Two pieces of evidence that demonstrate knowledge, values, skills, and/or cognitive & affective processes in Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities:

- One from your practicum experience (identify learning activity(ies) that best exemplify the competency)

- One from Foundation Practice I (5532) or Systemic-Oppression (5565)

A paragraph rationalization for each piece of evidence chosen. 

Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Social workers understand that engagement is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers value the importance of human relationships. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to facilitate engagement with clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand strategies to engage diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may impact their ability to effectively engage with diverse clients and constituencies. Social workers value principles of relationship-building and inter-professional collaboration to facilitate engagement with clients, constituencies, and other professionals as appropriate.

Social workers:

• apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies; and
• use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.

Practicum Example: “By May 1st, I will use data gathered by clients to facilitate youth workgroups specific to their self-disclosed needs/wants using a person centered, strengths-based approach as evidenced by work group notes and my personal field note journal.”

Engaging with the clients in our Friday groups has been the most rewarding part of my internship, especially when the clients provide feedback and help design the groups they’re participating in. It has given them a sense of ownership and makes them feel they have a voice worth hearing. I’ve found that by asking the clients what topics they want to discuss in groups and how they want those groups to look and function, they are much more likely to come and participate. It has helped me better center my work on what will best serve my clients.

5532 Example: Generalist Intervention Model: Engaging

This assignment, and all of the GIM assignments, have really helped me with taking the somewhat abstract topics we learn in class and translate them into examples of how they would actually apply to my job as a social worker. Engaging was a bit that I had never really thought of in that much detail until writing this assignment. I was able to apply this to my current job as a case manager at my shelter and it has helped me build better rapport with my clients and helped to solidify our professional relationships.