UWEC Social Work Program Mission Statement

Through its curriculum and program activities and consistent with the historic mission of professional social work, the Department of Social Work has as its mission:

• to empower students to improve the quality of life for their clients and for
  themselves;
• to develop habits of critical thinking and scholarship that lead to effective
  practice;
• to develop ethical, passionate, and practical leadership;
• to foster and develop social and economic justice in programs and services in rural, urban, and reservation communities of Western and Northwestern
  Wisconsin.
  

UWEC Social Work Program Goals

The goals of the Social Work Program are:

1. to prepare entry-level generalist social workers for practice, within the context of professional values and ethics, in public and private social services agencies, especially in those services which meet the needs of oppressed and at-risk individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
2. to prepare students to integrate scholarship into practice through an evidence-based process;
3. to prepare students for and instill in them a commitment to continuing education and lifelong learning;
4. to prepare students for practice with diverse populations and for effective
   participation in community affairs in a diverse society through promotion of
   social and economic justice.

Program Objectives

Graduates of the Social Work Program will be able to:

1. Critical thinking:
   (Program Goals 1 and 3)
   Think critically as demonstrated by recognition of the complexity of issues,
   procedures, decisions and processes within the person-in-environment
   perspective.
   
   
2. Social work values and ethics:
   (Program Goals 1, 3, and 4)
   Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and
   principles, and practice accordingly.
   
   
3. Diversity:
   (Program Goals 1 and 4)
   Understand and apply principles of cultural competence and commitment to the positive value of human diversity and knowledge of special population groups including those represented by age, class, culture, disability/differing ability, ethnicity, race, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and others who have consistently been affected by oppression and discrimination.
   
   
4. Professional use of self:
   (Program Goals 1 and 3)
   Demonstrate professional use of self, including the ability to attend to and use nonverbal and verbal communication, to write clearly, and to use consultation, evaluation, and other mechanisms to enhance self-awareness and self-assessment skills.
   
   
5. Social justice; dynamics of oppression and discrimination:
   (Program Goal 4)
   Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and the strategies of change that promote social and economic justice.
   
   
6. History and structure of the social work profession:
   (Program Goal 1 and 3)
   Understand and think critically about the history of the social work profession and its current structures and issues.
   
   
7. Generalist practice skills:
   (Program Goal 1 and 2)
   a.     Knowledge – Employing a strengths perspective, demonstrate knowledge of effective social work theories, techniques and strategies.
   b.     Skills – Demonstrate the ability to select and apply theories, techniques and strategies which are most likely to enhance problem solving, coping and developmental capacities in systems of all sizes.
   
   
8. Person-in-environment:
   (Program Goal 1)
   Use theoretical frameworks supported by best evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, cultures, organizations, and communities.
   
   
9. Policy-assessment:
   (Program Goal 1 and 4)
   Understand the policy making process as political decision making, develop the skill to know how and when to enter into this process to affect policy formulation, and engage in critical thinking through analysis of policy as process, product, or performance.
   
   
10. Evaluation of practice:
    (Program Goal 1, 2, and 4)
    Learn to pose specific well-built questions regarding practice, locate and critically appraise the evidence, apply it to decision making in practice, and evaluate practice interventions.
    
    
11. Differential use of communication:
    (Program Goal 1)
    Use communication skills differentially with a variety of client populations,
    members of the community, interpreters, and colleagues.
    
    
12. Use of supervision:
    (Program Goal 1)
    Use supervision, consultation, teamwork, and resource referrals appropriate to generalist practice.
    
    
13. Functioning within large systems:
    (Program Goal 1 and 4)
    Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems, and, under supervision, advocate for necessary organizational changes of policy, procedures, and structure.