Running head: SKILL DEVELOPMENT

My Skill Development Reflection Essay Deborah Morrison Georgia State University

SKILL DEVELOPMENT Introduction

I have learned that professional self-disclosure is important in the social work profession. Professional self-disclosure is an effort that social workers must reveal about themselves, to build commonality between the social worker and the client (Lum, 2011, p. 190). Developing the skills that I will need to be a cultural competent social worker is to understand the NASW Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice. There are ten standards that are important in the social work profession, and I will identify those within this paper. I will also provide a brief discussion on post reflection experience; address my social action plan, and my cultural competence action plan. Post Reflection Experience Pretest summary: In the beginning of the semester I took a self-assessment pretest on social work culture competencies, cultural diverse groups, and social and economic justice. For social work culture competencies I scored an 88, which is a level (2), and for cultural diverse groups and social and economic justice I scored a 239, which is a level (3). In my opinion, the lack of awareness of various ethnic groups contributed to my low score in social work cultural competencies. I think I did so well with diverse groups and social economic justice, because of my experience in the workforce, and my experiences in college. Posttest outcome: In contrast, when I took the posttest my scores increase in all areas. For the social work cultural competence I scored a 106, which is a level (3), and for the social work cultural competencies with cultural diverse groups and social and economic justice I scored a 266, which is a level (4). I feel with my group presentation well as the other group presentations I was able to gain knowledge in regards to the various ethnic groups. Due to my other classes, the Lum book, and my research I was able to increase my social work cultural competencies with cultural diverse groups and social and economic justice score. Social Action Plan Understanding discrimination and oppression: According to Lum (2011), discrimination is the behavioral response that is unfavorable to members of an ethnic, gender, sexual-orientation, or related out-group (p. 66). Oppression is a form of discrimination and occurs when a segment of the population, systematically, and over a period of time, prevents another segment from attaining access to scarce and valued resources (p. 67). Some of the most common discrimination against others is racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, and lookism. Oppression exists among groups such as African Americans, Latin Americans, Asian American, Women, Children, and Immigrants.

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Goals for continued growth and plan to address and confront oppression for all vulnerable groups: I plan to obtain my Masters degree as well as a social work license, and within five years I plan to have my LCSW. I am not sure how I will address and confront oppression for all vulnerable groups, but I do plan to become an ally for Women. I plan to try to build a relationship various media corporations to advocate for Womens rights. Group I plan to advocate for and plan to advocate for human rights and social and economic justice: Once I become a social worker with a Masters degree I plan to work with the older population, concentrating on grandparents raising their grandkids. I feel with my background I can contribute the skills with helping this group by implementing programs that will provide training workshops that will teach grandparents with the skills to communicate with their grandchildren. I want to create a program with will fund activities for the grandchildren to participate in various activities in which their grandparents will not be able to afford. I plan to advocate for human rights and social and economic justice by protesting and lobbying the government for change for all vulnerable groups that deserve social and economic justice. Cultural Competency Action Plan Review of the ten standards: The NASW (2001) issued the Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice. Ten standards provide guidelines, goals, and objectives of cultural competence (Lum, 2011, p. 28). These standards, along with NASW Code of Ethics make social workers ethically responsible to be cultural competent. The NASWs 2001 Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice considers the following standards as cultural competencies: Standards 1 through 10 are Ethics and Values, Self-Awareness, Cross-Cultural Knowledge, Cross-Cultural Skills, Service Delivery, Empowerment and Advocacy, Diverse Workforce, Professional Education, Language Diversity, and Cross-Cultural Leadership. According to Lum (2011), the NASW cultural competence standards are the benchmarks for the social work profession (p. 30). As social workers we must be able to apply these standards to various populations in order to provide the best service possible to each individual. Micro cultural competence: On a micro level the standards that will either hinder or accommodate my ability as a social worker will be standards 1 through 4, 6 and 8: ethics and values, self-awareness, crosscultural knowledge, cross-cultural skills, empowerment and advocacy, and professional education. Ethics and values can accommodate my ability as a social worker because I feel with the experience I have held in the workforce has forced me to encounter various individuals of

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

different ethnic backgrounds. I have an understanding of who I am, because I know my identity through my parents, my friends, work, and school therefore my self-awareness will be an accommodation. Through my education within the social work program I will continue to develop cross-cultural knowledge, my cross-cultural skills, and empowerment and advocacy. I will be developing specialized knowledge about different cultures regarding their history, traditions, values, and family systems (Lum, 2011, p. 28). I will be able to apply this knowledge to my role as a social worker once I complete the program. I cannot empower or advocate for a client if I am not aware of the various social policies and programs available. Gaining professional education will allow me to gain this knowledge as well keeping me updated on the changing needs that occur in the government and society. Mezzo cultural competence: On a mezzo level the standards that will hinder my ability as a social worker will be standards 5 and 9: service delivery and language diversity. These standards will hinder me as a cultural competent social worker, because I lack the knowledge of what services are available for various populations. In Georgia, there is a large Latino population, which most speaks only Spanish. I am not fluent in another language nor do I understand any of it. I plan to start volunteering at a local clinic that service the Latino population. I hope I will learn more about the services available to these clients as well as build my language skills. Macro cultural competence: On a macro level the standards that will either hinder or accommodate my ability as a social worker will be standards 7 and 10: diverse workforce and cross-cultural leadership. I worked for several hospitals in the Atlanta area, and there were a diverse staff at each hospital I worked. But I am not in the social work field yet, and I am not sure how diverse the field is, so I am sure this will hinder me until I am able to get into the workforce. I am not ready for standard 10. I think I need some time in the workforce before I can communicate effectively with other professionals regarding diverse client groups. Conclusion I am not sure if my skill development is that well developed for me to start advocating for various vulnerable groups, but I think my skill development is strong enough that I am now able to assist people that are in my community. When I talk to individuals who disclose the problems they are facingI listen using a theoretical approach. I no longer judge others for their situations or hold them directly responsible. I have learned that I have to respect others ethics and values, and understand the importance of their culture. Even though my skill development is not strong, it has foundation now. I am looking forward to building my skills, and helping others who will need my skills.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT References

Lum, Doman. (2011). Culturally competent practice: a framework for understanding diverse groups and justice issues [4th Ed]. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2001). NASW standards for cultural competence in social work practice. Retrieved from http://www.naswdc.org/pubs/standards/cultural.htm