The Role of a Social Worker Sexual violence aimed at children and adolescents is a very volatile area. According to Cruise (2014), 12 of every 1,000 children in the United States were reported abused or neglected in 2001. Of those abused, more than 86,000 (9.6%) of the nearly 1 million children maltreated in 2001 experienced some kind of sexual abuse. Estimates from incidence and prevalence studies suggest that 1 in 4 girls and one in 8–10 boys are sexually abused by the age of 18 (Cruise, 2014). As social workers in this field, this awareness is indispensable. As social workers, we have tremendous opportunities and obligations to help make and impact the well-being of those in need. As such, everyone, including children and adolescents, …show more content…
Victims of sexual violence often experience anger, guilt, shame, trust issues, and struggle with coping skills and low self-esteem issues (Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, 2009). Understanding the issues will affect how social workers engage their clients. Social workers must know how to interact with their clients, based on their needs. Some abilities that a social worker must possess in order to engage a client of this tribulation are the ability to promote a professional relationship and establish effective communication (Johnson & Yanca, 2010). Engagement happens when the relationship and rapport has been established (Johnson & Yanca, 2010). Providing these things are climate setting, questioning, focusing, guiding interpreting, observational and listening skills (Johnson & Yanca, 2010). By establishing a trusting, approachable and comfortable environment, the client is more likely to engage. This is the climate-setting skill. According to Johnson and Yanca (2010), three characteristics of this skill are empathy, genuineness, and non-possessive warmth. When a child or adolescent has become a victim of sexual violence, they are often experiencing feelings of guilt and shame (Cruise, 2014). Children in these situation are in need of understanding, openness and a non-judgmental setting. Developing climate setting skills demonstrates a significant competence in relation to the social
Social Workers are very important to everyday life. They are the ones that help people in need when they have nobody else to turn too. Also, they provide resources and better understanding of predicaments that you could be experiencing. I will reflect on how the class has affected me, my own experiences and how some theories have connected to my life experiences, and lastly, if the class helped toward my major. This class is important for someone that wants to become a social worker and wants to learn about the different theories used. Also, learning about me during this process of completing this class is fun and a way to see if the social work profession is right for me. There was many theories explained throughout this class but many will not be said because it wasn’t the main points that I was trying to get across. There are two tools that are used that can help a social worker organize a client’s life: Bubble map and Briefcase exercise. There are so many different ways a social worker can help a client deal with their problems and come up with a solution. It is up to that social worker to identify the client’s problem and see what theory fits.
Understanding the drive for molestation of an individual is hard to grasp. “Sick” is the word that parents and other individuals would describe it as. An article written to provide information on victims of sexual assault stated, “Approximately 1.8 million adolescents in the United States have been the victims of sexual assault” (NSOPW). The take on the issue is a very touching subject to talk about. According to Murray, “Most victims happen to be women or young girls and their rapists are usually close family, friends, or distant acquaintances” (211).
According to RAINN, (2009) approximately 10 per cent of all victims of sexual assault and abuse are adult and juvenile males. In terms of the nature of assault, real figures include a compendium of reported incidents ranging from unwanted sexual touching to forced penetration. To qualify this statement, it must be understood that the percentage does not reflect a vast number of crimes that go unreported due to issues that will be discussed in the present paper.
This paper will entail my reflections on three main areas pertaining to my own personal experiences. I will describe the influence of my own life experiences, give my particular world view, and describe what advantages and disadvantages, power, and privileges I will bring to my interaction as a social worker.
Based on an article by the National Alert Registry by Dr. Herbert Wagemaker, four percent of the population suffers from sexual orientation toward children. In 1999, 93,000 kids were sexually abused. 50% of the abusers were parents of th...
Kris became a social worker because she has a passion and needs to help people. Her passion comes from years of abuse and neglect when she was younger. She stated, “It feels right to be a social worker. Although there is no thank you cards and the work may be meticulous at times, seeing smiles is a great reward”. I have learned most social workers enter this career due to personal experiences and they were to help make a change. I am one of them. Although I know I cannot change the world, I know I can make a difference in the lives I touch. I too will find the smiles of my clients
Throughout the Social Work Program at Winona State University-Rochester, I have been able to expand my knowledge about what it means to be a social worker. Prior to joining this program, when I thought of a social worker, I thought of someone who is highly motivated, compassionate, supportive, and someone who wants to make a difference in somebody’s life. Although this definition is true, overtime I have been able to expand this definition. Now, they are also someone who builds relationships with clients during what are often their lowest points in their lives and they are a person who often will put others needs before their own. Social workers use their knowledge about maintaining a person’s dignity and worth and rely on skills that help them understand people within their environment, and using their training to help people from all walks of life both on the micro level and the macro level.
A part of a social worker’s task is to enhance the life of an individual through advocacy, educating, and engagement. Positive influence is benefited through the engagement of the client such as building rapport with the individual. By doing this, the social worker develops trusting ground for the individual delivering the message. Engagement is reported to be an establishment of a professional relationship with a client (Langer & Lietz, 2014). If the process of engagement is not established through security of the client, then therapy cannot begin (Bowlby, 1988). This process is the first encounter you have with the social worker.
47). Social workers advise clients how to attain resources, rather than just providing them. The idea is to include clients in their journey to success and feel a sense of control in their life. I personally believe encouraging empowerment is a critical aspect of a social worker’s roles and responsibility. Engaging clients in setting their own goals is essential, and ultimately more beneficial to them. Clients should be able to access resources on their own; additionally, they can use the assistance of friends, families, communities, and organizations. One of the core values of a social worker is, Importance of human relationships. According to the NASW, “Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process” (The National Association, “n. d.”). Empowerment and advocacy are closely connected. I want to advocate for clients, furthermore, I want clients to be able to advocate for
Engagement is considered one of the most important parts of working with a client. Coady and Lehmann (2008) consider engagement the first of four steps in the problem solving model of social work. Engagement can begin as early as the first over the phone contact or referral notification with the client. To become aware of the client’s background (ecology and life circumstances) is crucial part of this stage. It is also important for the social worker to become in tune with their own thoughts and beliefs when coming into contact with this client for the first time. After tuning into the client it is key for any social worker to make a client feel welcomed with a sense of warmth, empathy and respect. Too much empathy and warm, however, can be detrimental to the course of service provision. Coady and Lehmann (2008) note that the engagement process is never ending and can continue well into counseling.
Social Work is a discipline that can be a very rewarding experience for both the worker and the client. The practice involves working with individuals, families, or groups who are struggling to cope with life`s challenges. The social worker must combine his or her personal qualities, creative abilities, and social concerns with the professional knowledge in order to help client’s social functioning or prevent social problems from developing (Bradford W. Sheafor, 2008, p. 34). Social work practice seeks to promote human well-being, while addressing the processes by which individuals and groups are marginalized or diminished in their capacity to participate as citizens (Ian O'Connor, 2006, p. 1).
Social work is of great significance worldwide aiming to bring about social change and development, cohesiveness within the society, empowerment and liberation of people, particularly those who are in need (International Federation of Social Workers & International Association of School of Social Work (IFSW & IASSW), 2014). The basic functions of social work includes Restoration, Provision of resources and Prevention. A Social Worker can be defined as an individual who is trained and qualified in the field of Social Work. He/she works with vulnerable people in an effort to bring about change in them and develop their social functioning. This is done in hopes of the individual meeting their social needs, identifying and finding solutions for
More importantly, “60 percent of children who are sexually abused do not disclose and most are acquaintances but as many as 47 percent are family or extended family” (The Scope of, 2016). The prevalence of child sexual abuse is difficult to determine because it is often not reported; experts agree that the incidence is far greater than what is reported to authorities (Child Sexual Abuse, 2012). Startling statistics represent the depth of the issue. Globally, prevalence rates show that a range of 7-36% of women and 3-29% of men experience sexual abuse in childhood (The Scope of, 2016). “The U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau report child maltreatment 2010 found that 9.2% of victimized children were sexually assaulted” (Child Sexual Abuse,
The National Association of social workers (2008) defines the unifying primary mission or purpose of social work as “enhancing human well-being and helping meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.” (Dubois & Miley, 2014).
The profession of Social work is a unique and diverse field in that it has the capacity to reach many different individuals in many different aspects of their lives. Growing up with six siblings and being confined to a small three bedroom apartment, while my mother worked multiple jobs to provide for her children, often times I became reliant on others to guide me. In retrospect of my childhood, I have personally been affected by social workers, and each of them treated my family with such professionalism. These individuals who impacted my life, did not realize the blessings they were bestowing upon me. Little did they recognize, they forever enriched my life. I desire to do the same for others. I yearn to not only become a professional at promoting the well-being of others, but also making a long-term difference for others.