Two pieces of evidence that demonstrate knowledge, values, skills, and/or cognitive & affective processes in Competency 8: Intervene 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 II (5533), Human Behavior: Macro Perspectives (5531), or Program Evaluation (5550)

A paragraph rationalization for each piece of evidence chosen. 

Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Social workers understand that intervention 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 are knowledgeable about evidence-informed interventions to achieve the goals of clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to effectively intervene with clients and constituencies. Social workers understand methods of identifying, analyzing and implementing evidence-informed interventions to achieve client and constituency goals. Social workers value the importance of interprofessional teamwork and communication in interventions, recognizing that beneficial outcomes may require interdisciplinary, interprofessional, and inter-organizational collaboration.

Social workers:

• critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies;
• apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies;
• use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes;
• negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies; and
• facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals.

Practicum Example:

“Monthly I will work with clients to practice identifying their support systems both familial and community based as evidenced by my personal practicum notes.”

This form of intervention has been especially helpful with the demographic I work with at PRIDE Haven. Most, if not all, of the clients that stay at PRIDE Haven have little to no relationship with their family and have a difficult time making and maintaining relationships with others. Many of them feel alone because they have been rejected in one way or another for who they are. By helping them to identify support systems that they may not have realized they have and finding ways to improve current relationships, clients feel more secure and confident in their ability to meet their goals.

5533 Example:

I found it really useful and interesting to research different intervention methods for my GIM: Intervention Plan. Especially since I haven’t worked much with social work directly related to substance use. It was cool to look at the different assessments, see what they were used for and decide which would be best suited for my client. So far in my career, the intervention methods are often chosen by the service agency I work for, so it was nice to be able to do the work myself and feel confident in my choice and be able to provide solid rationale for it.