3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Practice

Inclusion in Practice

There are many factors that make an individual diverse such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and religion. Social work celebrates diversity and values the dignity and worth of each person and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind. Engaging in anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion practices is a great way to lift and empower minority groups. In both my personal and professional life, I will embrace these practices and the principles behind them. I will do this by continuing to deconstruct biases and by listening to others and acknowledging their experiences. Additionally, I will use research to inform culturally competent practices and collaborate with diverse groups. It would be especially important for any social services organization to be inclusive, respectful, and equitable. As an ethical social worker, I will strive to implement policy and practices to advance these principles wherever I am employed.

Practice Behaviors

3.1: Demonstrate leadership in advocating for human rights, social, economic and environmental justice

Field Evidence: I was able to demonstrate leadership in advocating for health equity throughout my time interning at Adoration. It was common for patients to express wanting to pass away at home, but many lack the funding or local family support to have their health care needs met in the home. I was able to assist patients and their families to address healthcare inequity by providing education and assisting them in applying for various assistance programs to fulfill their wishes of passing at home. This process involved first assessing needs and working with patients and their families to confirm goals. Then I was able to assist them with filling out applications for services.Here is a journal entry about me assisting a family applying for CHOICES, a program that pays for caregivers in the home for those who qualify. Here is a collection of journal entries and feedback from my field instructor that demonstrates my competency in this area.

3.2: Design and implement social action strategies that demonstrate social, racial, economic; and environmental justice.

Academic Evidence: During the Advanced Policy course, I had the opportunity to focus on promoting a policy to address injustice related to incarceration in Tennessee. Through this project, our group was able to review research on the racial injustices found in incarceration and sentencing rates that are disproportionately impacting African American communities. The policy proposed changes that would route those arrested on drug charges to receive rehab care rather than serving time. In this way, our group was able to promote justice.

Knowledge: For this competency, knowledge of community service programs was utilized as well as listening and identifying needs with patients and families. Oral communication skills were also used to explain to patients their rights and options for services.

Values: Social Justice is the NASW social work value that influenced the activities in this competency the most. While meeting with new hospice patients and explaining my role, I was able to help identify needs and describe the ways in which I could advocate for them in their situation. For policy I was able to utilize my understanding of injustices related to incarceration in Tennessee to develop campaign tools that highlighted the need for policy change.

Skills: Skills demonstrated for while completing these practice behaviors include leadership, advocacy, cultural competence, and showing dignity. During my time at Adoration, I witnessed how diversity factors such as income status, disability, and race impact healthcare equity in east Tennessee as well as quality of life. Utilizing the skills above and knowledge of assistance programs allowed me to advocate for the needs of the diverse patients served.

Cognitive: Evaluating is the cognitive used for this competency. When working with clients, it was important to listen to their experience and support them. Once needs were identified I could analyze how to best advocate for them whether that involved connecting them with services or coordinating with other hospice staff to meet care needs.

Affective: Receiving is the affective I worked in while completing activities in this competency. It was important to me to listen to the experiences of the diverse clients served and to validate their challenges as well as provide support and empowerment. From there, I could work on problem solving along with the hospice team in order to help patients and their families meet physical or emotional needs related to human rights in a culturally competent way.

Theories: Systems Theory has helped inform my practice when evaluating and understanding a patient’s challenges related to diversity and healthcare inequality. Considering how the system a person is a part of may be impacting them at all levels can be important when looking for solutions and understanding behaviors. This theory also helps inform us how the current systems for incarceration are impacting minority communities and mental health.

Kaitlyn Orquia

Social Work Portfolio

3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Practice