clients, I will inform myself of ethical dilemmas, and find solutions when problems arise. Additionally, my commitment is to use challenging situations, involving ethical choice making, to guide my current learning and future development.

Evidence of Practice

While attending Southern Adventist University and studying for my MSW, I engaged in a variety of activities that helped me to develop and master this competency:

1.1 – Develop a practice framework for analysis of complex environments, that is ethical, value-grounded, and evidenced-based

Course Evidence: I completed a Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Training on “Responsible Conduct of Research”. During this training I completed the following modules: Data Management, Authorship, Peer Review, Conflict of Interest, and Collaborative Research. This certification comprehensively trained me in ethical practices for conducting research. Furthermore, it has prepared me for future involvement in professional writing, ethical and thorough gathering of data, collaboration with professionals/colleagues, and research. The certification of completion can be seen here.

1.2 – Implement supervisory and self-care strategies that integrate professional strengths, limitations, and challenges

Field Evidence: After participating in January orientation into the MSW program, I learned a key self-care strategy that I have continued to use. Creating an Emergency Self-Care Plan was incredibly helpful in preparing myself for mental health emergencies. I wanted to share this strategy with the virtual community. I created (cognitive level: application) a 2-part video reel to educate mothers from the Mpowered community on how to create a plan to support their mental health. To view this reel series “Creating an Emergency Self-Care Plan”, please visit Part 1 & Part 2. By clicking on these links you will be directed to the videos on the Mpowered Inc. instagram account. I created my own personal Emergency Self-Care Plan during MSW Orientation in an accessible place (my phone’s Note app), as seen here:

1.3 – Exhibit commitment to professional growth through continuing education, supervision, and ongoing consultation

Field Evidence:One of my commitments as a professional is to continue to further my knowledge in different therapeutic modalities. I completed a 4-day Intensive Workshop in Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (EXRP) for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in August 2022 (affective level: receiving). Through this training I earned 27 Clinical credits. This intensive course gave me in-depth instruction in understanding OCD and primarily focused on training participants to implement EXRP. The theoretical framework that I used while fulfilling this competency was Person-in-Environment Perspective. During this training, we were taught about the different behaviors and symptoms that would indicate an individual has OCD. This theory helped me to understand how an individual with OCD is affected by environmental factors that they face on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, how individuals with OCD perceive and interact with their environment. Please see my certificate of completion, as seen below here:

1.4 – Demonstrate professional oral and written communication skills

Course Evidence: During my Advanced Administration class, I collaborated with my group to create an organization and comprehensive organization proposal plan. Unity Healing was created because we saw a need in the local Chattanooga community for a place for families suffering from addiction to reside and receive treatment together. We created a powerpoint to educate and inform future stakeholders and donors of this great need, then presented this to our cohort. The powerpoint can be seen here.

Additional Evidence: In early October, I was asked by the Women’s Ministry leadership team through my church to speak on how I manage my time as a wife and a full-time student, while working a part-time job. I spoke at their next luncheon event on the 30th of October. I presented a 10 minute talk on the different time management skills I had learned throughout my degrees and personal experiences, as well as how I had incorporated my relationship with God into my schedule. I presented several key important factors: Setting a “Power Hour” aside every sunday to schedule and plan for the week, Creating an Emergency Self-Care plan, setting appropriate boundaries and learning to say “no”, and ultimately how God should be involved in all of these processes. Towards the end, I embraced diversity by highlighting how resilient women are, but how this often leads us to take on too many tasks and get burned out. I concluded my talk with a reminder and an appeal that we need to lean into our partners, friends, family (and most importantly) our Creator to help us properly and effectively manage our time. I have attached my speaker notes here.