Merging Self and Professional Social Worker

Integrative Paper 1

Sandra Silvels

Merging Self and Professional Social Worker

Sandra Silvels

Integrative Field Seminar II

Kathy Anne Purnell, MSW

And

Craig Pressley MSW

February 12, 2008

Professional Social Worker

Social work is a very interesting field, and I enjoy it greatly. I chose this profession because I believe all people should be treated equally regardless of there race, gender, religious, and socioeconomic status. As a child my world view was limited because of racism and poverty, but I always felt I was a servant for humanity. My strengths are exhortation, and communication, which will enhance my ability to be a responsible and a dedicated social worker in meeting the needs of the oppressive. The NASW Code of ethics have really held strong values that led me to purse social work even more because it have guide lines in which social workers must live by and that is to treated all human being equally. This behavior must be conceding in your innermost self, whether you are on or off the job.

What I find is disturbing is when social workers forget to acknowledge the need of the client. When I look back at my life and examine the horror my grandson had to under go because a few individuals overlooked my grandson need. He had a very difficult life for such a small boy. It started with problems at home then proceeded to his school environment and finally to his community. Tracy was constantly displaying behavior problems, anger, frustration and disobedience. After many disciplinarian actions taken by the school; he was finally diagnosed with ADHD and Bi-polar. This child was mistreated, discriminated against and disciplined all for what was thought to be unruly or bad behavior, when in fact it was a mental illness out of control, unrecognized, and lack of medication. My career as a social worker will impact my family because of the knowledge I have learned through my education that would improve the quality of my family life.

Been a member of the NASW and have confessed the right hand of the Christians fellowship. I realize there are many challenges for women in Christian leadership. Men of faith can be ignorant to the roles of women in leadership. Some Preachers do not respect nor recognize the called or responsibility God have placed upon women. They have misinterpreted the word of God and refuse to be taught a different way. I feel women are the backbone of the church; they are qualified to lead as well, because of their faithfulness, compassion, and dedication. In most churches, men are not taking responsibility in leadership, so women are forced to take leadership. My belief in religious was developed over many years by many different people. My grandmother Agnes inspirited me. She became a preacher and head of her house when her husband walked out and left her with the children to rise herself. She was a stronger willed women, the church would not allow her to preach because they felt God made women to be over children in the house, and man was called to preach the gospel. She was put out of the church because of her belief. She began to teach in high crime neighbors where she felt people need God, and today I find myself going in high crime neighborhoods telling about the goodness of God. My grandmother had determination; her beliefs shaped her life with faith and honesty. My grandmother had a favorite saying, “If your word is good, you can live anywhere in the country, and people will respect you. If not, you will become a slave to yourself. I learned that faith can be different for each person and respecting others belief is mandatory.

My value system has changed, I am conscious of my decisions and behaviors today, and I take full responsibility for them. I still believe in some of the traditional values, strong family ties, a family that prays together stays together, children need reinforcement at times in a good way to teach right from wrong, education, voting right, don’t make promises you can’t keep, and respect others. My field agency policies are built upon ethnical principles which are based on social justice, dignity and worth of the person. Moccasin Bend believes in social change, their clients are vulnerable and oppressed individuals because of their mental illness. I learned at my practicum human rights mean freedom; people have the right to live within there own choices without any one trying to change them, as long as they are within the law. My values correspond with the social work values and with its ethnical principles; I strongly believe that each individual should be treated with dignity and respect. I have learned that if I treat myself with dignity and respect, only then can I give to others, because everything starts with me. Accepting and respecting people for who they are, gives me the ability to service and meet their needs. My values are strongly based upon human rights and social justice. I believe in freedom and each individual has the right to grow at his or her own pace. My values allow me to have boundaries because they protect others and me.

When graduate from University of Tennessee, I would like to work in an agency that speak English, know something about ethics, and the owner of the agency do not worship cultism. I would like to work at Joe Johnson Mental Center or Fort-Wood.