Izzie Case Reflection In Working With The Family System

Great Essays
Izzie Case Reflection Paper
1. In working with the family system, point out ways that you could assist in diminishing the following (oppression, marginalization, alienation, privilege and power)?
Engaging diversity and recognizing difference in social work practice is key to diminishing oppression, marginalization and alienation. This is because diversity plays a major role in shaping the human experience, as well as in forming identity. Diversity itself is a complex issue that is affected by various variables such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, political ideology, and sexual orientation. These variables also have the capacity to create experiences of power and privilege. Thus, depending on the way in which these differences impact an individual’s life, one may experience oppression, marginalization and alienation.
Izzie is clearly a victim of marginalization and alienation, a situation that is largely linked to her Mexican background. In this case, ethnicity and culture are major factors that have exerted influence in Izzie’s identity
…show more content…
Thus, in recognizing the big role that diversity plays in shaping the human experience, as well as its role in constructing identity, the social worker must draw from their knowledge of various populations to promote more effective engagement with clients. In addition, it is important to keep an open mind when engaging with clients, because this fosters meaningful interaction with the client. Diminishing privilege and power also involves recognizing flexibility in the rules and regulations regarding the rehabilitation and reunification of families affected by drug-related offences. The strict no-contact requirement while Izzie is undergoing drug treatment is likely to hamper the family’s intentions for an early reunification, yet they have all undergone extremely difficult times arising from

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Social Exclusion In Wales

    • 2068 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Social workers need an understanding of how the anti-oppressive practice can aid them in tackle this growing issue. This practice was developed to ensure social workers are working alongside service users taking into account the effects of oppression and inequality that people have experienced (Dalrymple & Burke, 2006, p.7). Oppression, like discrimination, is isolating a group, community or individual from participating in society (Alcock, 2006, p.122). The anti-oppressive practice can be used as a tool as it encourages social workers to ensure service users are feeling empowered, to advocate on their behalf and ensure they are involved in the decision making process in order for people to reclaim control (Darlymple & Burke, 2006,…

    • 2068 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Clinical social workers conduct psychosocial assessments to better understand the complex lives of clients. It is a guiding tool that aid social workers in obtaining relevant information such as demographics, identifying the problems and concerns, past and present experiences in order to give meaning to the client’s life. While this process is relevant to social workers, one can encounter challenging or difficult clients who will test the expertise of a social worker. This paper will discuss such client who was court ordered to complete parenting classes, individual therapy, random drug screening and has been non-compliant with treatment. Background Information: Salina is a 39-year-old Guyanese American female.…

    • 1706 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The reading assigned is centered around the discussion of social identities given to the reader by Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey. In this article the discussion of social identities are geared toward the identities we give ourselves and the identities society gives us. Kirk and Okazawa-Rey give plenty examples of how the social groups we tend to place ourselves might not be the same group society places us in. One example used was immigration in the United States. In many places all over the world most people identify with where they are from as their main “identity.”…

    • 363 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    Critical Analysis Paper #1 Question #1: Social Work and Systems Theory Social Work as a concept and a career is simple, yet difficult to define. Social work has grown and developed from the seed that is envelops social issues in our society. As Robbins, Chatterjee, and Canda state in Contemporary Human Behavior Theory (2012), defined situations within society have dictated the need for social work and advocates to speak on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves. From the inception of its career, social work has been associated with helping those in need, whether that be at a micro-level with individual therapy and case management, or a macro level with policy development and large scale advocacy efforts.…

    • 2214 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Meta-Level Practice Theory

    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages

    palpable resources, like alternative housing, financial means, employment and/or employability, and availability of supports, that directly affects outcomes (Schmidt, 2014). This is a common theme and issue in group interventions with survivors. In order to be able to furnish survivor necessities essential in practice on the mid- level, there must be aid rendered within the community supports. There is validity in not allowing the micro clinical intervention to not be the sole intervention rendered, group intervention allows for mutual aid and communal change. Meta-Level Practice Theory…

    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In her book, New Tribalisms the Resurgence of and Ethnicity discusses the nature of ethnic, Joane Nagel discusses the nature of ethnicity and its relationship to culture in the United States. Mikhail Naimy’s short story, “His Grace” expresses a message that supports Nagel’s claims about ethnic identity and cultural construction. Nagel acknowledged that the socially constructed aspects of ethnicity are flexible, elective, and constantly negotiated. By delineating the Bey’s interactions with Roukus Nusour and Abu ‘Assaf, Nagel’s argument that ethnic identity and the culture formed inside it are constructed both internally and externally. Ethnicity is formed by a combination of many identifying characteristics unify groups of people.…

    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Cultural Competence Self-Assessment This paper will examine how to recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and values may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or enhance privilege and power, and how to recognize and manage personal values in a way that allows professional values to guide practice. By using self-assessment tools such as the Cultural Paradigm Survey and the Project Implicit Attitudes Tests (IATs) the author identified the strengths that she wish to enhance, and the improvement opportunities for the weaknesses that she wish to reduce or eliminate. The author is a 44-year-old African American female attending Edinboro University obtaining her master’s degree after completing her bachelor’s degree late in life.…

    • 1579 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Identity is a concept that literally shapes a person’s life experience. The way they act, think, and feel are all intertwined both with the way they see themselves and the way other people see them. Julia Alvarez tackles a difficult concept having to do with identity, which is immigration and how a person or a family finds a way to fit into a new country. She has two books about a family called the Garcías who immigrate from the Dominican Republic to the United States, and throughout these books is a multitude of examples and ways through which identities shape people and families, and what affects them. The Garcías consist of a mother named Laura, a father named Carlos, and three daughters named Carla, Sandra, Yolanda (or Yoyo), and Sofía.…

    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Within the social work practice there is an inherent power differential between practitioner and clients. As I step into a social work role, my social location can affect my work with clients. As a social worker it is important to understand my own unique social location and how oppressions and privileges affect me. How am I uniquely situated in relation to my clients (Girl Action Foundation, 2016)? In understanding my social location, I am essentially questioning what my social location means and challenging pre-conceived assumptions and biases.…

    • 747 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The essay “Los Intersticios: Recasting Moving Selves” by Evelyn Alsultany, introduces a still existing issue in our society. The Author Evelyn Alsultany shows in this essay, her own collection of struggles, in having a mixed racial background. “The bridge becomes my back as I feign belonging, and I become that vehicle for others, which desires for myself” (Alsultany, 236). Evelyn finds herself constantly in the situation of being questioned by other strangers from which ethnic background she’s coming from, because she doesn’t look like the typical American.…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Before this course had initiated I measured myself as a person who was conscious of diversity and embraced the term. To my dismay I soon apprehended that I was not as open-minded as I had presumed that I was. Although, I had attended a multi-cultural school during my adolescent years that exposed me to different ethnicities. I had not developed a culturally competent way of thinking until I entered into Wayne State University’s School of Social Work program this fall. During my tenure at this diverse school I cultivated personal relationships with a multitude of people from different races, who possessed diverse beliefs and religions.…

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Theorists like Micheal Foucault and Judith Butler have provided great insight on various topics and critiquing what does not get questioned. Foucault has inspired Butler when it comes to the topics of gender and sex. Butler challenges the ideas that have been inculcated in our own culture by exposing the truth behind what is considered normal and critiquing the binaries in society. Queer theory is important to address because of the lack of knowledge our society has on queerness. Butler’s ideas on queerness and gender will not only empower others, but it will help social workers in their practice.…

    • 1056 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    understand the reasoning behind a certain behavior or action my clients would have. Cognitive theory can be used in almost any setting if the person is willing to try it. The only time I could see how cognitive theory might not be the most effective approach would be if a person has a strong belief or value that prevents them from acknowledging their cognition as the cause of their actions. Additionally, cognitive theory can be used in the general population because it can be applied to all individuals in every socioeconomic status.…

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Social workers aim to protect vulnerable people from abuse, neglect or self-harm and help to enhance their well-being and quality of life (University of York, 2014). It can be achieved via anti-oppressive practice (AOP) and anti-discriminatory practice (ADP). These two approaches are linked but differ in focus. Social Care Institute for Excellence defines ADP as an approach which seeks to reduce, undermine or eliminate discrimination, eradicate it from the social workers practice and challenge it in the practice of others (SCIE. 2014). Payne in 2005 defined discrimination as a means of identifying individuals and groups with certain characteristics and treating them less well than people or groups with conventionally valued characteristics…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    a. In looking back over the courses you’ve taken thus far, what are the key themes and lessons that you feel will be the most prominent in your mind as you enter the field of social work? This could be a concrete tool or practice, or perhaps a theme or way of thought. As I reflect back on the courses that I have taken thus far, I have learned many great themes and lessons that will be prominent in my mind as enter the field of social work. The most valuable lesson I have learned is who and what should guide my work with individuals from such vulnerable populations.…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays