ASSIGNMENT 1: Spirituality and Social Work Practice

Being culturally sensitive by respecting your clients’ spirituality and religious traditions, in general, is an important professional competence (Furness & Gilligan, 2010). Applying your spiritual awareness to a specific client case, however, may require even greater skill. In this assignment, you consider how you might address a client’s crisis that includes a spiritual or religious component.

To prepare for this Assignment, review this week’s media about Eboni Logan’s visit with her school social worker.

Submit a 2- to 4-page paper that answers the following questions:

o   As Eboni’s social worker, would you include spirituality and religion in your initial assessment? Why or why not?

o   What strategies can you use to ensure that your personal values will not influence your practice with Eboni?

o   How would you address the crisis that Eboni is experiencing?

Support your Assignment with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

References (use 2 or more)

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].

                        “The Logan Family” (pp. 9-10)

Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA:  Cengage Learning.

Logan Family Episode 5

Program Transcript

EBONI LOGAN: My father took me to his church last weekend. The whole time he went on about how God gives us life and how it’s not up for us to decide what’s

convenient for us or not. He said abortion’s no different than murder. If I do it, I’ll go to hell. I think the same thing sometimes. But I don’t know. I don’t know what to do.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

EBONI LOGAN: My father even told his pastor I’m pregnant and asked him to pray for me.

SOCIAL WORKER: I don’t want to pressure you, but you will have to decide

soon.

EBONI LOGAN: I know. I’m pretty confused. Even my friends, they all have their own opinion what I should do. One friend even bought me a striped Onesies. It’s real cute. Are you sure you don’t want to tell me what to do? Everyone else is.

SOCIAL WORKER: I know it’s hard, but in the end it’s really your decision.

EBONI LOGAN: Why are all the hard decisions the ones you have to make by yourself?

SOCIAL WORKER: I understand you’re confused. I know you were hoping to go away to college, maybe get a scholarship. I think the best advice I can give is that it’s good to listen to everyone’s opinions, especially those close to you. But in the end, you have to decide what you wanted to do, rather than what anyone else wants.

EBONI LOGAN: Yes, ma’am.

SOCIAL WORKER: There is one other thing I wanted to mention. We’ve talked about your options, and it’s important to keep an open mind about all of them. But there’s one option we haven’t discussed, adoption. There’s even an open adoption where the birth mother and the adopting family know who each other are and keep in contact. I know it’s a lot to think about.

EBONI LOGAN: It sure is.

THE END

ASSIGNMENT 2: Position Paper: Population Perspectives on Policy

Sometimes, during heated discussions and debates about social policy, the underlying reasons for the policy go unnoticed. Advocates and policymakers may become so committed to their perspectives and to winning the debates that they lose focus on the larger context surrounding an issue. The purpose of policy is to improve the lives and well-being of individuals and groups in our society. As you assume the role of a social work policymaker, consider the importance of keeping the needs and experiences of vulnerable populations at the forefront of your mind in your advocacy efforts. This can help to assure effective policy practice.

For this Assignment, read the Position Paper Assignment Instructions document in the resources.

Position Paper Instructions

You will have to submit a Position Paper at the end of Week 9 of the course. You will choose a profile of an individual from a population that is considered to be an “at risk,” marginalized, or oppressed group. You will assume this profile and use the perspective to evaluate the impact of the policy on this individual profile. You will write a 3- to 5-page paper exploring the position on the policy from the perspective of the individual profile. Finally, consider the impact of social policy from the perspective of the individual you selected.

Assignment (3–5 pages, APA format): Your paper should include:

§  A description of the individual you selected who is representative of a population that is considered to be an “at-risk,” marginalized, or oppressed group

§  An evaluation of the impact of policy from the perspective of the individual you selected

References (use 2 or more)

Concannon, L. (2009). Developing inclusive health and social care policies for older LGBT citizens. British Journal of Social Work, 39(3), 403–417.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved November 14, 2013, from http://www.ahrq.gov