Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
Introduction:
As an advanced practicing social worker remembering cultural differences is necessary to be able to engage with a client and the background they may come from. I will review practice-informed research and research-informed practice with up-to-date peer-reviewed journal articles on current trends in social work and therapy practices.
4A – Critically review current research on evidence based and contemporary best practices to improve practice, policy, and programs.
Course Evidence: For SOCW 618: Advanced Administrative Practice: Administration and Leadership, please see FPCN-Organization-Proposal-Final-Paper section Organizational Policy and the Legal Environment (5.4) for additional details.
Field Evidence: During my practicum, I would gather research and information to teach psycho education classes at the hospital.
Psych Education Teaching Worksheets and Material
4B – Conduct and disseminate research that responds to social work practice needs and uses ethical, culturally informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive strategies to advance the purposes of social work.
Field Evidence: During my practicum, I would provide the therapists from the hospital with psychoeducation topics I learned about at Cleveland’s IOP drug court program. I would then add to the topic by researching education videos and encouraging discussion during class time.
Psych Education Teaching Worksheets and Material
Knowledge: I drew on the skills I developed in my previous research and coursework throughout my graduate program to conduct research and examine relevant literature. Without this foundational literature review, the efforts to initiate the program would have been in vain.
Skills: Communication, critical thinking, time management, and advocacy were also skills exhibited during this competency. Communication was vital as interpersonal relationships had to be formed through networking with staff, nurses, mental health technicians, and therapist. Time management was exhibited as, in addition to working on my special project, I had clients to see, was employed full time, and was a full-time student; managing my time allowed me to work effectively to complete everything by the deadline. Advocacy was demonstrated as I was promoting a new policy to be implemented at Parkridge Valley to help better serve mental health staff.
Values: Social justice, dignity and worth of a person, and competence were all values I had to exhibit in this competency.
Cognitive: Both comprehension and application were essential. I needed to understand the research thoroughly and determine the most effective interventions for the proposed programs. Application was also crucial, as I had to implement the interventions and clarify how the programs would operate.
Affective: Organization was the key to demonstrating this competency. I needed to learn how to prioritize effectively to address the needs of clients, as well as the requirements of the hospital and my own needs.
Theoretical Foundation: Evidence Based Practice is the theoretical foundation I used during this competency. I found scholarly articles and other valid resources to complete my projects and psycho education classes.
https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Research-Data/Social-Work-Policy-Research/Evidence-Based-Practice