Social Work Papers

“Social work is the professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating societal conditions favorable to this goal” (Kirst-Ashman). There are multiple fields of practice in social work; each addressing a certain population or specific need. My experience visiting four social agencies gave me a better insight on what it really means to work as a licensed social worker. To complete my field survey I interviewed Joanna Bare, Ashley Hawkins, Sarah Keeling, and Ashlea Richmond, who all practice in different fields of social work. Each of these women have acquired at least a Bachelor’s Degree of Social Work and have devoted themselves to the profession of social work.
My first interview took place at Burlington United Methodist Family
It was not until March of 1950 that it became affiliated with the Methodist church, when it became known as the Methodist Children's Home. Since then, there has been an expansion and diversity of the services provided, culminated by the current name in July of 1993. Today, Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. “utilizes a holistic team approach to treatment that promotes the mental and spiritual wellness and behavioral stability required for successful community reintegration. Individual programming is based on identification of each youth's strengths and challenges, modification and redirection of interfering behaviors and generalization of targeted behaviors. Treatment includes individual and/or group therapies, behavioral management, recreation, experiential learning programs, and psychiatric and general medical services” (Richmond). They provided these services on an inpatient basis to “serve youth between the ages of 11-18 years of age” (Richmond). Both males and females are in the residential treatment program at the Beckley Center. The youths are