02/27/15

Reflection #3
Although it took me days to finish reading the assigned readings, but I must say that I
learned a lot from all the readings. First I will like to talk about the case study Case 29 From
Case to Cause: My name is Jess Overton, pp 204-210. The case study shows the aspect of social
workers being advocates and agents of change. Social workers are sometimes faced with ethical
dilemma as a result of some policies in place. Clients can be frustrated when they cannot get
what they want or what they think they are eligible for without knowing the policys
requirements. Just like Jesse, a lot of women are going through same kinds of treatment from
their spouses but refused to speak out for the fear of several problems for example, they do not
want to be homeless, not wanting to be a single parent, financial insecurity and so on. The
actions taken by the social workers at this agency to help Jesse not only on individual level
which is micro level to help her, but it is a macro level to advocate policy change that a lot of
abused women will benefit from. Social workers are compelled to help their clients in ways they
think might help them better their lives, as they are considered to be agents of change.
Secondly, is Debate 15 Can HBSE classes discuss socially sensitive topics without being
labeled politically incorrect? pp 214-227. Looking at this debate, I came to realize that HBSE
classes can discuss socially sensitive topics without being labelled politically incorrect in the
sense that it is through HBSE classes that students learn different behaviors and decide what
populations behaviors they can deal with. For example, some social workers prefer the elderly
population (Geriatrics) because they can deal with older persons behaviors than children and
teenagers, or young adults. Although social workers are supposed to render services to all, but,
they have to choose areas of specialization according to their tolerance for individual behaviors

and population they think they might serve better without going against the code of ethics of the
NASW.
Debate 17 Should HBSE favor social environment theories over theories of individual
behavior, pp 242-254. The focus on Person In Environment is very essential in social work
practice, there should be consideration of the PIE as well as individual behaviors, there should be
focus on both as both are important in social work practice. Then, Debate 20 Should HBSE
teach student to do anything? pp.286-297. I would say yes because HBSE classes contribute a
lot to social work practice. I agree with Dr. Zastrow that HBSE teaches students about theories
and knowledge of human bio-psycho-social and also states that the purpose and value of HBSE
content is assessment, which is one of the tools students need to learn in order to succeed in the
helping process. It is also true that an assessment is learned over time as Dr. Powell states but I
agree with Dr. Zastrow more than I agree with Dr. Powell because It was in my social work
practical method classes that I learned how to carry out assessments and I know that as I work on
a daily basis, I will keep on learning more about assessments which are the first process of
helping a client.
Since social work practice involves rendering services to human being and establishing
professional relationships with them, it is necessary that social work students learn and know
human behaviors in various ways. There is no way a social worker will practice without coming
across different kinds of behaviors. Therefore, it is important for social workers to have the
knowledge of Human Behaviors in Social Environment.