Competent, ethical social workers understand the importance of research and how it impacts the practice and delivery of services to our client base. The cycle of being a student does not end once the coursework is completed, rather the diploma serves as a symbol of a commitment to be a lifelong learner. Whether I choose to go into clinical practice or continue my passion for research, I am still a social worker looking to improve services offered by the profession.
Practice Behaviors
- Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research.
- Discuss critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings.
- Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery.
Evidence
Academic Experience
During my junior year in the social work program, I participated in a campus wide research day. This day was designed for students and faculty to showcase the knowledge they had been preparing all semester. For my presentation, I chose the effects of vicarious trauma on service professionals and explored what could be done to prevent further burnout.
Field Experience
The food pantry began in 2013 under the direction of social work students in the Master’s program. Over the course of five years, the pantry fell into a state where it needed to be jump-started by a new set of interns; this was when Dylan and I began working on the project. Having no prior experience running a food pantry, we set out with a mindset to learn as much as possible. Our research took time and effort, but it paid off once we began seeing positive results.
In the Winter semester, myself, Dylan, and two Junior interns paid a visit to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. There, we met with the head of Scrappy’s Cupboard, Matthew Brown, and saw how a pantry was run. Below is our appointment marker:
