Educational Objectives of the JMU Social Work Program
Educational Objective 1—Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
Social workers serve as representatives of the profession, its mission, and its core values. They know the profession’s history. Social workers commit themselves to the profession’s enhancement and to their own professional conduct and growth. Social workers
- advocate for client access to the services of social work;
- practice personal reflection, demonstrating a commitment to reflecting on and strengthening those areas deemed necessary for effective professional practice and continued professional development;
- utilize the various social work roles including enabler/facilitator, mobilizer, broker, advocate and mediator;
- clarify one's role, purpose, and boundaries to develop and maintain helping relationships.
- demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and communication, including professional writing and documentation;
- engage in career-long learning; and
- use supervision and consultation.
Educational Objective 2—Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
Social workers have an obligation to conduct themselves ethically and to engage in ethical decision-making. Social workers are knowledgeable about the value base of the profession, its ethical standards, and relevant law. Social workers
- differentiate personal, professional and client value systems;
- recognize and manage personal values in a way that allows professional values to guide practice;
- establish and maintain professional relationships in keeping with the NASW Code of Ethics;
- make ethical decisions by applying standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and, as applicable, of the International Federation of Social Workers/International Association of Schools of Social Work Ethics in Social Work, Statement of Principles;
- tolerate ambiguity in resolving ethical conflicts; and
- apply strategies of ethical reasoning to arrive at principled decisions.
Educational Objective 3—Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
Social workers are knowledgeable about the principles of logic, scientific inquiry, and reasoned discernment. They use critical thinking augmented by creativity and curiosity. Critical thinking also requires the synthesis and communication of relevant information. Social workers
- distinguish, appraise, and integrate multiple sources of knowledge, including research-based knowledge, and practice wisdom;
- analyze models of assessment, prevention, intervention, and evaluation;
- use research skills to critically evaluate the extent to which intervention objectives were achieved; and
- demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and colleagues.
Educational Objective 4—Engage diversity and difference in practice.
Social workers understand how diversity characterizes and shapes the human experience and is critical to the formation of identity. The dimensions of diversity are understood as the intersectionality of multiple factors including age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, national origin, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and spirituality. Social workers appreciate that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. Social workers understand the implications of diversity for social work practice, policy practice and service delivery. Social workers
- recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and value positions (conservative, liberal, libertarian, radical) effect risk and protective factors and may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or enhance privilege and power;
- gain sufficient self-awareness to reduce the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse groups;
- recognize and communicate their understanding of the importance of difference in shaping life experiences; and
- view themselves as learners and engage those with whom they work as informants as appropriate
Educational Objective 5—Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
Each person, regardless of position in society, has basic human rights, such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education. Social workers recognize the global interconnections of oppression and are knowledgeable about theories of justice and strategies to promote human and civil rights. Social workers understand the dynamics of differential power relationships in societal structures and incorporate social justice practices in organizations, institutions, and society to ensure that these human rights are distributed equitably and without prejudice. Social workers understand the role of diversity for social work practice, policy practice and service delivery. Social workers
- understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination;
- advocate for human rights and social and economic justice; and
- engage in practices that advance social and economic justice.
Educational Objective 6 —Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
Social workers use practice experience to inform research, employ evidence-based interventions, evaluate their own practice, and use research findings to improve practice, policy, and social service delivery.Social workers comprehend quantitative and qualitative research and understand scientific and ethical
approaches to building knowledge. Social workers
- apply research methodology
- use practice experience to inform scientific inquiry
- use research skills to critically evaluate the extent to which intervention objectives were achieved; and
- use research evidence to inform practice.
Educational Objective 7—Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
Social workers are knowledgeable about human behavior across the life course; the range of social systems in which people live; the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Social workers apply theories and knowledge from the liberal arts to understand biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development. They apply knowledge about current societal issues and their impact on development and behavior. Social workers
- utilize conceptual frameworks to guide the processes of assessment, intervention, and evaluation; and
- critique and apply knowledge to understand person and environment.
Educational Objective 8—Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
Social work practitioners understand that policy affects service delivery and they actively engage in policy practice. Social workers know the history, the major value positions (conservative, liberal, libertarian, radical), the role of diversity, current structures of social policies and services; the role of policy in service delivery; and the role of practice in policy development. Social workers
- analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance social well-being; and
- collaborate with colleagues and clients for effective policy action.
Educational Objective 9—Respond to contexts that shape practice.
Social workers understand the major events in the history of social welfare as they have impacted on social welfare institutions and their ability to address societal needs. They are informed, resourceful, and proactive in responding to evolving organizational, community, and societal contexts at all levels of practice. Social workers recognize that the context of practice is dynamic, and use knowledge and skill to respond proactively. Social workers
- continuously discover, appraise, and attend to changing locales, populations, scientific and technological developments, and emerging societal trends to provide relevant services; and
- provide leadership in promoting sustainable changes in service delivery and practice to improve the quality of social services.
Educational Objective 10 Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Professional practice involves the dynamic and interactive processes of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation at multiple levels. Social workers have the knowledge and skills to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Practice knowledge includes identifying, analyzing, and implementing evidence-based interventions designed to achieve client goals; using research and technological advances; evaluating program outcomes and practice effectiveness; developing, analyzing, advocating, and providing leadership for policies and services; and promoting social and economic justice.
Educational Objective 10(a)—Engagement
Social workers
- substantively and affectively prepare for action with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
- use empathy and other interpersonal skills; and
- develop a mutually agreed-on focus of work and desired outcomes.
- critically reflect on own position and how it affects the relationship and change process
Educational Objective 10(b)—Assessment
Social workers• collect, organize, and interpret client data;
• assess client strengths and limitations;
•develop mutually agreed-upon helping actions to be undertaken (i.e.. plan, policy, strategy or program); and
• select appropriate intervention strategies.Educational Objective 10(c)—Intervention
Social workers• initiate actions to achieve organizational goals;
• implement prevention interventions that enhance client capacities;
• help clients resolve problems;
• negotiate, mediate, and advocate for clients; and
• facilitate transitions and endings.Educational Objective 10(d)—Evaluation
Social workers critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate interventions.
