Student Focus

What I’ve Learned about Social Work from Waiting Tables

             As an intern with the NASW and a senior-level BSW student, I have been exposed to a lot of social work methods and ideologies in the last few months. I’ve come to view each new theory (as in systems) and perspective (as in strengths) as a new tool that I can carry with me into my upcoming work, whatever that may be. However, in seeing what these tools look like, I have begun to see similarities between them and some that I already had.

            Okay, a little background here- I am a 7 year restaurant veteran. I’ve done almost everything there is to do in restaurants. I’ve worked my way from bussing tables to washing dishes to catering to cooking to serving to bartending and finally to managing a restaurant. In this time, I’ve established some methods of interacting with people. I’ve recently found that these steps mirror many intervention processes used by professional social workers.

            For example, a good social work intervention begins by building rapport. This eases the client into a situation in which they may feel less anxious and more willing to communicate. When I work with a table, the exact same thing is true. As I greet a table, it’s important to do something to make a connection- remark on someone’s shoes, ask about the weather, talk about sports, etc. Any of these things can make your guest feel more comfortable. A more comfortable guest is more likely to spend more money and tip better, and a more comfortable client is more likely to be responsive to the helping process. These strategies are essential in both fields.

            Additionally, managing at the restaurant has really reinforced the importance of reflecting emotion and making empathetic statements. A guest at the restaurant may have a steak cooked improperly, for example. In this situation, it is essential that the guest feel like I care about their steak, and that I want it to get better for them. This too has many parallels to social work- when a client presents a new dynamic, it is essential that they be heard and understanding in an empathic way. And while the stakes may be different, the method is the same.

            Managing has also introduced some more macro themes to my restaurant experience. Now, no longer am I responsible for my own guests, but for every guest that comes through the doors of the restaurant. Ensuring that they’re experience is a beneficial one is my key responsibility, and this must be done while balancing books and ensuring that cases of meat aren’t disappearing out the back. This is similar to what many administrators must do in their work- ensuring that their clients are being served while making sure the agency doesn’t go under--- again, similar methods, different tasks.

            Of course, there are major differences to be found between social work and

waiting tables. Motivation is one. When I’m waiting tables, I only care about whether my guests have a good experience because it will mean I make a larger tip from that guest. In social work, the motivation is much less fiscal and, I should hope, more altruistic. Also, a person’s life isn’t likely to be ruined by an improperly prepared steak.

However, the lessons that can be learned from customer service cannot be underestimated. If a guest comes into my restaurant and doesn’t receive a warm and friendly greet, they are less likely to return. If a client is not treated this respect and warmth when they enter an agency, they are less likely to be helped. And ultimately, a client not being properly served by a social worker is must more tragic than me receiving a sub-par tip.

            

World AIDS Day – December 1, 2007

Why should we, as social work students, get involved with the fight against HIV/AIDS?

The National Association of Social Workers policy statement on HIV and AIDS states, “Social workers increasingly encounter HIV/AIDS, either directly or indirectly, regardless of their area of practice, geographic location, or practice setting. Because of its ecological perspective  and commitment to social justice, social work is particularly well suited for addressing the complex problems associated with the epidemic” (NASW Social Work Speaks, 2006-2009).

Therefore, as social work students, we should take action to enhance the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS, increase our awareness of the disease, and join the fight against HIV/AIDS. One way to do this is to participate in World AIDS Day.

On World AIDS day, people all over the world join together to educate one another about the disease, remember those who lost their lives fighting the disease, raise funds, and take action to stop the spread of HIV. The theme for the 2007 World AIDS Day is “Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise- Leadership.” The focus is on getting everyone, not just the government, to take initiative and provide leadership on fighting HIV/AIDS.

Social work students can join the fight against HIV/AIDS by participating in events in your community, such as the ones listed below…

World AIDS Day events in

Chicago

include:

·         The American Medical Student Association is hosting a large rally in

Chicago

on Friday, November 30^th ---asking for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) reform

·         World AIDS Day Candle Light Vigil & March at the Center on Halsted on December 1st--- an event to “Remember and Celebrate” those living with HIV/AIDS or have passed away

·         Student cabaret presentation for World AIDS Day on December 1^st--- University of Illinois Chicago theatre and music students perform songs from musical theatre past, present, and future to raise money for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (Tickets = $10)

Please send events that are being hosted at your school or in your community so they can be added to the list above.

Why Lobby?

Why Lobby?

Let me first introduce the concept. What exactly is lobbying? Lobby is defined as the action of a group of persons who campaign to influence members of a legislature to vote according to the group's special interests. Social workers work and are involved in nearly every area of society and community.  The NASW Illinois Chapter represents over 8,000 social workers across the state. It is necessary that a collective voice is heard with a stance and wish represents promoting the issues important to our profession. Legislators need to be aware that social workers in Illinois:

a. Represent a significant number of votes

b. Have expectations that need to be honored per promises made during their campaign

c. Rally support for issues that impact the communities and individuals they serve

This is why Lobby Day is significant. It gives students the opportunity to advocate for their profession.  It also gives experience first hand of how legislators affect all areas of social work.  Dealing with the legislature is often an unattractive activity by so many social work students as it is not direct practice and is undesirable to spend time in “politics.” It is important to understand however how there must be the inclusion of the legislature as their decisions (or lack thereof) on issues important to social work practice inevitably affects us all, especially those who work in direct practice. Things that occur at the “grassroots” level can be directly linked to decisions of the legislature.

So, we need EVERY AVIALABLE SOCIAL WORKER

AND

SOCIAL

WORK

STUDENT AT LOBBY

DAY

! Don’t miss the opportunity to represent in the numbers with your peers and send a strong message to the legislators.

The tragedy of two adopted teen sisters

The tragedy of two adopted teen sisters who were both pregnant, and both babies died was recently highlighted in the November 17, 2006 edition of the Chicago Tribune in an article entitled, “2 Teens, 2 births, a family tragedy. DCFS knew of abuse before baby’s death.” As a former foster care case manager (not with DCFS and not in Illinois) my response was probably not unlike most reader’s reactions. I was shocked, outraged, and saddened to read about the situation. Two sisters, ages thirteen and fourteen were pregnant at the same time in the same home. Their single 66 year-old adoptive mother was portrayed to be unaware they were pregnant. The sisters were two of eight adopted children in the home ages ranging 6 to 14. There was some convoluted information stated in the article that concluded that both babies, being born within weeks of each other, are now dead.

Now my response as a person who has experience working in child welfare: I know there are many dynamics involved with a situation like this. One person (or agency) cannot be responsible for all the issues faced with servicing children in foster care. I understand there are reasons the case manager was not quoted, but what about his or her perspective?

I have a well educated friend that works in the business world who said something quite interesting to me about this story…. DCFS was caught slipping on the job. What? How did you come to that conclusion? Well that’s what they are supposed to do, right? Look, even the title of the article states they knew what was going on.” Wow, he truly felt he had given a justified response. Then I realized that THIS IS WHAT MANY PEOPLE THINK about issues in CHILD WELFARE….What happens or doesn’t happen is up to those who work in child welfare, because that’s “what they do.”

I will attempt to briefly restate my response to my friend’s words. “If child welfare workers are the “they” you are referring to, you are basically saying no one else should be scrutinized or held accountable for situations like this?” He nodded in agreement as if I was stating the obvious. I told him “the system” is not solely child welfare workers; it’s the entire community! So it is our fault as individuals in the community. He quickly rebutted, “I am not a social worker how I can be responsible?” Again the sad revelation that this must be a widely held perspective hit me. I continued…the community is at fault when we take a collective apathetic stance and do not get involved with assuring all the kids are okay. How are we at fault as a community? We are at fault for being too busy to mentor. We are at fault for not seeking ways to reach the younger generation, biological family and other kids we are around. It’s our fault when we do not take the time to affirm and encourage our youth instead of always pointing out negative observations. We are at fault for not opening our homes to foster children from our communities. In case you were not aware, there is a severe shortage of qualified homes for the high numbers of children who need placement. We are at fault for witnessing acts of child abuse/neglect and domestic violence and not saying or doing anything because it’s none of our business…When is the last time you did something?

Is it your business now that two teen sisters have two babies that are both now dead?

Or will this simply “be a shame that DCFS didn’t do anything” until the next tragedy?

Who should be outraged?

Everyone Who is to blame?

Everyone Whose fault that all this happened?

EVERYONE We need a collective approach--- we are all responsible!

I guarantee there is not one parent who has raised a child without the assistance and/or input of someone else. When will we wake up and understand the following is not simply a cliché: “It takes a village to raise a child.”

What about the fact that the teens did not get pregnant by themselves; WHO AND WHERE ARE THE FATHERS OF THE BABIES? T

he article does not mention of the word “father.” I want to suggest to the journalists who report these types of stories to consider the following: Your pen affects the reader’s opinion. Report the story with consideration of all persons involved in a situation and hold all responsible parties accountable present in these situations!

A direct example is the article’s title,” “2 Teens, 2 births, a family tragedy. DCFS knew of abuse before baby’s death.” This reinforces the “they did not do their job” stigma of those associated with child welfare and ignores that child welfare is everyone’s issue, no matter what your profession. I would suggest revising the story title to, “2 teen mothers, 2 babies lost, community fails again.”

Social Work With the LGBT Community

“It is the position of the NASW that same gender sexual orientation should be afforded the same respect and rights as other gender orientation. Discrimination and prejudice directed against any group is damaging to the social, emotional, and economic well being of the affected group and of society as a whole.” (Craig De Silva & Clark, 2006, 247)

            The profession of social work is founded on the principle of social justice.  This principle most commonly refers to advocating for the oppressed and disenfranchised.  Racism and sexism are definite social ills that social workers hope to eradicate.  They harm everyone in society and as a result, laws have been passed such as the Civil Rights Act to protect against discrimination of racial and gender minorities.  However, one minority group is still not afforded the same rights and protections.  The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population faces very serious prejudice in our society often resulting in discrimination, emotional and physical abuse and a lack of basic human rights.

            This topic came to my attention as many of my classmates throughout my educational career have lamented the fact that they are not comfortable working with the LGBT population.  They think that they will do them more harm than good because of their prejudice and therefore think that it’s best to simply cut off working with an entire group of people.  Personally, I don’t think that is acceptable.  Again, social work is a profession rooted in the social activism tradition.  Social workers should speak out for those who have lost their voice, which means everyone that is oppressed.  It’s simply not fair or ethical to pick and choose whom you want to advocate for.  In almost every social work setting (as in life), the LGBT population is going to be present. School social workers are going to have to comfort teens who decide to “come out”, addiction counselors have to help people who have turned to drugs to deal with the possible repercussions of their sexual orientation, and child welfare workers have to combat the emotional and physical abuse that many parents inflict upon their gay and lesbian children.  Social workers do not have a choice in this matter.  We are advocates for the oppressed.  The LGBT community faces very intense prejudice and discrimination in our society, and if we’re not on their side, who will be?

            What happens when a social worker decides that they aren’t comfortable working with people with disabilities or the elderly or African Americans?  When does it cross a line into unacceptable prejudice and even hate?  We as a society, (rightfully so) would be outraged if a social worker refused to work with an African American.  By failing to address this blatant bias in our profession, we risk losing ethical credibility.  We also may lose very talented gay and lesbian social workers as well as those who identify as LGBT allies. 

            Straight women and men are not identified solely because of who they are attracted to.  Why should lesbian women and gay men have only one identity?  They have a hundred other personality traits and characteristics.  They are brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, employees and employers, friends, volunteers and activists.  I would hope not to be judged by my marital status or who I choose to date.  Everyone should be afforded the same right of having a personal life and not being judged based on that one aspect of a broader life. 

            Social work should be at the forefront of this movement.   The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population should have civil rights like anyone else. Yet they are not protected under the Civil Rights Act, they are not afforded marriage rights and in many cases cannot adopt children.  All social workers should be outraged, but instead some refuse to work with any LGBT clients. Social workers who feel this way need to honestly analyze themselves, and figure out the deeper reasons why they hold this prejudice.  The profession is ever evolving and this issue is not going to disappear. 

The NASW Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice outline several important points that directly relate to work with the LGBT community. Ethics and values are a key component for our practice as social workers.  We must adhere to these ethical guidelines as well as recognize how our personal and professional values might conflict with our diverse clientele.  This includes recognizing your own bias towards different sexual orientations and actively working to eliminate them.  Everyone has prejudicial attitudes but recognizing that is of utmost importance.  Being self aware and having a sincere interest in accepting everyone’s differences are what makes social workers very unique.  The LGBT community also has its own values and nuances that make it distinctive.  They face barriers and share a sense of community that others may not understand.  It takes a considerable amount of effort to grasp and appreciate these differences as well as the differences in any community.  Likewise, they must put their skills to use with different approaches and techniques in working with the LGBT population.    The profession must also be knowledgeable about resources available to this population as well as the policies that affect them.  Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are not protected under the Civil Rights Act and as a result suffer serious consequences of publicly displaying their sexual orientation.  Social work may be the only profession dedicated to amending policies that negatively impact the LGBT community.  Our profession has a very unique opportunity in gaining rights and benefits for a severely disenfranchised population. 

Intro

My name is Patiya Freely and I am an intern at

NASW

IL

chapter in

Chicago

.  I am graduating with my

MSW

from Jane Addams College of Social Work in May, 2007. Unlike most of my classmates, I had no interest in social work until a few years ago. I loved corporate

America

(especially the salary potential) so I received my B.A in business and worked in the private sector a few years after graduating. After a series of life changing events, I ended up working as a foster care case manager and knew social work was for me.

For a period of time I was conflicted about my career path. I love helping people, but I still liked business concepts.  I believe that there is a way to merge these two unseemingly related areas. I understand the business world is often not portrayed as warm and personable, characteristics likely easily assigned to social work.  This is the beauty of it; I can redefine and reshape [the image of] what a social worker does!

There is a way to merge your various interests without severe compromise. Don’t become discouraged or confused on your pursuit to a social work career. Life’s unplanned and unexpected turns can shape your experience and may usher you into your ideal career.

There are countless avenues to take and many areas not yet saturated with social workers. You don’t have to know exactly where the road ends to begin your personal journey.

I invite you to share your experiences as an IL social work student. Post a blog comment on the Student Focus page on the NASW website.  It can be anything social work related. Just send it in to the chapter office.  There are so many things social work students encounter and we should support each other just as much as we seek to help others.  You never know how your comments and input could help or encourage someone. Voice your thoughts and concerns.

Women Social Workers

I am going to graduate in May with a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago and my focus is on community and administrative practice.  I am very interested in public policy and finding ways to alleviate and eradicate social ills such as poverty, racism and discrimination.  I have lofty goals of one day running an organization or perhaps starting a non-profit of my own.  I am very aware of the preparation, dedication and energy that this is going to take.  Proficiency is leadership skills is a must.  I have great women like Jane Addams, Mary Richmond and Jeanette Rankin to look up to.  These women were phenomenal social reformists who left an indelible mark on society.  They paved the way for other women to become outspoken advocates and leaders. 

Social work is a profession dominated by women. You don’t need a research study to prove this fact. Walk into any social work agency and at least 75% of the employees are women.  Women serve in the full spectrum of social work roles. They are case workers, drug and alcohol counselors, and therapists. They work in hospitals, prisons and in private practice.   They even serve in Congress.  Picture a social worker in your mind and it is most likely a woman.

What happened to the leadership of Jane Addams?  Have women become apathetic in their careers as social workers? Positive female role models are vital in a profession where burnout is high, cynicism is normal and the work is incredibly arduous, mentally and emotionally.  Social work truly changes lives and women need to realize their value and worth in this profession.  We need to support one another and advocate for our concerns.  Having control over our reproductive rights, being able to freely choose who we want to marry (whether they are male or female) and earning as much money as our male counterparts do are serious issues.  We can’t expect to help others when many of us need to learn how to advocate on our own behalf.

While reading a recent issue of Newsweek magazine devoted to women in leadership, I pondered if social workers possess the same skills that help advance women in other fields such as business.  In offering 10 Power Tips, they instructed women to be competitive and not to worry about being friends with everyone. They insisted that we demand to be well paid and to own our success. This kind of behavior is often foreign to social workers. We are supposed to be compassionate and empathetic, not cutthroat and aggressive.  But if we, as social workers are not assertive and confident in our abilities, we are going to lose administrative jobs to people in other fields.  Female social workers already have to compete with men for management positions, but with issues like fiscal responsibility and total quality management, these jobs may be directed towards people with a background in business.

Ruth Simmons, President of Brown University stated it best when in her article on the lessons she had learned being in a leadership position:

“I think women always have a little twinge of thinking that maybe somebody else is smarter, somebody else has the secret formula for reaching the right decision. I have to fight against that sometimes. If you come to a leadership role on the basis of your experience, knowledge and ability, you have to assume ownership of that, which means you endorse the notion that you deserve to be where you are, because your leadership has almost unquestionably been vetted. You are entitled to make decisions.”

Newsweek also suggested that women reach out to other women and offer support and collaboration.  We need to stand up for ourselves and exude confidence.  Social workers ultimately have an incredibly crucial task at hand.  We basically have the lives of millions of people in our hands.  We promote their well being, their mental health, and their rights and freedoms.  It’s time we start to accept this responsibility and become leaders in our field.    

Elizabeth Franklin, BSW

Student Intern, NASW-IL

If you are interested in this issue please share your thoughts through our blog comment space.  We are concerned with student issues and your feedback and input is invaluable!