Competency Two
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
As an MSW candidate, it is imperative to practice self-awareness, cultural competence, and embrace the diverse nature of our clientele. While working with my practicum, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, our main clients are individuals facing eviction. They are predominantly single, African-American women with multiple dependents. As a Social Worker, it is my job to empower these clients. I have taken assessments to stay aware of my own prejudices in all areas when working with clients. It is important for me to deliver services without bias and prejudice to my clients.
Practice Behaviors
2.1: Develop and implement strategies that strive to eradicate discrimination in any form.
Academic Evidence: In my course Advanced Administrative Practice: Administrative and Leadership Skills we were required to create an organization and all that it entails. My group did this from a perspective of ending the stigma towards individuals experiencing homelessness. The agency we created is called Friends Helping Friends, an agency that offers supplies, case management, employment assistance, and many other services to those experiencing homelessness in the Greater Chattanooga Area. Before the global pandemic left millions of Americans without employment, facing eviction and in a constant state of crisis, homelessness was already an issue in Chattanooga, and all across the United States. We wrote our proposal in a formal paper and that paper can be found by following the link below.
Friends Helping Friends Proposal
2.2 Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.
Field Evidence: It is hard for anyone to identify their own bias if they are not searching for greater self-awareness. While completing my practicum I took part in listening to a podcast on bias called Learning How to See with Brian McLaren. This podcast discusses in detail the 13 types of bias and each episode delves deeper into specific biases and how to overcome those biases. After listening to the entire series twice, I wrote a self-reflection paper on how this podcast helped me to identify my own personal biases, and how I can overcome them by staying self-aware and present. My paper can be viewed below.
Skills Used: Through the completion of the aforementioned practice behaviors I demonstrated professional written and oral communication, self-reflection, self-growth, and interpersonal skills when interacting with clients from all walks of life.
Knowledge Presented: With the fulfillment of this competency I had to take a long hard look at the underbelly of bias and discrimination in the United States, the world, and in my own mind. I utilized my own self-awareness of my personal biases to ensure that my clients and those around me were not treated differently because of my personal beliefs and values. I honored the NASW Code of Ethics by working with my group to create a proposal of an organization that would help to eradicate the stigma that is currently faced by individuals experiencing homelessness.
Values Presented: When working with clients and other tasks during my time with the Eviction Prevention Program I demonstrated many social work core values. I was able to demonstrate social justice by working directly with clients facing eviction and possible homelessness. I never judged or looked down on my clients for the way their life was unfolding. I advocated for them when needed through policies, applications for assistance, and an empathetic ear when they needed one. I was able to demonstrate the dignity and worth of the person by making sure every client was treated with compassion and empathy regardless of their life circumstances.
Cognitive Processes: While demonstrating this competency I was able to implement (application domain) self-awareness through every task. I learned more about biases in general and was able to identify my own personal biases. This was and will continue to allow me to help myself assist my clients no matter how different we are. I also was able to illustrate (application domain) to my peers and colleagues the needs and differences that my clients were facing and allowed me to advocate for them and the injustices they were experiencing.
Affective Processes: Through examining (organizational domain) my own personal bias I was able to further identify how to fight and advocate for my clients to prevent discrimination and embrace their differences. I, with the work of my group, was able to create a plan for an organization that would help fight the social injustices and discrimination that my clients faced every single day.
Theoretical Foundation: Social Exchange Theory talks about how every relationship is a give and take situation and how this balance explains what we feel about the relationship. Through my time on the Eviction Prevention Initiative, I used this theory in every interaction with clients, city officials, colleagues, and mentors. Sometimes it felt like I was giving more than my clients were, but I was able to take a step back, put my bias in check, and understand that every single one of my clients was doing the best that they could, in the face of the adversity they were facing.