This paper is intended to help facilitate students in their transition from graduate school to professional social work practice through reflection on and integration of what they have learned in the MSW Program. Using specific examples to illustrate development and growth, the paper will be comprised of a narrative outlining your growth in this field. The paper will be 8-10 pages (papers over 10 pages will be returned ungraded), written in APA format, and will address:
Your development of ALL of the social work competencies viewed through the lens of a specific case, wherever possible, and citing specific examples. (Examples may include excerpts from process recordings, narrative examples from internship experiences, accounts of class discussions in previous courses, etc.)
Your experiences with anti-racism, diversity and social justice pursuits, ethical dilemmas, applying research to practice, policy advocacy, engaging, assessing, and intervening with clients and client groups, and evaluation of your practice.
Your assessment of your strengths and challenges as a social worker.
Your plans for professional self-care and continuing development.
Questions to guide discussion of this summary of your learning:
1. In considering the development of your ethical practice while in the program, describe ways in which you have seen your practice grow, using specific examples to illustrate your development over the course of the MSW program.
2. What have been your most significant tension points and/or challenges in regard to human rights and social justice pursuits at your internship? How have you struggled with these during the program and where do you currently stand? Please give examples.
3. Discuss what issues pertaining to cultural competence and diversity have been challenges for you, and what you have learned about working with people who are different from yourself? How has what you have learned impacted your practice decisions? How has your practice evolved?
4. How have you used research to inform your practice in regard to a specific case? Please give examples.
5. What policies have impacted your work with a particular client/client system? How have you/might you advocate for certain policies to help your clients situation?
6. How does your use of self work to engage with clients/client systems? Please speak to the evolution of your use of self since entering the MSW Program.
7. What theories have you used to inform your practice with a particular client? Please give examples, attending to the complexities of your understanding and choices in this regard, and taking into consideration differential diagnoses and different ways that you might choose to work with this client.
8. Provide an example of an intervention you have used with a particular client, and how you came to use that particular intervention. What other interventions might have worked in this situation? How might this have worked/not worked with this client or client system?
9. How have you evaluated your practice in the field?
10. What are your strengths and challenges as a social worker as you prepare to leave school and move out into the field?
The following criteria will be used to evaluate your capstone paper:
Thoroughness in addressing all components of this assignment
Depth of discussion and analysis. Use of supporting research is optional, but can effectively enhance your paper
Professional writing skills
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