CORE COMPETENCY 2

NATURAL M. BREEDEN
SWK 4910 001: INTEGRATIVE FIELD SEMINAR

CORE COMPETENCY: 2
Engage

Diversity and Difference in

Practice

Practice Behavior: 6

Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of

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

At the micro level when assisting my supervisor at meetings with

students who have obtained an excessive amount of absences or
tardiness, there are students from many diverse backgrounds.
Considering many children are from diverse backgrounds, I watch
how I say certain things. For example, I do not use the terms "White
or Black" when communicating with students or professionals. I
always find myself saying "Caucasian or African American."

Practice Behavior: 7

Present themselves as learners and engage clients and

constituencies as experts of their own experiences.

Observing many skills my supervisor uses while conducting

telephone calls, individual meetings, and home visits, I try to
pick up on as many of her skills as I can. Not only through
observation but, I tend to ask my supervisor, as well as other
professionals, as many questions as possible. Through
observation and oral communication, I will be able to engage
with the students during individual meetings or with the
parents when conducting a telephone call to address an issue.

Practice Behavior: 8

Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to

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

Going on my first home visit, I had to rid any

judgments, assumptions, biases, and my personal
values before going into the home and observing my
supervisor talk with the parent.