Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Engaging with clients and the communities/environments of our clients is at the core of Social Work. It is so important to understand the relationships between and individual and their environment and to take a holistic approach when working with them and finding evidence based interventions. Competency 6 is about having an understanding of person-in-environment theory as well as relying on the interpersonal skills of empathy, reflection, and others when interacting with clients to engage with them.
Practice Behaviors
- Apply Knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies.
- Use Empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage in diverse clients and constituencies.
Evidence
Field
I was able to visit with a Nursing Home resident who was having a lot of negative feelings towards the facility he was living in. By asking questions from a person-in-environment approach we were able to discover that much of his negative feelings were due to having higher mental competence than the majority of other residents. This was leading to severe loneliness and feelings of lack of purpose. I met with him and the facility social worker to figure out an intervention plan.
Academic
While in Social Work Practice with Groups and Organizations, I was a leader for a psycho-educational group for middle school students. I relied on theoretical frameworks such as person-in environment as well as developmental stages, and groups theory to engage the participants. I have attached a power-point that gives a synopsis of that experience.