One of the most intimate areas of Social Work can be found when intervening on behalf of an individual, family, group, organization, and community. It is in this step the client and the Social Worker begin to take steps toward the mutually agreed upon goal; without a doubt, it can be a painful, uncomfortable process. In order to create lasting change for our clients, it is sometimes necessary to collaborate with other professionals to bring about positive, lasting change. As research-informed Social Workers, we can analyze the client in their social environment and propose interventions which promote the best outcome for our constituents.
Practice Behaviors
- Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies.
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies.
- Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies.
- Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research, knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.
Evidence
Academic Experience
My classes at Southern have allowed me to explore the diversity Social Work has to offer. For the class, Practice with Individuals, I created a case presentation for my pseudo client, Sinopa Hill, a Native American woman facing unemployment. Though Sinopa was a fictional woman with fictional problems, I treated her as though she were a real client and found services which matched her cultural background, level of education, and personal goals.
Field Experience
My work with Feed My Sheep took an interesting turn when Dylan and I were asked to create a flyer which highlighted the ways faculty and staff could partner with the food pantry. With the expertise of Ryan Pierce, we developed a one-page handout which could explain seven ways faculty and staff could aid students, either through donations, direct referrals to the pantry, or fostering an atmosphere where food insecurity was acknowledged.