COVID 19 on aviation an logistic sector in the Sultanate of Oman

One of my key attributes is that I am a goal-oriented person

One of my key attributes is that I am a goal-oriented person by nature. A quick personal story to illustrate, I lost 60 pounds within a year by sticking to the weight loss program during the pandemic. This personality trait will also help me with my professional journey because many projects will be require dedication and commitment to be finished well. Secondly, I am a very adaptable and quick learner who can handle a quick pace of project work from department to department. This can be demonstrated by the fact that I was able to get accustomed to projects at a quick pace during my residency. This attribute is ideally suited to the XYZ Clinic fellowship since fellows rotate through the different departments at a rapid pace. 

Lastly, I am self-motivated. I was helping myself connect to various leaders at my residency workplace and asking for potential projects. I was able to get involved in their project work and contribute. I believe that this personality trait can be useful for the XYZ Clinic fellowship because fellows are granted the freedom to tailor their own experience and build up relationships with department leaders who can help me in my career development.  

One of the most important professional experiences related to healthcare administration is my administrative residency experience at XYZ Presbyterian Shadyside. I think that this experience prepared me well to take on a fellowship position because of the similar learning framework as well as the competencies which the residency offers. During the residency, I was given the chance to shadow and do project work with different leaders across the organization as a residency version of rotations. Throughout this experience, I was able to learn many valuable skills including finance skills, data analytic skills, and project management skills. Overall, this experience allows me to acquire the needed healthcare administration skills from a world-class health system that can be highly usable and transferable to XYZ Clinic. 

My administrative intern teaches me data analytics and communication skills. These two skills can be applicable to the XYZ Clinic fellowship since Microsoft Excel skill is widely used for health administration tasks. Moreover, I can leverage my communication skills to collaborate with project stakeholders to accomplish project objectives effectively. 

My passion for healthcare administration dates back to when I was an undergraduate student. Back then, I was a pre-med student who planned to go to medical school. During my sophomore year, I had a physician shadowing experience which drew me into healthcare administration. I discovered that healthcare administrators can have a profound impact on the people’s health on a larger scale than physicians can do. This seems to be very rewarding and satisfying to my passion to help people improve their health. It inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare administration. 

My professional passion is related to my long-term career goal which is to improve the quality of care and access to care by leveraging healthcare innovations. I have always wanted to have an impact on transforming the healthcare delivery landscape and traditional healthcare experience by leveraging innovations and technology. Healthcare innovation has wide applications to address most pressing challenges at healthcare. For instance, healthcare innovations have the potential to address the health equity issue by providing care in the comfort of patients’ homes. This is related to my career passion since greater access to care and quality of care mean better health outcome for patients.

I am also interested in strategy, finance, and business development in healthcare. Participating in strategic initiatives and making the right business decisions truly excite me. Therefore, my short-term career goal would be to obtain roles in healthcare finance, business development, and innovation. 

There are many factors that attract me to XYZ Clinic fellowship. The fact that I am able to tailor my fellowship experience interests me. This means that I am able to foster my own career growth while contributing to XYZ Clinic. Since rotations are selected through conversations with the site leaders and preceptors, this means that I can reach out to leaders at Innovation, IT, and XYZ Clinic Ventures to seek elective project work that is based on my career interests like healthcare innovation, finance, and business development. Aside from the administrative fellowship itself, XYZ Clinic Ventures and the department of business development are the departments that I wish to obtain a long-term post-fellowship position from. It is because this innovation arm of XYZ Clinic is a perfect blend of finance, business development, and healthcare innovation, thus it makes an ideal workplace for me. I am passionate about this fellowship because innovation is embedded in XYZ Clinic enterprise-wide. For instance, there are innovative work being done even outside of XYZ Clinic Ventures like projects at the center of regenerative medicine and center for digital health, expansion of telemedicine services, Tele-ED, home care, etc. This really convinces me that I am an ideal culture fit for XYZ Clinic not only for fellowship but also for a long-term position if possible. 

Another thing that interests me is the fact that I can potentially experience an interim management role during the fellowship. This is a unique fellowship experience compared to other fellowships. The interim management role can help me to get a sense of what the post-fellowship job looks like. 
Lastly, the XYZ Clinic fellowship experience is engaging. Fellows are given the opportunity to provide their own insights and recommendations for the projects instead of being observers.  

5. One of my personal values is innovation. Innovation is important because it can foster growth, and enables critical thinking. It is fundamental to improving efficiency, performance, and outcome. It is also critical to break through challenges. This aligns well with XYZ Clinic’s innovation value as XYZ Clinic uses healthcare innovation to advance care delivery to patients. I also value compassion heavily in healthcare. In my opinion, it is important to place patients at the center of care. Having compassion for patients can positively affect the delivery of care. It is also what XYZ Clinic values. Lastly, I value teamwork because healthcare is a multi-player system which requires collaborate effort to thrive. Many of my residency projects were done by the collective effort of different shareholders including physicians, technicians, nurses, and care management. It is in alignment with XYZ Clinic’s value for teamwork. Its inclusive culture represents the willingness of XYZ Clinic to value everyone’s effort.

In a minimum of seven pages, discuss the role of emotional intelligence

COVID 19 on aviation an logistic sector in the Sultanate of Oman Business Assignment Help In a minimum of seven pages, discuss the role of emotional intelligence in the situation described in the Vila Health: Emotional Intelligence media activity. Then, evaluate your own emotional intelligence and examine the role of emotional intelligence in the work of health care leaders and in health care organizations.

Introduction

This assessment is dedicated to examining emotional intelligence (EQ). The concept of emotional intelligence was developed by Daniel Goleman and has four main components: self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship management (Daft, 2018). Emotional intelligence is loosely defined as an individual’s ability to “perceive, identify, understand and manage emotions in self and others” (Daft, 2018, p. 146). Experts argue that emotional intelligence is a better predictor of successful decision making and interpersonal relationships than cognitive intelligence, or IQ (Daft, 2018).

Additionally, emotional intelligence is now recognized as a critical factor in leadership development. Your work on this assessment will build on the personal leadership assessment you completed in the first assessment. That leadership assessment examined five critical domains from a high level. In this assessment you will look specifically at emotional intelligence. By completing this assessment, you will evaluate your EQ and explore the role that EQ plays in successful leadership.

Reference

Daft, R. L. (2018). The leadership experience (7th ed.). Cengage.
 

Preparation

Emotional intelligence is now recognized as a critical factor in leadership development. For the first assessment, you completed a personal leadership assessment to examine five critical domains from a high level. Now, you will dig a little deeper to look specifically at emotional intelligence.

Complete the Emotional Intelligence media activity that introduces the following four dimensions of emotional intelligence:

Self-awareness

Social awareness

Self-management

Relationship management

Complete the Vila Health: Emotional Intelligence simulation that examines interactions between a respiratory therapist and two nurses.

Instructions

This assessment has three main parts:

Use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] to write a 7–10 page paper that responds to the following:

PART 1: DIMENSIONS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Discuss the scene and what happened between Christina Robledo and the two nurses in the Vila Health simulation. Do you feel the nurses demonstrated strong emotional intelligence in their communications with Christina Robledo? Why or why not?

What are the key elements of emotional intelligence that were demonstrated in this scenario?

Which key elements of emotional intelligence were lacking from the scenario?

How might the scenario have turned out differently if these elements had been demonstrated?

PART 2: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE SELF-EVALUATION

Assess your own emotional intelligence. Reflect on your own interactions with others.

Do you feel you are able to identify and understand others’ emotions?

Are you able to control your own emotions when dealing with others?

Which specific elements of emotional intelligence do you feel are the strongest in you?

Which elements of emotional intelligence would you like to improve?

Provide examples that illustrate your self-assessment.

PART 3: IMPACT OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE FOR HEALTH CARE LEADERS

Analyze reasons for health care leaders to develop their emotional intelligence skills in all dimensions:

Describe each dimension of emotional intelligence and explain why it is important for health care leaders to develop their skills in each area.

Explain the impact of emotional intelligence on relationships and communication effectiveness in health care organizations:

If you were one of the nurses in the Vila Health simulation, how could you have communicated differently with Christina Robledo to acknowledge her concerns and her emotions?

What are your overall impressions of the organizational culture of the hospital in the simulation?

How does emotional intelligence impact relationships and communication effectiveness in health care organizations in general?

Analyze the impact of emotional intelligence on cultural competence in health care organizations:

How could emotional intelligence be used to improve cultural competence?

Discuss how emotional intelligence promotes teamwork and collaboration in culturally diverse organizations:

Do you feel teamwork and collaboration are valued at the organization portrayed in the Vila Health simulation?

How could emotional intelligence be used to improve teamwork and collaboration between Christina Robledo and the nurses?

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Length: A minimum of seven double-spaced pages, not including title and reference pages.

Font and font size: Arial, 12 point.

References: Cite at least three references from peer-reviewed journals, in addition to your textbook.

Format: Use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] to write your paper using current APA style and formatting for the paper as well as for references and citations. Refer to Evidence and APA on Campus for more information. You may use first person for the portions of this paper where it is appropriate to do so.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

Competency 1: Assess one’s leadership style in a professional health care setting.

Discuss the different elements of emotional intelligence.

Analyze the reasons for health care leaders to develop their emotional intelligence skills.

Competency 2: Explain cultural competence and its relevance to health care management.

Analyze the impact of emotional intelligence on cultural competence in health care organizations.

Competency 3: Analyze communication styles and their impact on teamwork and collaboration.

Explain the impact of emotional intelligence on relationships and communication effectiveness in health care organizations.

Discuss how emotional intelligence promotes teamwork and collaboration in culturally diverse organizations.

Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with the expectations for health care professionals.

Adhere to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

Imagery and the Language of Poetry Identify some of the key imagery

Imagery and the Language of Poetry

Identify some of the key imagery or other kinds of poetic language used in the poem, which you believe are vital to understanding it. Here are some possible approaches:

Provide a detailed discussion of how the images function in the poem.

Do the images work together to form a coherent pattern?

What ideas or feelings are conveyed by the images or figurative language?

How do the images contribute to the overall meaning of the poem?

 Our course eBook (Portable Literature) should be your only source. Do not use outside sources.

Title your discussion response with the poem’s title. This will help other students see which poems have been discussed. Once a poem has been discussed twice, please do not choose it for analysis.

Read the following poem to discuss:

Rich, “Living in Sin”

Tips

Remember to provide evidence for your claims in the form of quoted passages from the poem. Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries should be cited according to APA7 rules of style, including in-text and reference citations APA7 style. Quoted material should not exceed 25% of the document. Make sure you check spelling and grammar.

Example Response

Students often ask to see a model of what is expected, so here is an example post:

“The Oven Bird” is a sonnet by Robert Frost, and the poem focuses on a bird that sings a sad song about death and loss. Some of the key images include variations on singing, the seasons, and foliage, such as leaves and flowers. The following lines illustrate the use of these images: “He says that leaves are old and that for flowers/Mid-summer is to spring as one to ten/He says the early petal-fall is past/When pear and cherry bloom went down in showers” (Frost, 1916, Lines 4-7). The images in the poem work together to tell a story about the oven bird, which has a loud, discordant song that “makes the solid tree trunks sound again” (Frost, 1916, Line 3). The bird sings about having lost its first set of young to predators, and now the bird must learn to go on living with great loss. The sad yet brave feeling of the poem is summed up in the final couplet: “The question that he frames in all but words/Is what to make of a diminished thing” (Frost, 1916, Lines 13-14).

Frost, R. (1916). The oven bird. Cengage: Gale College Collection. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GCCO&u=gale_9827877&id=GALE|BRGOHW412836445&v=2.1&it=r&sPage=13883791&sid=mindtap-embedView&asid=94ec534a

Search for an article about an ethical dilemma that involves a leadership

Search for an article about an ethical dilemma that involves a leadership decision in a learning organization (e.g., dealing with teacher misconduct).

Analyze the ethical dilemma.

Write a 250- to 300-word response to the following:

What key ethical issue was raised in the case?

How was it resolved?

Do you agree or disagree with what was done and why?

What could have been done differently to improve the leadership decisions that were made?

Be sure to share a link to the article.

The words that I alighted in red should be included but reworded,

The words that I alighted in red should be included but reworded, on competence 3, please include something FROM assignment ONE

Please refer to the website for NASW CODES

SOCIAL_WORK_COMPETENCIES_AND_PRACTICE_INDICATORS_ADVANCED_LEVEL_OF_PRACTICE_CLINICAL_CONCENTRATION-2016.doc.pdf (uchicago.edu)

1. List the competency first and describe it in your own words.

2. Name the one learning product (assignment) that you have chosen from the menu

for the competency and a particular aspect of your field experience (a particular

case, the skill you gained, training you had, the ability you gained etc.).

3. Describe the one learning product and the aspect of the field experience on

which you are focusing and how they helped you meet that competency. Provide

details about the learning product and field experience with examples of how they

helped you reach the competency. The faculty panelists will not be reviewing the

learning products so your explanation needs to stand on its own.

4. List the next competency and repeat from (a).

B. Reflect on your professional growth and goals over your time in the Program Discuss

what your goals were coming into the social work Program. Then reflect on whether you

have met all of them, some of them, or none. Talk about how you have grown and what

contributed to this growth. Be specific; give examples.

C. Lessons Learned for Future Practice

What learning experiences from your classes and internship will you use in future

practice? What are the lessons you have learned that you will carry with you? Be

specific; give examples.

ONE should answer these questions. 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 within the profession as appropriate to the context. Demonstrate professional behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication. Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes. Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.

After reviewing competency one, the assignment that I choose allow me to document and demonstrate ways in which I was able to practice my professionalism as a social worker by putting my learned skills into practice. In this assignment, I was able to describe my most genuine experiences of being an ethical and professional social work intern. I believe being a professional and ethical social worker entail treating clients with respect and professionalism despite any differences, being culturally competent, and making ethical decisions to help clients in the best way we possibly can, and I believe this assignment helped me to gain and learn these skills. EXAMPLE, PLEASE SEE THE NASW CODE

This learning product allowed me to demonstrate acquired skills like cultural competency, as it required me to describe cultural competency in social work and how it would be applied as a professional social worker. I was able to identify that my clients were different than me, or how I cannot provide services to every client the same way because every client is different. I was able to demonstrate that I had to be aware of cultural stereotypes and how it was affecting people in order to service them correctly and without biases. It also helped me with ethical decision-making by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics in every situation, especially in ethical dilemmas. I had to discuss an ethical dilemma that I experienced and explore the possible outcomes of the dilemma and how the NASW Code of Ethics would have been violated. It helped me learn to make decisions as an ethical social worker. EXAMPLE, PLEASE SEE THE NASW CODE

This assignment not only allowed me to demonstrate my professionalism, but it also helped me demonstrate events where I was not being the most ethical social work intern. It truly allowed me to self-assess my personal biases and values to then correct and redeem myself for the best interest of the client. It helped me learn from my mistakes as a future social worker so that I can provide services to each client I come across to the best of my ability.

Field Experience

After reflecting on my field experience, I knew I truly achieved competency one because I was able to put my learned professional skills into practice with real clients. I was able to demonstrate a professional demeanor in behavior, specifically regarding the way I had to speak and present myself for telehealth phone visits and team visits with clients. I was faced with ethical dilemmas a few times, where I would feel anxious because I had to make certain ethical decisions that could possibly affect the client-to-social worker relationship I upheld with my clients. In one specific event, I had a client who was undocumented and on the verge of being homeless, I was calling everywhere looking for resources for her and at night I would turn to google to try and find assistance for her, I was pouring all my time and energy this client. while I neglected my other 29 clients. At supervision when I bring my client’s case up both my supervisors told me to set professional boundaries with the client, Which I did professionally, I started letting the client take the lead, for example, instead of me researching or calling for the client, I will give the client the numbers call and websites to visit. With the assistance of both my field supervisors, I realized that following the NASW Code of Ethics and setting professional boundaries was what was going to help me service her better and without neglecting my clients. At that moment, I knew I was achieving professionalism and ethical decision-making in the social work field.

TWO should answer these questions. Advocate for human rights at the individual family, group, organizational, and community system levels. Engage in practices that advance human rights to promote social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

I chose, Ethical principles that play a major role in who I am as a social worker. Knowing that I can advocate for change and fight the injustices in society has enlightened my view of each population and culture that I will be working with. I believe that engaging diversity and difference in social work practice means being able to not only recognize that people are diverse and different, but that people also go through discrimination and oppression. This learning product taught me things that I never knew about the LGBT community, a population that is highly discriminated against for not meeting societal “norms” when it comes to their affectional or sexual preference.

This assignment helped me learn and truly inform myself about the oppression that the LGBT community had to endure in Miami, not only by citizens but by governmental policies and ordinances that were passed specifically to discriminate against them like the Johns Committee. These were things that I had to know about the history of the LGBT community to be able to empathize with and service them as individuals or as a community to the best of my ability. It was not just about acknowledging that they were different but also gaining knowledge about what they’ve been through and how they’ve been oppressed.

Field Experience

When I think back on my field experience, I truly think about the ways it allowed me to achieve the competency because, with a caseload of over thirty clients, every single one had something significantly different from me whether it was age, immigration status, race, gender, and even disability. While working with these thirty clients, I had to learn and understand how their differences affect their everyday lives and all the limitations that are added to them. For example, when I was doing an assessment of a female client that migrated to the US 6 years ago, during the interview she spoke at length about her substantial trauma history, it took me by surprise because I didn’t know how to act however, I displayed a form of acknowledgment and was able to validate the overwhelming feelings she was feeling. I reassured her that it is okay to take her time, that she was brave, and that it was not her fault.

This was something that I had to take great care in doing as it was different from the other intakes I had done previously. Although it was challenging, it gave me a greater appreciation of the differences between ethnic backgrounds I would be working with and a better chance to implement different strategies when working with clients. With this experience, I understood how important it is to realize that intakes should be done concerning the culture and tailored for the individual.

I was learning that it was difficult for undocumented immigrants to get their permanent resident card and learned the limitations it brought upon their everyday life like finding a job with decent wages. I was learning how difficult it was for low-class families to obtain health insurance, but with everything I learned, I was happy that they were expressing their frustrations with me. They were experts in their own lives and hardships, and they were allowing me to be a part of that, and help them improve those hardships in any way, even if it was just guiding them towards a resource that could help them with their situation or need.

THREE should answer these questions: Demonstrate anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work practice at the individual, family, group, organizational, community, research, and policy levels. Demonstrate cultural humility by applying critical reflection, self-awareness, and self-regulation to manage the influence of bias, power, privilege, and values in working with clients and constituencies acknowledging them as experts of their own lived experiences.

The assignment I chose, I believe that one of the main roles of every social worker should be to advance human rights, as although the United States is known to be the ‘land of the free’ that statement truly only applies to citizens. For this learning product, I was able to describe how the past administration has treated migrants poorly for example migrants have been criminalized by placing travel bans on multiple Islamic countries, separating young children from their parents, refusing migrants that are seeking asylum to stay in the United States, and trying to take away residency of young children that were brought in the country known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). As social workers, we are continually working towards finding new and effective ways of approaching situations and working on ways of intervening and helping to change them

One of my biggest social concerns regards immigrants getting the help and rights that they need and deserve, and this assignment truly helped me strengthen that. EXAMPLE

Nonetheless, I was able to learn about the work that social workers do. Social workers can advocate for these individuals and provide many services that the undocumented individuals probably couldn’t even dream of in their own country. Social workers deepen their commitment to social justice through advocacy and are trained to recognize challenges immigrants might face and provide needed support. Social workers can assist immigrants to combat these unjust policies and anti-immigrant legislation at the federal, state, and local levels to promote fair and equal justice, especially for those that are most vulnerable and oppressed such as children, the elderly, and those with disabilities by becoming an advocate, lending their voices to demand change, educate them about their rights, assist them how to access resources and opportunities that will allow them to meet their basic needs, making sure they have food, water, shelter, assist in navigating unfamiliar housing, education, healthcare, and employment systems, assist those that have language barriers and emotional and mental health burdens. SIMILAR TO THIS

At this point in writing this assignment, I understood that it was not just about understanding that these people deserve basic human rights but fighting for these rights as a social worker and engaging in practices that advance social justice.

Field Experience

I truly believe my field experience helped me reach competency three because I had a few clients who were deprived of their basic human rights due to being either lower-class citizens or undocumented. I believe that a basic human right includes health care, as a person’s health and well-being ensure an adequate standard of living. I was able to find resources such as food pantries, low-cost dental services, and free or low-cost health care for people who needed it and did not have access to medical insurance. I believe that this helped me reach competency three, specifically because the people I assisted either did not have access to health care or could simply not afford it. It truly was a relief to many of my client’s ears to hear that I had an extremely low-cost resource that could help them obtain something as important as health insurance that they previously did not have access to due to their status in this country.

Four should answer these questions …Apply research findings to inform and improve practice, policy, and programs. Identify ethical, culturally informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive strategies that address inherent biases for use of quantitative and qualitative research to advance the purposes of social work.

Social work practice understands how individuals face alienation, oppression, self-perceived privilege, and power and marginalization. I knew that the learning product that helped me achieve this is… because this was probably the assignment, and class, in which I was required to do a large amount of research to better inform practice. This assignment taught me how to do proper research and apply it to social work. It taught me to compare research findings, find limitations within them, and critically think of implications that could help improve future research and practice. Prior to completing this assignment, I was never a fan of research and I had not the slightest clue on how to find adequate, peer-reviewed articles but doing this assignment helped me understand the importance of research in social work. I was learning to form scientific inquiry and translate research evidence to be able to inform and have better insight to improve future experiments or practice regarding the topic in general. I was learning what experiments and methods worked and what didn’t with the population of interest which I could have used if I wanted to conduct my own experiment regarding the subject at hand.

Field Experience

While at my internship, I learned how to accomplish research-informed practice within my field experience as most of what I did to help clients was researching different methods of social work practice. I would research articles about what social work practice models seemed to be more effective and for what types of situations, and I’d watch videos about how to execute the models for clients during practice, and I also attended a workshop on Domestic violence. Having my field experience in a community where almost all my clients needed one information or the other, and they are looking at me as the social work intern to know it all, I had no choice but to come prepared by doing more research, I worked hard and did as much research as I could to deliver services to them properly and effectively. I feel like I became an expert on the public charge rule, Obama care, food stamp, Jackson medical care, Medicare applications, the requirements, eligibility, federal poverty guidelines, SSI, and more.

With clients that had many issues, I would use the task-centered model to have them break down the problems into smaller tasks that they can accomplish, for example, what I did for one of my clients who needed assistance with getting her medical card, she had previously applied without success, with her permission I called to know what she documentations they needed and why she previously application was denied, I learn that she was missing a document. The client didn’t know how to get the required document. I had to make getting that documentation a priority in order to achieve the goal of getting the Jackson card before setting up an appointment for the client to submit the required documents. In this case I was able to reduce the insecurity and anxiety that my client had because, I’d use the strengths perspective to get them to view things in a more positive ———– And assist my client in how they can improve their weakness. I strongly believe that my practice was extremely research-informed because I was servicing clients with skills and models I was strengthening through research and practice. As a result of doing this research, I learned how important it is to be as informed as possible when not only working in group settings but also with individuals. Often it is easy to work based on current knowledge, but we must also remember that as things are researched, they can present better tools for engagement. This is one competency that I was grateful to have more qualified input from those around me and in written material, whether it be from publications or internet searches. I believe that this is something that will continue to allow me to provide the best continuum of care to future clients.

FIVE should answer these questions Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services. Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Five, the paper I chose, I believe it means being an advocate for policies that advance human rights and social justice, as well as analyzing how policy affects access to services. For this paper, I was required to research and write about a social policy that interested me, and I chose the topic of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Miami-Dade County. I explained the policies that are put in place are helping millions of Americans that are struggling with mental health and substance abuse get the help they need. Miami-Dade County has numerous policies that can help to combat mental health issues in the community, Cite from this article Florida Behavioral Health Association. (2019). Mental Health in Florida. Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA). Retrieved from https://www.floridabha.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019_FBHA_MH_in_FL_brochure.pdf.) Please elaborate more about it

I was able to explain how this county is helping people access social services were extremely and the policies in place that set those limitations. I explained how the Florida proposal resolution is aimed at creating a statewide task force whose sole responsibility is to address the opioid drug abuse problem in the state. I also described how s a professional social worker, these laws would go a long way to help me deliver my services in the community as they will empower caregivers like me to do more. This is the main reason why one of my responsibilities as a social worker is to engage in advocacy and rally for such laws to be passed. This is one of my professional goals because I know that our collective voices as caregivers can advocate for legislative changes that will bring mental health and substance abuse services closer to the people.

I also learned that as a professional social worker, these laws would go a long way to help me deliver my services in the community as they will empower caregivers like me to do more. This is the main reason why one of my responsibilities as a social worker is to engage in advocacy and rally for such laws to be passed. This is one of my professional goals because I know that our collective voices as caregivers can advocate for legislative changes that will bring mental health and substance abuse services closer to the people.

Field Experience

As for my field experience, I did a lot of research on social policy because many of the clients that I was providing services to were dealing with mental health issues which were more of my area of expertise, specifically adults that are undocumented that cannot get the mental health care that they need due to their undocumented status. Many of the policies that are in Miami Dade county are government-sponsored, for anybody to qualify for those services they will need to have a social security number or a taxpayer’s ID which the folks, I worked with don’t have. For example, I have a client who was in her early 50’s who needed a creole speaking therapist because we didn’t have a creole speaking therapist at the haven agency where I was interning, I looked for every resource, and the only few that were available required her to have a social security number before she could utilize their social services service. As a professional social worker, these are some of the social policies I will be advocating for, it shouldn’t matter if the members of our communities are documented or not they should have access to shelter, free food, free medical and mental health services and they should be able to access them without any difficulty or fear of been arrested or deported. I knew and understood the role of engaging in policy practice because I had to be well-informed about the policies that affect the lives of my clients.

Six should answer these questions Apply knowledge of human behavior and person-in-environment, as well as interprofessional conceptual frameworks, to engage with clients and constituencies. Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to engage in culturally responsive practice with clients and constituencies.

In the social work program, I have been taught that research and practicing informed behavior are essential to social work. This means that I need to take time to research and constantly look for any new information that may be available. I chose Motivational Interviewing. Engaging with clients means using empathy, interpersonal skills, and reflection to engage individuals while also using evidence-informed engagement skills or frameworks that would best address their needs. I believe that engaging with clients is an extremely important skill as a social worker, as this is what allows clients to open up to a social worker and builds a healthy client-to-social worker relationship.

In this assignment, I was able to write about different theoretical frameworks and social work practices that specifically assist social workers in engaging clients in different types of scenarios. I believe I learned the most from Open Ended Inquiry, Affirmations, and Reflections (OAR), as well as Motivational Interviewing. These two intervention models allowed me to understand empowering and motivational ways to engage clients effectively.

I explained how OAR, is a listening style that motivates change and allows the social worker to stay in constant curiosity with the client. Motivational Interviewing is another listening style that allows social workers to ask open-ended questions which enforced building a compassionate relationship with clients and getting to know them and their differences without stereotyping or being culturally incompetent. For example, instead of asking a client, “don’t you think Hispanic people drink too much?” motivational interviewing would have the social worker ask an open-ended question along the lines of, “how does your culture play a role in your life when it comes to using substances?”

Learning about these types of interview styles helped me understand motivational and empowering ways to not only engage clients but to build compassionate relationships with the diverse population of clients that would need services at my agency. It allows social workers to truly understand clients without allowing any underlying biases to interfere.

Field Experience

In my experience, I believed the MI has been very instrumental to me in my practicum especially having to engage people on the phone most of the time, it was my responsibility to use the MI, change talk, and OAR strategy that I was taught in class to keep them engaged and talking comfortably. At first, the couple of clients that I called, I couldn’t engage them on the phone because I felt lost, I knew that the semester was going to be very difficult for me because I lacked the skills that I needed to effectively engage my clients on the phone enough for us to build compassionate relationships. After the assignment, it was light a light bulb moment for me, right now I feel like an expert. For example, when I call my clients, I tell them my name, my role at the agency, why I was calling them, and the services that we provide. I will now start using the OAR strategy which involves using reflective listening such as open questioning, affirming, paraphrasing, and reflecting to what they’ve just said to me. For a client that I was assigned, previous interns have a hard time connecting with her. When I called her, I immediately noticed why she like to gather her taught before responding, I let her sit in her silence, if I still don’t hear her talk, I will tell her that it is ok if she would like to share and that she doesn’t have to share. She became very receptive, she started opening up more, and I started providing her emotional support by letting her vent without interrupting her. She started spending a longer time on the phone compared to when she used to rush off the phone. I was able to keep her engaged using the MI strategy and using provide services approach.

Seven should answer these questions Apply theories of human behavior and person-in-environment, as well as other culturally responsive and interprofessional conceptual frameworks when assessing clients and constituencies. Demonstrate respect for client self-determination during the assessment process by collaborating with clients and constituencies in developing a mutually agreed-upon plan.

After reviewing seven, Client assessment, being a social worker consists of being able to effectively assess clients by collecting data and interpreting information from their clients, as well as developing mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on their needs, strengths, and challenges. I believe that this learning product helped me to reach this competency because it was the first time, I had to assess a real client of mine and engage him enough to be able to identify a problem with him as well as agree on interventions based on his strengths and challenges.

When doing this assessment, I chose a client from my field placement that I knew was that has gone through multiple traumas, she has housing and financial insecurity like most of my clients. This assignment allowed me to interview the client and interpret the information the client was giving me. This specific client was in her early 50s, she came to the United States a couple of years back in the hopes of getting her residency card, unfortunately, she is still undocumented. Her undocumented status has not permitted her to get a better-paying job and has opened her up for exploitation. She was diagnosed with depression; she was referred to our in-house therapy that she did for a couple of months before she quit.

I suggested to my client that we should use the (problem-solving model) (please cite and elaborate more on the model

and after explaining how we are going to get to the goal, she agreed. We were going to focus on one problem at a time which will enable her to achieve success. I was able to address the client’s concerns individually to make this problem more manageable. After the intervention, the client and I mutually agreed on intervention goals and objectives that we believed were going to effectively help the client with his problem.

Field Experience

field experience, I was responsible for assessing all my client’s needs on a weekly basis. Even when my clients did not have any immediate needs, most of them liked to speak about their troubles or things that they were going through. I was responsible for listening and using my critical thinking skills to interpret the information that my clients spoke to me. During my field experience, I also practiced doing four Biopsychosocial assessments on four different clients to practice my intervention and interviewing skills, as well as to practice my assessment skills. Before doing these assessments, I had the notion that assessments were only necessary for clients who were in crisis. I learned that assessments were also necessary for clients who did not have immediate needs, because it allows for the client and social worker to form an engaging and compassionate relationship.

On my second biopsychosocial assessment, I wanted to challenge myself. I reached out to a client with whom I could hardly get on the phone, I asked if she will be available to talk, and she agreed, During the assessment that felt like a discussion, she answers all the questions that I needed for the assessment and we both agreed to tasks and objectives that will access her reach her future goals/and more while encouraging me to keep doing what I am doing. Moving forward from that assessment instead of asking a question and waiting for answers, I started doing my assessment as a discussion while asking the necessary questions to get the information that I needed.

Eight: 17. Engage with clients and constituencies to critically choose and implement culturally responsive, evidence-informed interventions to achieve client and constituency goals. Incorporate culturally responsive methods to negotiate, mediate, and advocate, with and on behalf of clients and constituencies.

Designing a Group Proposal paper Intervening with clients on a micro, macro, and mezzo level mean not only addressing what seems like common issues that are affecting the client or the community, which is also advocating for these diverse clients, regardless of any differences. I feel that this is extremely important in the role of a social worker, as it allows us to fight to make a difference or assist the clients and communities with the issues they go through.

When I was doing this assignment of designing a group proposal, the population of interest I chose was low-income families. I proposed creating a proposal on coaching low-income families on how they can apply for jobs, help update their resumes and improve their chances of winning opportunities, well as providing them with emotional support. I believe that this assignment allowed me to address some of the main issues that most low-income face when looking for employment. For example, if they are taught some basic computer skills, helping them to review or rewrite and update their resumes can help them secure a job that will help them support and maintain themselves and their families, in turn, solve underlying issues. I also had to explain how important it is for the group member to be respectful of everyone’s ideas and opinions to foster positive relationships which can lead to success and trust among the group members. As a social work intern, I know the importance of support and encouragement. The focus was to assist the client in getting a well-deserving job. Please elaborate more

Field Experience

I believe that I did an effective job of intervening with my clients. Since most of my clients are from low-income communities. I would usually use task-centered intervention models to assist them with whatever they needed (Please elaborate more). I would talk through with my clients the steps that needed to be taken to be able to reach a goal. For instance, when a client needed assistance with food pantries but has no transportation to get to the nearest food pantry. I scheduled an uber ride on the day she was going to the pantry, I called before the uber arrived to pick the client up and I followed up with the client to make sure she got to the food pantry site I also followed up with the client what she got home we would make a list of the steps we needed to take to make it happen; everything from making the appointment, to finding transportation. Please elaborate more as a social worker

Nine should answer these questions. Select and use culturally responsive methods for the evaluation of outcomes. Critically analyze outcomes and apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

The treatment plan accomplishes evaluating practice with clients on the micro, macro, and mezzo level. I believe that evaluating practice with clients on the micro, macro, and mezzo level means being able to use one’s knowledge of human behavior and theoretical frameworks to be able to turn towards the treatment or even ending phase with a client. I also believe it is related to being able to evaluate intervention and program outcomes to be able to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. This assignment allowed me to focus on a client and critically evaluate their problem to be able to recommend services and objectives that I thought would be beneficial in helping the client. I had to write about the problem statement that the client identified, as well as objectives that we’re going to help the client reach an overall goal of improving his emotional state. I was able to identify the services that I believed the client would benefit from them, and how I would link him to the services and continue to monitor his progress to make sure the service was proving effective. I explained that I was to prove whether the recommended service was effectively helping the client by assessing his needs and emotional state on a weekly basis, until his sessions were over, and a counselor were to terminate services. I was basically required to evaluate the outcomes of the recommended program services to improve practice on all levels if they were to take place. This is an example

Field Experience

I certainly feel I was able to reach this competency because I was constantly evaluating the outcomes of the services that I was providing to my clients, As a social work intern, I feel that I was required to form closer relationships with clients. As it was my duty to call and check on my assigned household constantly. I spoke to them more frequently than anyone else, I was usually the one who received the feedback from the clients regarding the program, and I always made sure to pass on this information to the rest of the team to make sure we improved practice effectively.

For example, I had a client who has always been responsive to calls. I called to follow up on her a couple of times, but she wasn’t taking or returning my calls. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. When the team did a scheduled telehealth visit with her, I present. She started complaining right off the bat, about how the social worker lied to her and more. After she was done venting. I

to follow up with my client she didn’t take my call, I knew that she was going to return my call however when she didn’t when I called to follow up with him, who complained to me and said she didn’t feel that we were helping her reach resources or services at all. She felt this way because she had not received a food delivery from the food pantry and was frustrated as she wanted to receive her flu shot but felt she was not being contacted by the medical student with updates to do so. As the social work intern, I had to correctly evaluate the information and data she was giving me to bring it to my peer’s attention to improve practice with not only this client but every client we had at the agency who might have been feeling the same way.

Reflection on professional growth and goals over my time in the Program

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS FOR COMP ONE AND THREE

The purpose is to provide low-income communities and undocumented immigrants with a household-centered approach service, that can help them live healthier lives and access quality healthcare. Some of the services provided are medical care, local resources, and referrals

The agency is also a service-learning program that merges interprofessional students to provide evidence-based services to low-income communities. For example, a new medical student is assigned to a household along with a nursing student, and a social work intern. As part of the medical students’ curriculum, they are required to do a household visit with the team. The team members consist of a faculty member, who might either be a medical doctor or a physician assistant, a medical student, a nursing student, and a social work student. Some of my duties as a social work intern at the agency are to provide my clients with local resources such as food pantries, health cards, assistance with paying their bills, referral to our providers, and emotional support.

Cultural competence, cultural humility, and intersectionality are essential concepts in social work practice. They help social workers be aware of and understand the impact of culture on individuals, families, and communities. They also support social workers to be sensitive to the needs of people from different cultures and to work effectively with them. Thus, the paper features the definition of Cultural competence, cultural humility, and intersectionality while discoursing their impacts and preference in a social work environment.

Cultural competency and cultural humility are essential concepts in social work practice. Cultural competency refers to the ability of social workers to understand and work effectively with people from different cultures while cultural humility refers to the power of social workers to be opened to learning about and from people from different cultures. Intersectionality is a term used to describe how various aspects of a person’s identity intersect and interact. Cultural competency is critical to social work practice because it helps social workers understand and appreciate the unique culture, values, and experiences of the people we work with. It also allows social workers to build trusting relationships with clients and effectively communicate with them. At the agency, most of our clients are undocumented immigrants, and many of them are being oppressed, marginalized, and alienated by society in many ways. For example, they may be denied access to essential services such as healthcare and education or be subjected to discrimination and exploitation in the workplace. Oppression, margination and alienation can significantly impact their ability to access needed services, why some of them may be reluctant to seek assistance for fear of being discovered and deported.

Additionally, others may have difficulty navigating the complex bureaucracy of service providers due to language barriers, or they may be unable to afford the costs of services. Undocumented immigrants can also be perceived by society by also contributing to their oppression, marginalization

When low-income or undocumented families receive assistance, they might be referred to as being lazy, especially, in a republican state like Florida, while others might see them as criminals that are draining the system, which may lead to them being treated with suspicion and hostility. This can make it difficult for them to find housing, jobs, and other necessities.

My values may impact client interactions in several ways. For example, I may have difficulty empathizing with clients who have experienced trauma or who come from a different cultural background than I do. I may also inadvertently communicate my own biases through the way I speak to my clients. To eliminate the influence of personal preferences in my work with clients, I am using my supervision to check my own biases, which was challenging at first, however, I know that my clients are their bosses, and I will follow their lead. I am constantly reflecting on my attitudes and assumptions, and I am working to develop a more nuanced understanding of the diverse populations I serve. This is the reason why I am striving to create an inclusive and affirming environment where my clients feel respected and valued.

In conclusion, Cultural competence, cultural humility, and intersectionality are essential concepts in social work practice. They help social workers be more effective in working with clients from diverse backgrounds and better understand the complex intersections of identity. By understanding and respecting the diverse cultures of their clients, social workers can provide more effective and culturally competent services. Additionally, social workers can provide more tailored and effective services by considering the intersecting factors that can influence a client’s life.

ASSIGNMENT TWO

The Day it Snowed in Miami is a film that highlights the struggles and reforms that Miami underwent to attain sexual equality. January 19, 1977, marks a memorable day when it first snowed in Miami, South Florida. Following human rights results uphold equality regardless of the differences. Social, economic, and ecological justice ensure no individual is above the law in respecting human rights.

LGBTQ

The term LGBTQ is an abbreviation representing lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and questioning people in society. LGBTQ is a group that represents the gay community (Connecticut Clearinghouse, 2021). During post-war America, gays were considered outcasts. Gays lived in secrecy to avoid recognition due to the harsh consequences. The writer’s opinion is that the community needs to respect their differences. There was a protest at the Stonewall bar in New York for the first time in 1969 (Herald, 2014). Stonewall is significant as the gay community in America fought for their right to be heard and respected.

Ruth and Richard Shark were a couple who fought against the rights of the gay community together with Anita Bryant, an American musician (Herald, 2014). The ruling against gay rights resulted in an ordinance on the day it snowed. The church community did not support homosexuality, neither did they fight it. President Barack Obama signed an order prohibiting discrimination on sexual orientation in 2014 (Hudson, 2014). The state should enforce more regulations to ensure there’s no discrimination at the family level.

As an individual and a professional social worker, having a better understanding of LGBTQ history allows me to have an insight into the role of prejudice and discrimination in American culture over time. Embracing LGBTQ rights will help me live in coexistence with the community regardless of our differences.

THIS ASSIGNMENT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN COMP 3 AND ASSIGNMENT ONE

Identities are shaped by the cultural context in which people were raised, and this influences how individuals perceive themselves and the groups they associate with. Developing an individual’s sense of identity and other people’s identities starts when they are born and gets influenced by families and the local culture. In the same way, people’s identities become more complicated as they engage with other groups. Identity changes because of a variety of variables, including social networks, popular culture, and new technology-facilitated chances for social contact More and more individuals are associating themselves with numerous cultures and ancestries due to causes such as globalization, immigration, and inter-marriage between diverse cultural backgrounds. When individuals get together to work toward a shared goal, a culture is born. Whatever the size of a community, there will always be shared views, norms, and values. The fact that so many of these distinguishing qualities are implicit further complicates matters within a culture. Based on social cues, a community establishes a set of norms for what is considered normal and acceptable. These values become an aspect of our social identity when we are constantly exposed to them. Race disparity can only be understood if it is considered in terms of its intersectionality. Critical race theory (CRT) emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in education. These days, the word “intersectionality” is thrown around a lot in social scientific circles and is frequently misapplied (Harris & Leonardo, 2018). Race, class, gender, and disability are all intertwined, and this phrase attempts to explain how they interact in different situations and throughout time. Meta-cognition comprises knowledge and relating cognition through the capacity to plan, monitor, and evaluate a person’s cognitive product and processes. On the other hand, epistemic cognition incorporates knowledge concerning the essential nature of knowledge, particularly the truth of beliefs and justification. Based on my experience, power is closely associated with race, particularly among white men. For instance, the White American race is privileged compared to other races based on elements such as power. As a social worker, I’m likely to come across ideas, beliefs, or foreign customs that are different from mine. These cultural identities may significantly impact my experiences at work. I consider myself culturally competent. My cultural identity will impact my social work in that it will determine how well I cope with diversity and help me reach out to a diverse and multicultural client base. Further, culture will allow me to experience and reflect on certain biases, values, and ideas that I will have to confront as a social worker. Although African culture has defined who I am, and it has masked my ability to express myself, it will also benefit me in becoming a social worker. Through life’s challenges, I have learned how to adjust to new environments and assimilate into different cultures. Because of my cultural background, I can be a better listener to the stories of these people who are different from me and do so with acceptance and tolerance. Thus, through my cultural identity, I will be able to empathize with my clients and help them overcome their struggles. I feel that by developing cultural competence, I will be able to learn to understand those differences and assist clients in overcoming barriers. By knowing their cultural differences, By using cultural competence within social work, I can help people easily assimilate to their communities, assist in several concerning issues, including behavioral and mental health, workplace exploitation, family separation, and discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, enhancing my community’s wellbeing and equal sharing of available resources for community development, health, and wellbeing.

Culture is dynamic, my culture has formed my experience, actions, ideas, and beliefs which makes me unique, every day, it is being shaken and changed by the constant flux in society. Our interactions with others shape an individual’s identity, and this interaction is based on their cultural identity. Because culture is dynamic, its effects are ever-changing as well. It should be known that though an individual’s cultural identity may affect their behavior, it would be foolish to generalize a whole culture based on the behaviors of a few. Finally, I believe that both my culture and social work have a lot to offer each other through our shared experiences attempting to understand one another with respect and dignity regardless of our differences in values or beliefs. Cultural identity will influence my social work through my experiences and personal opposition I have faced as a woman in Africa and the values that are embedded in me through my culture. Becoming a social worker will challenge my cultural identity because it is not what women do in my culture. Becoming a social worker will also allow me to help other women who have obstacles as I have had or even greater ones. Feeling the need to break away from my traditional roles will push me to do more and make a difference in women’s lives. Therefore, in having a deeper understanding of the plight of women, I hope to be a social worker that contributes positively to society and the lives of people their organization has oppressed.

FOUR ASSIGNMENT

Optimal treatment participation and attending self-help groups serve as the best strategy to manage substance use disorders. It is important to note that full participation in any given exercise at the community level as a drug addict makes it easy to solve the issues of treatment-resistant depression. Drug addiction is a delicate matter that has to dwell with much care (Johnson & Tran, 2020). Lack of a complete social circle brings the level of developing treatment-resistant depression higher.

 At every point in time, it is necessary to come to that point of order through which better systems have to be realized and set in terms of the required concerns at every point of recovery (Brand et al., 2016). Treatment completion requires an element of strategizing through which every move will be set to help the key patients to be part of the treatment and recovery team.  Participating in self-help groups ensures there is a level of influence and interest that would be a resolution of a better way to adjust towards the reduction of risk for treatment-resistant depression.

The level of treatment-resistant depression is seen to decline with the use of the intervention. The idea is to set up the necessary measures that are set in line with the integration of a specific way of treatment (Daly & Gargano, 2021). The self-help groups are seen to offer a good starting point in the realization of the given measures that are in line with the necessary measures. The ability of the patient to recover and fully normalize is the community around them in the treatment process. Feeling being part of the larger community through self-help groups reduces the possibility of depression development.

Creating a link between the treatment process and the given avenues makes it easy to incorporate the standards of reducing treatment-resistant depression.  The onset of depressive disorder brings a different orientation through which all concepts are set in line with the required measures at every point in time. It is understandable to develop a more specific way to ensure substance abuse victims are helped to be able to recover with ease. The point is to have the power to remain healthy and recover fully after the completion of treatment.

Use of Treatment Method Only

The treatment-resistant depression is a common problem that is evident in the victims undergoing substance use disorder management. The point is that it may be possible to connect Treatment-Resistant Depression with substance use but there is no common interaction with the substance use disorder. The proper management of substance use in some levels requires an elaborate way to escalate the solutions for the problem.

It is important to define the way substance use disorder could be solved in the best way possible. At any given point in time, it will be easy to come to that level of success through which every concept would be set in the right manner to uncover the issues that affect the treatment of substance use disorder patients (Brenner et al., 2019). Understanding the impact of depression in the life of substance use addicts makes it possible to control the situation in a modest manner.

Using the clinical treatment method has proven to be a great move in ensuring there is a level of influence that will be required in an escalation of treatment-resistant depression, Completion of the treatment plan is important as it allows easy development and manipulation of the specific measures that would be set in the realization of a common context that is necessary for the treatment plan. The idea is to come to that point of realizing the necessary solutions for the depressive complications.

COMP 5 ASSIGNMENT

    One of the longest-standing policies of Miami-Dade County and Florida, in general, is to give drug offenders an opportunity to reform through a rehabilitative drug court. The county has a very effective Drug Court Program that is run under the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. It diverts the natural criminal course of drug offenders by giving them the chance to undergo a rehabilitation program with the support of specialists so that they can abandon the destructive habit of abusing drugs. Florida’s Statute 948.08(6)(a) provides the framework for eligibility. This is important as the process of selecting eligible candidates for the program must be done meticulously to ensure it serves its purpose. The State Attorney is usually consulted during this process as it is his or her responsibility to pursue formal prosecution on these offenders when they fail to complete the program. The presence of this Drug Court Program allows offenders who are victims of their drug use to have another opportunity at life, rather than be labeled by the system as criminals. However, repeat offenders and persons arrested for the distribution of drugs are ineligible to participate in this program (Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, n.d.). This is undoubtedly one of the best legislative tools that Miami-Dade County has to fight against substance abuse. It is quite successful at helping residents of the county find the help that they need to refrain from drug abuse.

Florida Behavioral Health Association.

   The Florida Behavioral Health Association provides a comprehensive report that maps the extent of mental health problems in Florida. This is extremely valuable to the current project because it helps identify how big of a problem mental health is in Miami-Dade County, and Florida, as a whole. There are numerous facts that shed light on how well the state and Miami-Dade County is doing to combat mental health issues in the community. A perfect example is the ratio of population to mental health providers across the different counties of Florida. According to the report, Miami-Dade had a 610:1 ratio of population to mental health providers in 2019 (Florida Behavioral Health Association, 2019). This is incredibly poor as it showcases the lack of adequate mental health providers in the county to cater for the mental health problems experienced by residents. One mental health provider cannot manage a potential patient population of 610 residents. It is crystal clear that the local, state, and federal government needs to do more to help all residents of Miami-Dade have access to mental health care services. This is extremely important, especially since the report ranks Florida number 43 when it comes to access to mental health care among all of the US states (Florida Behavioral Health Association, 2019). Additional policies are needed to improve mental health in Miami-Dade county.

    The Miami-Dade County government is constantly updating its laws to address the mounting problems with substance abuse as well as mental health. In fact, as showcased in this legislative brief, the Florida legislature has brought up a resolution that is aimed at creating a statewide task force whose sole responsibility is to address the opioid drug abuse problem in the state. This is a very good proposal because it highlights the importance and gravity of this problem. It goes a step further by creating a task force which will provide recommendations on how to tackle the opioid abuse crisis in the state. These task forces are usually very powerful as they can influence legislative changes that will address all pressing problems identified to bring the opioid crisis under control. However, as outlined in the brief, this proposal is yet to become a law and it has been stuck in the Board of County Commissioners since 5th March 2019 (Miami-Dade County, 2019). As a professional social worker, these laws would go a long way to help me deliver my services in the community as they will empower caregivers like me to do more. This is the main reason why one of my responsibilities as a social worker is to engage in advocacy and rally for such laws to be passed. This is one of my professional goals because I know that our collective voices as caregivers can advocate for legislative changes that will bring mental health and substance abuse services closer to the people.

    The Miami-Dade County government has outlined a series of programs and policies that are designed to help all residents access high quality government-sponsored services for substance abuse and mental health problems. These are spearheaded by the Rehabilitative Services Division of the Miami-Dade County government (Miami-Dade County, n.d.). There are four units involved this process and they each comprise of several programs as discussed below. 

a. Central Intake

    This is a collaborative screening and assessment unit that provides referral for substance abuse problems to the county’s Rehabilitative Services Division. It marks the entry point for the rehabilitation process. Referrals usually come from individuals, family members, community-based organizations, the 11th Circuit Court, police departments, the Corrections and Rehabilitation department, as well as the State Attorney’s office (Miami-Dade County, n.d.). All interested persons who desire substance abuse services from Miami-Dade County enter the system through this central intake unit.     After intake, persons struggling with substance abuse problems are directed to several programs depending on their needs. For example, those that require therapeutic intervention for substance abuse are directed to the New Direction Residential Treatment Program. The homeless are referred to the Specialized Transitional Opportunity Program (STOP) which caters for their needs and helps them find appropriate housing. There is also a specialized Intensive Day/Night Program designed for women who are struggling with substance abuse problems (Miami-Dade County, n.d.). All these programs help Miami-Dade County government address the substance abuse problems that its residents struggle with. 

c. Outpatient Treatment

    The Miami-Dade County government created the Diversion and Treatment Program (DATP) to provide outpatient services to residents struggling with substance abuse problems and disorders (Miami-Dade County, n.d.). It sometimes serves as an alternative to incarceration which helps victims of substance abuse receive the help that they need rather than be thrown in jail. 

d. Corrections-Based Treatment 

    Under this unit, the Miami-Dade County government created the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) program which helps offenders who have been sentenced receive help and support for their substance abuse problems (Miami-Dade County, n.d.). It is a great addition to minimize re-offending upon release. It also acts as a start for further interventions to address the problems being experienced by these incarcerated offenders as they can be linked to other programs or services in the system. 

    This four-unit approach designed by the Miami-Dade County government has been quite effective at helping residents deal with substance abuse problems. Its existence is because of the various policies that have been enacted by the local government to create a system that delivers the help that residents require when struggling through substance abuse disorders and the mental health problems that accompany them.

Research Triangle Institute International.

    The adult population of Miami-Dade County is struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems. Additional research from Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International showcased those older incarcerated adults are much more vulnerable to behavioral health conditions that include substance abuse and mental health problems when compared to those that were never incarcerated. In fact, 71% of these older incarcerated persons above the age of 55 years’ experience substance abuse problems (Research Triangle Institute International, 2018). Miami-Dade County, through its Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, launched The Criminal Mental Health Project (CMHP) back in 2000 to provide all of the necessary care required by these older incarcerated adults suffering from substance abuse disorders as well as serious mental illnesses (SMI) (Research Triangle Institute International, 2018). This is relevant to the current project because the success of this initiative will showcase how well Miami-Dade County has dealt with this problem and the remedial measures that need to be taken to strengthen its approach. The CMHP was designed to act as a link between older incarcerated adults and community-based mental health and substance use service providers. It does this in the pre-booking and the post-booking process ensuring that this vulnerable population has access to all the services that they require during and after their jail term. This project has been quite successful, especially after the adoption of the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) model in 2006 which ensures that older incarcerated adults have government support for mental illness in the form of benefits (Research Triangle Institute International, 2018). The CMHP has, therefore, been monumental in fighting the problem of mental health and substance abuse among older incarcerated adults in Miami-Dade County.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2012). Substance Use and Mental

    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for tracking and managing substance abuse and mental health problems in the country. The latest report that it has on Miami-Dade County paints a clear picture of the widespread nature of substance abuse and mental health

SIX SBIRT is a public health intervention designed to screen individuals for risky substance use and provide brief interventions and referrals for those who need them. The paradigm shift refers to the change from a traditional medical model of care, in which patients are passive recipients of care, to a more collaborative model in which patients are active participants in their care. For instance, they are looking for unhealthy substances to please their ego. The paradigm shift refers to changing the traditional approach of finding addiction, but rather seeking patterns of substance use that are harmful. It is better to meet people where they are at when it comes to substance use. For example, a client will easily admit to using alcohol or cigarette which are more acceptable to society rather than admitting to hard drugs like crack cocaine. The best approach is to meet people where they are at. Pietruszewski (n.d.)

OAR is an interviewing strategy that motivates change. For instance, Reflective listening involves open questioning, affirming, paraphrasing, and reflecting on what the speaker has said to ensure understanding. Also, active listening consists of engaging with the speaker, making eye contact, and providing feedback to show that you are paying attention.

Change talk is when an individual is motivated to modify their behavior. This type of talk is usually characterized by phrases such as “I need to,” “I want to,” or “I should.” Sustain address is when an individual is motivated to withstand their current behavior (Joramo et al., 2021). This type of talk is usually characterized by phrases such as “I don’t want to,” “I can’t,” or “I won’t.”

The motivational interviewing approach focuses on the client’s motivation for change rather than on the social worker’s assumptions or judgments about what is best for the client. This counseling style can help social workers build trust and rapport with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and better understand and meet clients’ needs from these backgrounds.

What is harm reduction strategies and why are they important to use when working with clients?

Harm reduction strategies are policies, programs, and practices aiming to lessen the harmful impacts of drug use. Harm reduction is grounded in the belief that people who use drugs can make informed decisions about their drug use. Providing them with accurate information and resources can help reduce the harm associated with drug use.

 Some of the relevant skills I learned in this webinar that I will put into practice for my practicum in assisting my clients are having difficult conversations that might not be comfortable, building trust with my clients, assisting my clients in managing conflict in their relationships, understanding them, responding to their needs by assisting them in finding resources and creating a collaborative environment with them.

The Sandwich Approach is a method of giving feedback that involves sandwiching the feedback between two positive statements. For example, “I like the way you handled that situation, and I think you could have handled it even better if you had more time” This approach is used when talking with clients to avoid coming across as negative or critical.