Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers recognize and understand that interacting and engagement are a crucial part of the social work profession. Engaging in communities with diverse individuals, families, groups, and organizations is one of the foundations that social work is built on. Social workers value the importance of human relationships. Social workers study and understand theories and how they apply to human behavior in the social environment. Personal experiences guide individuals and social workers are taught to be self-aware to not impose their experiences when engaging with clients. Social workers value relationship building and collaboration with other professions. Social workers:
- apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies; and
- use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.
Field Evidence:
Throughout my time at Welcome Home of Chattanooga, I had plenty of opportunities to engage with clients as well as other agencies. While at my agency I was able to partake in multiple individual assessments which always included engaging with my residents. The other intern and I were also responsible for engaging the residents in a group meeting bi-weekly for our first semester.
Academic Evidence:
While taking interviewing skills I recorded a 15-minute interview and had to complete a process recording of the session. This allowed me to evaluate and critique my skills which included engaging with my clients. During my junior year, I took “Social Work Practice with Groups, Families, Communities, and Organizations” where I had to engage with a group of seventh graders at a nearby school. I had to write about my engagement skills and critique myself on what I could improve for future groups.