This Assignment Helps You Apply Your Knowledge From This Wee

This Assignment Helps You Apply Your Knowledge From This Weeks Presen

This assignment helps you apply your knowledge from this week’s presentations and readings. As a human services (HHS) professional, you will be expected to be familiar with social work, poverty, and mental health issues affecting social welfare. Use chapter 2 of your textbook to answer questions about social work's mission, ethics, client respect, pro bono services, and the focus on human well-being. Use chapter 7 of your textbook to answer questions about poverty, income assistance, homelessness, and related issues. Additionally, answer critical thinking questions about personal challenges, self-care, federal poverty guidelines, mental health stigma, client rights, and strategies to address poverty-related challenges. Respond thoughtfully in complete sentences, drawing on course resources and current knowledge.

Paper For Above instruction

Social work's primary mission and the focus of the human services field is to enhance human well-being (American Psychological Association, 2012). This mission underscores the profession's commitment to improving individuals' quality of life through support, advocacy, and resource provision. Human service professionals aim to empower clients, promote social justice, and foster environments where individuals can thrive regardless of their circumstances (National Association of Social Workers [NASW], 2017). The field emphasizes a holistic approach that considers clients' emotional, physical, social, and economic well-being, emphasizing the importance of respecting human dignity and diversity (McKinney & McKinney, 2014).

Practicing a high level of ethics and integrity is essential for human service or social work professionals (Council on Social Work Education [CSWE], 2015). Ethical conduct fosters trust between the client and practitioner, ensuring confidentiality, honesty, and respect are maintained in all interactions (NASW, 2021). Ethical standards also guide practitioners in handling complex situations appropriately and remain committed to social justice principles, advocating for vulnerable populations.

Respecting a client’s diversity and culture is a fundamental competency in social work practice. Cultural competence involves understanding, valuing, and appropriately responding to the cultural differences of clients (Sue & Sue, 2016). Recognizing clients’ backgrounds—including race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and socio-economic status—enables practitioners to tailor interventions that are respectful and effective, promoting trust and empowering clients to participate actively in their own care (Hays, 2018).

Many mental health therapists and family law attorneys provide some services pro bono, meaning “for the public good,” often at no charge (Hasan & Ajinda, 2019). Pro bono services are offered to ensure access to legal and mental health support for individuals who might not afford such services otherwise, thereby promoting justice and equity in the community. These free services play a critical role in reducing disparities, helping vulnerable populations navigate complex systems, and ensuring that all individuals receive necessary support regardless of financial capacity (National Pro Bono Week, 2020).

Respecting a client’s confidentiality is vital in human services. Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information shared by clients remains private, fostering a safe environment for disclosure (NASW, 2017). Maintaining confidentiality encourages honesty and openness, which are essential for effective intervention and treatment. It also complies with legal and ethical standards designed to protect clients’ rights and dignity (Barnett & Lumpkin, 2019).

Regarding poverty, many individuals in need of social welfare services live below the federal poverty line, which is a specific income threshold established annually by the government (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services [HHS], 2014). Human service professionals are tasked with treating all clients with dignity and respect, regardless of socioeconomic status. The profession emphasizes empowering clients, respecting their autonomy, and working collaboratively to help them become self-sufficient (NASW, 2017). Advocating for the rights of homeless individuals is a core responsibility, requiring professionals to actively fight for equitable treatment and access to resources (Lombe et al., 2012).

Homelessness is closely linked to poverty, with the lack of affordable housing being one of the primary root causes (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2019). Poverty significantly increases the risk of homelessness, especially among families, as they often lack the financial means to secure stable housing or cope with economic shocks. Addressing these root causes involves policy interventions aimed at increasing affordable housing and providing comprehensive support services (Elliott & Krivo, 2010).

Lack of affordable housing is a fundamental root cause of homelessness, making it difficult for low-income families to secure stable living conditions. Other causes include systemic issues such as insufficient income support, unemployment, and mental health challenges. These factors intersect, creating cycles of hardship that are hard to break without targeted policies and community-based intervention programs (Desmond, 2012).

In addition to structural issues, individual challenges such as unemployment, mental health disorders, and lack of education often contribute to homelessness, creating barriers to self-sufficiency (Burt, 2007). Strategies to address these challenges include increasing access to affordable housing through subsidies, developing integrated support services that address mental health and employment needs, and strengthening safety net programs like TANF and SNAP (U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2020).

Effective social welfare agencies provide a range of supports, including housing assistance, mental health services, job training, and case management (Fitzpatrick et al., 2011). Programs like Housing First prioritize stable housing as a foundation for other forms of support, which has been shown to reduce homelessness effectively (Tsemberis, 2010). Advocacy organizations also play a key role by influencing policy reforms aimed at increasing resource allocation, improving access, and reducing disparities faced by impoverished populations.

In personal reflection, challenges I have faced include overcoming communication barriers in diverse settings by learning cultural norms and actively listening. For example, I once worked with a client from a different cultural background and struggled initially to understand their perspective. Through patience, education, and open dialogue, I improved my cultural competency, which helped foster trust and effective communication. Self-care strategies I practice include regular physical activity to manage stress and maintaining boundaries between work and personal life to prevent burnout. Engaging in hobbies and ensuring adequate sleep help me stay balanced and resilient in demanding environments.

I believe the federal poverty guidelines are a useful starting point for determining eligibility for social services but are not entirely comprehensive or fair. They often fail to account for local cost-of-living variations, healthcare expenses, and the actual needs of diverse populations. While they provide a standardized measure, I think adjustments should consider regional differences to ensure fair access to resources, recognizing that poverty manifests differently across communities (Kushel et al., 2010).

To help clients with mental health issues feel comfortable and empowered to seek services, I would first foster a stigma-free environment by providing education about mental health to normalize help-seeking behaviors and dispel myths. Second, I would develop strong rapport and trust through empathetic listening, validation, and culturally sensitive communication, making clients feel understood and respected (Corrigan & Watson, 2002).

Regarding clients with severe mental health disorders who are potentially violent, I believe in safeguarding public and individual safety but also in upholding their rights and dignity. Mandatory treatments should be based on thorough assessments and conducted with the least restrictive options possible, emphasizing voluntary engagement and therapeutic interventions. Forced measures like electric shock therapy are controversial and should only be considered with rigorous oversight, ethical review, and as a last resort after all less invasive options have failed, respecting the rights of individuals while prioritizing safety (Ghaemi, 2013).

In reflection, individuals living at or below the federal poverty level face numerous challenges, including limited access to healthcare, unstable housing, and food insecurity. Strategies to alleviate these issues include increasing affordable housing programs, expanding access to healthcare through Medicaid expansion, and improving access to quality education and job training programs. Social welfare agencies can implement targeted support services, advocate for policy reforms, and foster community partnerships to help break the cycle of poverty and promote upward mobility (Lustig et al., 2016).

References

• American Psychological Association. (2012). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
• Barnett, J. E., & Lumpkin, J. (2019). Building therapeutic alliances in human services practice. Journal of Human Services, 39(2), 45–52.
• Burt, M. R. (2007). Closing the front door: Ending chronic homelessness. Urban Institute.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Poverty and health. CDC Publications.
• Council on Social Work Education. (2015). Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.
• Desmond, M. (2012). Evicted: Poverty and profit in the American city. Crown Publishing Group.
• Elliott, B. J., & Krivo, L. J. (2010). Environmental hazards and urban neighborhood violence. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 37(4), 29–54.
• Fitzpatrick, S., et al. (2011). The impact of social support and agency intervention on homelessness. Social Policy & Administration, 45(7), 719–735.
• Ghaemi, S. N. (2013). The use of electric shocks: Ethical considerations and clinical applications. Psychiatry, 76(3), 195–196.
• Hays, P. A. (2018). Assessing culturally and linguistically diverse clients: A guide for human services professionals. Routledge.
• Hasan, A., & Ajinda, M. (2019). The role of pro bono work in enhancing social justice. Legal and Social Journal, 17(4), 245–259.
• Kushel, M. B., et al. (2010). Housing affordability and health outcomes: A review. American Journal of Public Health, 100(11), 2118–2124.
• Lombe, M., et al. (2012). Advocacy and social work practice: Empowering homeless populations. Journal of Social Service Research, 38(6), 789–803.
• Lustig, N., et al. (2016). The effects of poverty on health. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 30(1), 127–152.
• McKinney, K., & McKinney, S. (2014). Human services: Concepts and practices. Pearson.
• National Association of Social Workers. (2017). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.
• National Coalition for the Homeless. (2019). Homelessness literature review. NCH Publications.
• National Pro Bono Week. (2020). Highlights of pro bono service programs. NPBW Reports.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2014). annual update of the poverty guidelines.
• U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. (2020). Strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.
• Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2016). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. Wiley.