Core Competency #1

Jessie Smith
Core Competency #1

Demonstrate Ethical and

Professional Behavior
Practice Behavior 1.1

Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW

Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical
decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes
of ethics as appropriate to context.

Facing challenges where teenagers can be very resentful and

disrespectful to staff at times as a result of how they were treated
at home, the NASW reminds me to focus on the dignity and worth
of a person as well as the importance of human relationships by
establishing trust with the clients and recognizing the strengths
within them.
Practice Behavior 1.2

Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and

maintain professionalism in practice situations.

Remembering the difficulties of being a teenager allows me to

engage them in a healthy and respectful manner. When they get
upset, I remember that they have not experienced ideal home
lives and they are facing a lot of emotional stress and this allows
me to control the situation and speak to them in a manner which
will relate to and calm them.
Practice Behavior 1.3

Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and

oral, written, and electronic communication.

Treating clients with respect, in return teaches them to respect

adults and other staff. Many of these teenagers have never known
what it is like to be respected or to give respect. Speaking to
them in a respectful manner warrants responses from them with
respect in return.
Practice Behavior 1.4

Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice

outcomes.

The use of music therapy with clients relating to particular

hardships suffered at home with the use of songs containing lyrics
about split homes, drug use, etc. This allows clients to reflect and
relate to situations and home and how the music makes them feel
about it.
Practice Behavior 1.5

Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment

and behavior.

Consulting the supervisor and other staff before making

recommendations on activities and suggested treatment methods
before applying them during group therapy sessions with the
clients.
Core Competency #2
Jessie Smith
Core Competency #2

Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

Practice Behavior 2.1

Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of

diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at
the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

The clients are of different races, cultures, and backgrounds.

Getting to know them individually at a personal level allows me to
be effective in gaining their trust and working with them. Working
mainly with them on a micro and mezzo level.
Practice Behavior 2.2

Present themselves as learners and engage clients and

constituencies as experts of their own experiences.

I shadow the staff and learn how they treat and communicate with
clients so that when I speak with them and participate in group
treatments, I am able to keep their attention and work effectively
with them. Although the clients are teenagers, I remain open
minded and learn from them as well, because every person has
room to learn from another.
Practice Behavior 2.3

Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence

of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and
constituencies.

Everyday I reflect on myself and identify any current biases I may

have toward teenagers, other races, and social standings to
prevent them coming out during treatment. I try to help clients
identify their own biases as well so they may work effectively
together as well.
Core Competency #3
Jessie Smith
Core Competency #3

Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental

Justice
Practice Behavior 3.1

Apply understanding of social, economic, and environmental

justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system
levels.

Having to understand the economy, different social classes and

environmental injustices in order to work with clients of different
races, social standings, etc. Clients are from all different
backgrounds and must be treated accordingly because one client
is much different than another client.
Practice Behavior 3.2

Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and

environmental justice.

Advocating for an increase in treatment programs such as PORT

and an increase in job and school opportunities for lower income
places.
Core Competency #4
Jessie Smith
Core Competency #4

Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed

Practices
Practice Behavior 4.1

Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry

and research.

Using person in environment perspective. I observe clients with

each other and other staff and monitor clients behaviors in order
to assess any treatments that I would recommend be added to
their current treatments.
Practice Behavior 4.2

Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and

qualitative research methods and research findings.

Ive collaborated with staff and use qualitative methods of

research in implementing treatment with clients. In other words
we gauge their words and feeling during group therapy to
determine if treatment methods are effective or not with each
individual.
Practice Behavior 4.3

Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve

practice, policy, and service delivery.

Ive conducted an assessment of the facility and determined that

in order to improve service delivery and practice, I have
implemented a new nutritional plan and exercise plan for clients
as well as advocated for a higher budget for treatment for the
Aberdeen facility.
Core Competency #5
Jessie Smith
Core Competency #5

Engage In Policy Practice

Practice Behavior 5.1

Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that
impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services.

North Carolina uses the systems of care approach to work with

adolescent kids with substance abuse problems. PORT uses this
approach to involve the client and their family as the main
approach in their treatments.
Practice Behavior 5.2

Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the

delivery of and access to social services.

Recently funding was cut from the agency. So I have assessed

needs as well as incoming clients and proposed to advocate for a
higher budget to accomodate new and existing needs.
Practice Behavior 5.3

Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for

policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and
environmental justice.

The agency needs more funding as well as a program to address

dental needs for clients. As of now the agency can take clients to
an urgent care and for dental emergencies but cannot take clients
for routine dental, cavities, cleanings etc.
Core Competency #6
Jessie Smith
Core Competency #6

Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and

Communities.
Practice Behavior 6.1

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment,

person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical
frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies.

I take time to learn about clients, their likes, dislikes, what their
home lives are like, etc., to be able to better relate to them and
understand them on a personal and professional level. The
workers here are counselors so they teach me different ways to
engage with clients outside of a social work perspective.
Practice Behavior 6.2

Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively

engage diverse clients and constituencies.

I speak with clients on their level and utilize my own past with
drug use and life experiences to share with clients so they will be
able to relate to me and establish trust with each other. I do not
speak down to them, instead we speak as equals, and give and
receive respect from one another.
Core Competency #7
Jessie Smith
Core Competency #7

Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and

Communities.
Practice Behavior 7.1

Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret

information from clients and constituencies.

Sitting in on intakes of clients with their families allows me to

better understand what clients home lives are like as well as their
communities. Conducting community assessments and gathering
resources allows me to be able get to know the community better
to better assist clients.
Practice Behavior 7.2

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment,

person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical
frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies.

Observing clients interactions with each other on their personal

time allows me to better understand their personalities and what
triggers them. Working alongside licensed substance abuse
counselors gives me a different perspective in working with clients
with substance abuses.
Practice Behavior 7.3

Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives

based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and
challenges within clients and constituencies.

When clients enter treatment, the client, their families and staff
develop a mutually agreed on treatment as well as a contract for
behaviors and expectations. This is to hold clients accountable and
teach them to take responsibility for their actions and well as take
control of their treatment.
Practice Behavior 7.4

Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the

assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of
clients and constituencies.

Clients are approached and treated using a strengths based

approach that allow them to build off of their strengths, but also
identify their weaknesses and address them when they are ready
to admit to themselves that they have a problem.
Core Competency #8
Jessie Smith
Core Competency #8

Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and

Communities
Practice Behavior 8.1

Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice

goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies.

Conducting group therapy with clients called the 7 challenges that

allow them to face their weaknesses. Using music and movies
allow them to broaden their perception about problems within
families and homes so they can reflect on their own problems.
Practice Behavior 8.2

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment,

person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical
frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies.

Observing clients interactions with each other on their personal

time allows me to better understand their personalities and what
triggers them. Working alongside licensed substance abuse
counselors gives me a different perspective in working with clients
with substance abuses.
Practice Behavior 8.3

Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve

beneficial practice outcomes.

The majority of the staff here are licensed substance abuse

counselors. Working together and giving them a social work
perspective as well as receiving their opinions as counselors allows
us to collaborate and expand on existing treatment options.
Practice Behavior 8.4

Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse

clients and constituencies.

Clients are of many different backgrounds and are diverse, getting

to know them on an individual and personal level allows me to
better work with them and to be sensitive to their cultures and
lifestyles.
Practice Behavior 8.5

Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually

agreed-on goals.

The program is designed for clients to graduate successfully as

long as they follow treatment and after care is set up for them
when they go home. They could also be discharged from the
program for non compliance and recommended to level 4
treatment rather than level 3.
Clients meet their own goals as well as the agencys in order to
graduate.
Core Competency #9
Jessie Smith
Core Competency #9

Evaluate practice with Individuals, Families, Groups,

Organizations, and Communities
Practice Behavior 9.1

Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes.

We get feedback from clients and staff regarding treatment and

further options. Using this feedback we can evaluate ongoing
treatment as well as ways to enhance it for future clients.
Practice Behavior 9.2

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment,

person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical
frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes.

Observing clients interactions with each other on their personal

time allows me to better understand their personalities and what
triggers them. Working alongside licensed substance abuse
counselors gives me a different perspective in working with clients
with substance abuses.
Practice Behavior 9.3

Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program

processes and outcomes.

I monitor and observe clients reactions to treatments and group

therapy sessions and provide my opinions to staff and what I
believe can be improved upon without imposing on their plans.
Practice Behavior 9.4

Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the

micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

We reflect as a group how clients group goes, how their nights

were with other shifts, etc. and determine improvement needs for
treatment or how staff can better improve clients well being and
living experiences. We then adjust accordingly and implement new
measures.