Competency 9: Evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
Social workers understand that evaluation is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with and on behalf of diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers evaluate processes and outcomes to increase practice, policy, and service delivery effectiveness. Social workers apply anti-racist and anti-oppressive perspectives in evaluating outcomes. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and person-in-environment, as well as inter-professional conceptual frameworks, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in evaluating outcomes. Social workers use qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating outcomes and practice effectiveness.
Social workers:
a. select and use culturally responsive methods for evaluation of outcomes; and
b. critically analyze outcomes and apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
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Evaluation in social work, especially in my prospective work with young adults, holds importance in ensuring that interventions and strategies effectively meet the needs of the populations served. This competency involves actively engaging with individuals and organizations to assess the impact of our efforts and make necessary adjustments to improve outcomes. It’s essential for promoting positive social change and advancing social justice, aligning with the commitment of future social workers to empower marginalized communities.
To remain committed to practicing this competency, I plan to actively seek feedback from supervisors, clients, and young adults themselves. Creating safe spaces for open dialogue and utilizing online feedback forms will enable me to gather diverse perspectives and insights, ensuring that my evaluations are inclusive and reflective of the community’s needs. Additionally, staying updated on current research in the field will allow me to adapt my approaches post-evaluation and ensure they remain relevant and effective for the young adults I work with.
Through this ongoing commitment to evaluation, I aim to continuously enhance my practice as a future social worker and contribute to positive social change. By embracing the challenges and opportunities that come with evaluating interventions, I will strive to create meaningful impacts and advance the well-being and empowerment of the young adults I serve.
Evidences:
Assessing and Engaging Presentation Pre and Post Evaluation
Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities
As part of the presentation, class members’ perceptions and comprehension of particular issues pertaining to assessment and engagement in the community were evaluated. This included asking about the various forms of community engagement and the significance of evaluations. Because the evaluation was done both before and after the presentation, it was possible to compare the participants’ answers and determine the effectiveness of the presentation. There seemed to have been a significant change in the class members’ knowledge due to the transition from a number of individuals answering poorly at first to everyone responding correctly following the presentation. Since the assessment was done both before and after the presentation, it was possible to compare the participants’ answers and determine the effectiveness of the intervention. While just a tiny percentage of answers were correct at first, by the conclusion, 100% of answers were correct.
The significance of community assessment and involvement in my social work practice was emphasized by this evaluation. It emphasized the potential influence of interventions, such as presentations, on transforming attitudes and viewpoints inside the wider society. In order to effectively address community needs, I have learned the importance of customized evaluations as well as targeted interventions as a future social worker. It also emphasized how important it is to continually evaluate initiatives in order to gauge their effectiveness and modify approaches as necessary. With this knowledge, I could analyze people, families, groups, organizations, and communities using a variety of assessment techniques, encouraging positive change and advancing social well-being.
Mentee Submission Form
PracticumÂ
This submission form involved submitting weekly evaluation forms to gauge the well-being of mentees as part of the First Year Experience program. A mentee is typically a freshman or first-year college student guided by a mentor, usually a sophomore, junior, or senior, within the mentor program. Mentors provide support, check in on mentees’ mental health, and assist with assignments or other needs, acting as mandated reporters when necessary. This task helped me develop skills in understanding mentee needs and documenting interactions. By analyzing the data collected over the semester, I gained practical experience in monitoring mentee progress and adjusting support strategies as needed, contributing to my overall growth and development as a student advisor.
Engaging in this evaluation has equipped me with valuable skills applicable to my future role as a social worker. By monitoring mentee well-being and documenting interactions, I’ve developed observational and communication abilities which will help me to foster supportive relationships with clients. These skills will empower me to effectively support individuals, families, and communities, ensuring I make a meaningful impact in my future career as a social worker.
Evaluation for Community and Care Pseudo-Psychoeducational Group
Social Work Practice with Groups and Families
My colleague Natalia Quinones and I formed a pseudo-group called Community and Care, whose members were asked to behave like first-year college students and had myself and Natalia as pseudo-leaders. Once the psychoeducational group was complete, we used evaluation forms to understand our performance as the pseudo leaders and our pseudo group.
This evaluation offered a unique perspective on how other people see one’s actions and behaviors. The feedback given encouraged adaptability and improvement based on suggestions and cooperation, which is a characteristic of social work environments.
This evidence was chosen because it demonstrates how skill development and the need of teamwork and assistance in achieving common goals during the evaluation process benefit both the person being evaluated and the evaluator.
Competency Nine
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