Personal Profile
While furthering my education, I would like to help all those in need by representing genuine kindness, trustworthiness, and empathy to everyone I come into contact with. As well as cultivating a safe space and a source of hope for those in need.
Pictured above: Amber Blackett and other Empowerhouse Intern doing a fair at local police station.
Diversity Practice Paper
Amber Blackett
Longwood University
SOWK 492-01
Professor Reynolds
Diversity Practice Paper
Diversity can be defined as the acknowledgment and respect for individual differences as it relates to different contextual factors. Diversity factors can include age, gender, identity, race, ethnicity, culture, color, national origin, geographic location, socioeconomic status, language, political beliefs, sexual orientation, health status, etc. “Diversity is an intentional practice of understanding, embracing, and celebrating the unique dimensions of humans worldwide”(Touro University, n.d.).
Social workers are required to understand that diversity shapes human experiences and is critical to the formation of identity (Social worker 3 – Diversity and equality, 2019). While understanding these concepts it is also important to understand the perception of difference. A person’s life experience may include oppression, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. Social workers must recognize the complexity of identity and apply this to practice. They must also recognize discriminatory practice and inequality as well as challenge colleagues and staff to develop a different range of approaches, and critically reflect and understand the position of power that they hold when establishing rapport with others. This enables social workers to reduce the risk of power misuse.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Infant and Toddler Connection of the Heartland (ITC) does an amazing job of serving all clients regardless of their differences. Each service coordinator, provider, and clinician treats all of their clients with dignity and respect. They all value their differences and uniqueness and try to offer them support the best way that they can. While not all providers at ITC have backgrounds in Social Work they uphold Social Work values and ethics in their daily practice. They often treat several different clients with very different backgrounds, and they make sure their clients are praised for their differences, receive the services they need and are treated with inclusion techniques. They also utilize the Strengths-Based Perspective throughout services with clients.
Discrimination and Oppression
Clients of the Infant and Toddler Connection of the Heartland may be oppressed or discriminated against due to their ableism, socioeconomic status, race, religion, gender, health status, political beliefs, language, and immigration status. Infant and Toddler Connection serves a wide variety of clients and they all are unique and diverse in many ways. One of the most typical ways a person can be discriminated against is based on their socioeconomic status. Infant and Toddler Connection serves both families who receive Medicaid and families with private insurance. Families may be discriminated against because they have Medicaid or because they have private insurance trying to receive Part B services such as early intervention. It is also common for children with different disabilities to enter our program. They may be discriminated against based on their ableism abilities.
Due to ITC being so widely diverse, they serve several different people that are different ethnicities and races. Different ethnicities and races could be discriminated against based solely on their background. This also can happen to clients who are immigrants, have different religious beliefs and have language barriers. Clients and their families may also be discriminated against based on their political beliefs and gender. There are many ways that clients and their families can be discriminated against or oppressed while receiving services with Infant and Toddler Connection. Families can be treated poorly based on these different forms of discrimination or even declined services illegally by service coordinators because of their identities or beliefs.
Advocacy Efforts for Diversity in the Workplace
Social workers within Infant and Toddler Connection can effectively advocate for clients by being self-aware. Social workers must be self-aware and aware of their own biases and prejudices while working with their clients. Being self-aware and understanding one’s own implicit biases allows for social workers to know why they are treating their clients the way that they are. It also helps social workers treat their clients with more inclusive practices by knowing those implicit biases. Being self-aware is just as important as educating others about different issues and addressing those issues within the workplace. These issues can be addressed by workshops and meetings where social workers educate colleagues on the importance of diversity. Social workers can also advocate for clients by recognizing their strengths and uniqueness. It is also essential that social workers continue to educate themselves on culture and diversity to better support their clients.
Advocating for change starts within the office itself. To advocate for change within the workplace using the inclusive workplace model could be extremely helpful. This model allows for different cultures to feel valued and be proud of their culture. It is also essential to foster a company culture where every voice is welcome, heard, and respected. Knowing that employees feel included and can express themselves freely will allow them to work better with their clients. It is necessary to acknowledge differences and uniqueness with colleagues and clients. Social workers can also offer implicit bias training to help create a safe place to raise awareness of unconscious attitudes and help teach tools to change behaviors. Lastly, strengthening anti-discriminatory policies within the agency can be critical for success and reduce the number of discriminatory practices within the agency.
Micro, Mezzo, & Macro
Micro is really where all the change begins to start. Using the term “it starts in the home” can allow for social workers to help themselves as well as others within their agency. To advocate for change on the micro-level social workers can again continue to educate themselves on diverse practices. They can also have those difficult conversations with their colleagues about discriminatory practices.
The mezzo level is very similar to the micro level to advocate for change. While micro is more individual-based, the mezzo is more group-based. This may mean for ITC to have groups and training that discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion. This training should allow for the agency’s staff to be educated properly on inclusive practices and diversity issues. This will potentially allow them to better help their clients while they are receiving services.
Advocating for change on the macro may include statewide training for early intervention specialists on inclusive practices. Social workers could potentially facilitate these training sessions. They can also have training on implicit biases so that early interventionists know that they all hold implicit biases and that it affects the way that they interact with their clients daily.
There are many ways to advocate for change on the micro, mezzo, and macro level. These changes strengthen relationships with clients, as well as allow early interventionists to better understand themselves and properly educate themselves.
Conclusion
Infant and Toddler Connection of the Heartland does an amazing job of advocating for their clients and treating them with the utmost dignity and respect. They value differences as well as use inclusive practices in their daily interactions with clients. While they are a very inclusive agency there are still many ways clients can be oppressed or discriminated against if early interventionists are not properly educated. Many practices can promote change within the agency so that their clients are receiving the best care possible. Early interventionists must uphold social work values and ethics to help clients and their families.
References
Social worker 3 – Diversity and equality. (2019, January 14). Www.basw.co.uk. https://www.basw.co.uk/professional-development/professional-capabilities-framework-pcf/the-pcf/social-worker/diversity-and-equality#:~:text=Social%20workers%20understand%20that%20diversity%20characterises%20and%20shapes
Touro University. (n.d.). Definition of Diversity. Https://Www.tuw.edu/Wp-Content/Uploads/Definition_of_Diversity.pdf.