Human Rights and Social Justice
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Social Workers adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics which value the human rights of all people regardless of their status, race, religion, age, ethnicity, gender or disability. Social workers strive to be self-aware of any biases in order to extinguish them in order to provide clients with quality care and objectivity. Basic human rights involve safety, food, shelter, medical care, freedom, self-determination, relationships, privacy, quality of life, standards of living, and mental well-being. Social workers care about the injustices against human rights and seek to advocate and bring awareness. Social workers must take care to stay in the know of current issues that are effecting people in order to advocate for them and better the communities.
Practice Behaviors:
3.1- Demonstrate leadership in advocating for human rights, social, economic and environmental justice.
Course Evidence: In my program development class, my group and I formulated a plan to advocate for victims of bullying, research effective interventions and model our program after those interventions. Click Final Proposal Paper to view our final proposal.
Field Evidence:
In my internship with Volunteer Crisis Center, I advocated for the rights of my clients who were not valued due to their diagnosis. I advocated for their right to dignity, privacy, self-determination, and quality of care. I coordinated with other agencies to ensure client care. I have provided an email from an employee of the Walk in Center commending me for such efforts. Click the following link to view email.
I advocate for my clients by addressing concerns with my supervisor. I applied an understanding of social, economic and environmental justice to advocate for human rights while collaborating with an organization. I observed tension between individuals with mental health diagnosis and law enforcement. I observed on occasion, law enforcement officers lacking knowledge about mental health and lacking compassion which led them to neglect the clients needs. I helped clients discover the underlying issues which contributed to their substance abuse such as environment, trauma and socioeconomic status.
During my internship, I assessed a client in an ER. The ER nurse made the statement that the client would get better results with a better attitude. I told the nurse that a client’s attitude did not affect how I care for them. I understand that when I assess a client, they are at their worst. I give them the care they need regardless of how they treat me because I am not in this role for me at all. I am of service to clients no matter what they behave like. In the field, I learned that advocating for clients was my strong suit. I was and am deeply passionate about fighting for the underdog.
Other Evidence: Social media is a great way to access a large population pool and post to advocate and bring awareness. I share many posts and comment on many issues such as father’s Rights. I am a member of the Father’s Rights Movement Facebook page which is a great resource for advocating, bringing awareness, and provided support for Father’s in the biased court system.
3.2 – Design and implement social action strategies.
Academic Evidence:
In my program development class, my group and I designed interventions for students who are victims of bullying such as peer support, education to bring awareness and encouragement to celebrate differences. Click Needs Assessment and Program Proposal Plan to see these interventions. In my Advanced Social Policy class, I worked with two other students in building on an existing policy to bridge the gap for those seeking substance abuse treatment but cannot afford it. To view the form we used to build the policy, click New Organization Proposal Plan .
Field Evidence: Within my agency, I advocate for clients quality of care to be a focus more than meeting production or making money for the company. I implemented social action strategies by influencing policies and practices within my own agency as well as the agencies we collaborate with by demonstrating quality care. I spread awareness and advocated on social media.
Knowledge: While interacting with clients and their families, I showed respect for each individual while exercising values such as dignity and worth of humans, use of the NASW Code of Ethics, use of strengths perspective, boundaries, competence, respect, self-awareness. I gained knowledge about homelessness, substance use, various mental health diagnosis and the BHSN program.
Values: During interactions with clients, their families, law enforcement and other healthcare workers, I exercised ethics, integrity, competence, empathy, privacy and confidentiality, social justice and saw the importance of human relationships. I encouraged clients to empower themselves with knowledge about their diagnosis and to take charge of their own life by advocating for their own rights while respecting their autonomy. I provided education to aid clients in how to find research and facts. I encouraged clients to inform themselves with research and facts to arm themselves with knowledge to combat the stigma they experience within their own circle of friends, family and acquaintances.
Skills: While interacting with individuals and evaluating clients during assessments, I exercised empathy, critical thinking, organization, problem solving,
Cognitive: I brainstormed how to get attention for what I am advocating for, be aware of emotions and boundaries. I synthesized information to create a campaign for our policy proposal to bridge the gap for substance abuse treatment. We created a campaign and included various stakeholders in this assignment.
Affective: Brainstormed using critical thinking and problem solving to find ways to gain attention for these policy issues.
Theoretical foundations: While interacting with diverse clients, I utilized Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in understanding the importance of their needs. I utilized the strengths perspective which guided me to empower clients to know their worth based on their strengths and divert their focus from their weaknesses to instill hope and a desire to live. I utilized the learning theory to aid in suspending biases. I used the rational choice theory to weigh the risks and benefits of any action before making a decision for the level of care needed for a client and best suited treatment.