Which of these characteristics do you see in yourself and what will you work on to obtain essential characteristics you may not have acquired yet?

Topic: Based on the interview videos you have viewed, summarize what you believe the 3 most prominent characteristics of a human service professional should be. How do these characteristics compare to those desirable for Christians, as described in Scripture? Which of these characteristics do you see in yourself and what will you work on to obtain essential characteristics you may not have acquired yet? Include at least 2 Scripture references as well as references from the introduction videos and your readings in your thread.

Please rephrase or rewrite the below for me (it’s my Posting). It’s too much; it should be no more over 350 words in length. I also want the scriptures added within the body.

I think that the most important characteristic of a human service professional is to have a heart for people and your profession. As Linda Ellis Williams says, the Director of the Domestic Violence Prevention Centers, one of the largest programs under the YWCA, is that the people who succeed in this field, “Do this work from the heart; they are people who care and are not in it for the money. They are people who actually want to make a difference in the world” (Williams, n.d.). I do see myself as having this characteristic. I want to do things from my heart and really make a difference in this world. What really gets to me is when Linda says she wants to see children smile again and have hope in the future. That is what I want too.

Unlike other mental health professions, human service professionals are true generalists who specialize in certain social conditions like domestic violence or substance abuse. “The passion to create meaningful change in the lives of others creates a drive in many human service professionals that compensates for the relatively low pay and less than glamorous working conditions” (Martin, 2011, p. 339).

Michelle Duncan, Events Coordinator of the YWCA and Bridal Shop manager says that loyalty, empathy and flexibility are very important in working with human services because of all the different tasks you can be called upon to do on a particular day (Duncan, n.d.). Not only does she oversee special events and fundraisers, she is Manager of the Bridal Shop that sells donated bridal clothes and is a year round fundraiser.

She also says that you need to understand where people come from by understanding their stories (Duncan, n.d.). I believe that this is showing empathy and understanding. She says that she wants to help women reach their fullest potential. I believe in those qualities of loyalty, empathy and flexibility also.

 

I believe that I need to work on empathy and flexibility. I am very good at feeling sorry for people and showing sympathy, I can even put myself in their place even if they treat me badly. I pray for improvement each day with practice and with my work of 17 years in the IMD Department at a hospital where you have to work with all kinds of people.

All I can do is pray that God will guide me and gave me his Grace. He has gotten me through thus far with all my limitations and of course, strengths. Thanks be to God.

Matthew 22:37–39 Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with your entire mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (NKJV)

1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (NIV)

Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (ESV).

References Duncan, M. (n.d.). Liberty University interview with Michelle Duncan. (K. Corsini, Interviewer)

Martin, M. E. (2011). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice settings, 2nd ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Williams, L. E. (n.d.). Liberty University interview with Linda Williams. (K. Corsini, Interviewer)

Reply to three of your classmates’ threads. Each reply should be at least 150 words in length and meaningfully expand the discussion.

 

(feedback from my professor about past replies), I still need to see more of the application piece I continue to reflect about. Your reference use should be more about how you are analytically reflecting about the research. You are continuing to improve in this area. I encourage you to just continue to work on the application piece of how you are expanding on the authoritative voice used in your posts or your classmates posts.

Reply 1

S C

On prominent characteristic a human service professional should have is a balanced view.  Most people, if not all, who are in need of assistance from a human service agency are struggling with something (i.e., finances, domestic violence, low self-esteem, etc.)  Many people lack the confidence to look forward to a desired goal or some feeling of achievement.  The inability to see the larger perspective handicaps the consciousness and state of mind of a person.  For this reason, a human service professional must use sound intuitive analysis because no two cases or persons are alike.  Having a balanced view can help restore a person’s faith.  Romans 12:3 says, “…God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (New King James Version).  This can be translated as saying that everyone has the capacity to operate in faith.  This can be difficult for some to accept, especially if a person does not have a religious belief.  However, the antagonist counts on this doubt because if he or she can cause you to doubt yourself and abilities he or she can hold you in bondage mentally, and thus physically.  Having faith involves making choices, being conscience-stricken about past actions, and learning.

Contrary to our society’s viewpoint, that one can only experience real victory when you have what you want when you want it, a positive state of mind, a second prominent characteristics a human service professional should have, allows you to see past the current situation and press forward towards success.  This success can be a victim of domestic violence making a conscious decision to remove herself or himself from the home where she or he is being abused.  The director of YWCA, Linda Williams stated the one of the benefits of working in the domestic violence field is that you help “change a lifestyle of a generation or cycle of abuse” for many victims.  “Statistics tell us that a victim will go back 8 to 12 times before leaving for good” (Williams, 2014).  It really does take a positive attitude to help empower victims of abuse.  One of the points that Michelle Duncan pointed out was it can be a challenge to understand where people come from (Liberty University Video Presentation, 2014).  Martin, 2014, p. 340, points out that victims of domestic violence see themselves as being more responsible for the abuse than the abusers.  This state of mind developed over time, and it will take time to reprogram the mind to where “healthy boundaries” are established.  Thus, the words that human service professional use have the power to build up or tear down, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34, New King James Version).  Working with domestic violence victims effects both the adults and children, so what we say critical to a person’s self-worth and self-esteem.  When a child sees his or her parent(s) being abused this becomes their reality, so human service professional have to show them what a healthy environment looks like by planting the right seeds.

Another notable quality a human service professional should possess is hope.  Hope can be manifested through faith and sincerity.  A very renowned scriptural verse about hope and faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see” (New King James Version).  When a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault comes to you for help that is the first step towards mental and physical freedom.  The victim may not know how to go about ascertaining this freedom, however the victim does know that something is wrong.  If the immediate thought process is condemnation manifested through words, gestures, and physical dispositions, this is known to the victims.  Victims are injured – not senseless.  There are also at a point in their lives of uncertainty and that is where human service professional can help them turn their “tragedy into triumph and powerlessness into empowerment” (Martin, 2014, p. 358).

References

Duncan, M. (2014, September 29). Events Coordinator of YWCA. (K. Cosrsini, Interviewer)

Martin, M. E. (2014). Introduction to Human Services. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc.

Williams, L. (2014, September 29). Director of YWCA. (K. Corsini, Interviewer)

 

 

Reply 2

I believe the three most prominent characteristics of a human service professional should be loyalty, empathy, and empowerment. Loyalty is a key factor when working with clients in the human service field because each client needs to know that the professional is going to commit to helping them recover from their situation. In the video, Michell Duncan stated that “Loyalty is first characteristic that a human service professional must possess while working for the YWCA.” (Duncan, 2014) Christians are called to be loyal to one another through good and bad times. This is why Proverbs 27:10 (ESV) says “Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.”

Professionals in the human services field should display empathy as it relates to their client’s problems. “Empathy is defined as a predominantly cognitive attribute that involves an understanding of experiences, concerns and perspectives of another person, combined with a capacity to communicate this understanding. Empathy in the context of clinical care can lead to positive patient outcomes including greater patient satisfaction and compliance, lower rates of malpractice litigation, lower cost of medical care, and lower rate of medical errors.” (Hojat, 2009).  As Christian professionals, we are commission by God to carry the burdens of others and display compassion.  Ephesians 4:3 (ESV) states “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Human service professionals offers empowerment for clients. They help individuals that are struggling to cope with stress and provide them the necessary tools to overcome obstacles. “The human services profession is based on the empowerment theory, where clients are encouraged to recognize that they have more control over their lives than they may have previously thought.” (Martin, 2014 p. 72) Luke 10:19-20 (ESV) says “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

I feel I possess all of the three characteristics that were discussion in the interview. However, I know that I can improve in empathy because I know that sometimes I feel that people create their own problems and then they want others to solve their problems for them. I am a person that strongly believes in empowering people and giving back. “My mission each year is to give back to the community through giving out backpacks and school supplies.  It brings me great joy to see other people walk in the divine purpose.”(Austin, 2014) In addition, I am very loyal when it comes to making sure people know that I am accessible to them anytime of the day or night. Christians are supposed to possess the same characteristics. This means they should become loyal, show empathy, and empower people to become better. We as Christians have been empowered by God to love one another, be concern about others, and have an impact on our communities and nation. Mark 16:15 (NIV) Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

 

References

Austin, P. (2014). My Life: Introduction. Essay. Pensacola, FL.

Duncan, M. (2014, September 30 Presentation: Interview with Michell Duncan.  Retrieved from http://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset

Hojat, M. (2009). Ten approaches for enhancing empathy in health and human services cultures. Journal of health and human services administration, 412-450.

Martin, M. (2014).  Introduction to Human Services. Through the Eyes of Practice Settings.  New Jersey.  Pearson Education, Inc p. 72

 

Reply 3

 

The three most prominent characteristics of a human service professional based on the interviews I have watched are having boundaries with your clients with showing them that you want to help them, showing them that your passionate about what you are doing to help them, and having a trusting relationship with the client and yourself.  With having boundaries with your clients it shows them that you cannot be there for them all time, it shows them that why the client and their counselor cannot have physical contact, and with having no dual relationship between the client and counselor for example they are selling a house and you need a house, you should not buy from them.  Another shows that you want to help the client with also showing them you are passionate about what you are doing by listening to what is going on in  their lives, and helping them get what they need, and them seeing that you are passionate to help them will help them work more to get their lives back on track, and when you show people that you are passionate they see that you do have a heart for people.  When your clients see that they can trust you they are more willing to open up to you, with them having trust they are depending on you to help them better their lives, and when they see that someone of faith is helping them is when they see that they can trust you with everything in their life.  Sometimes though when clients trust you with everything is why you set  boundaries when so this does not happen.

The characteristics of human services professionals with looking at boundaries, passion, and trust have scriptural background to explain these as well in different ways than being in the human services field.  These skills are pretty much the same as what we see in the bible based on scripture.  I know I spoke about these verses in a previous discussion but these verses still pertain to this topic.  In the interview with Central Community Services talks about having personal integrity, which mainly is saying, is having the correct boundaries  (Liberty University Video Presentation, 2014).  While not following the boundaries within the scope of practice for social work is not counting the cost of what could happen to the social worker going outside of their boundaries (Luke 14:28).  As a social worker you need to look at what you can offer and not be foolish and go outside your scope of practice (Luke 12:28-32).  One difference is God can go outside His scope of practice to do anything, because he is perfect, and as a social worker you cannot go outside your scope because you can lose your job, due to because of the boundaries set in place to protect clients within the standards of ethics (Psalm 18:30). Brent McCraw states something like this when you establish trust with your clients you can help patients that are very difficult (Liberty University Video Presentation, 2014).  When you have trust with your client there is also confidentiality within the relationship.  Proverbs 26:20-22 states that as a social worker we need to keep things clients tell us to ourselves to keep from having altercations.  As a social worker keeping confidentiality will help your client open up to you more when things that occur in their life are terrible.  Having the trust will help the fire from burning between you and your client.  As in the bible, we do not want to gossip, and this plays a role in being a social worker because no social worker should tell another social worker anything about a client, unless the client allows the information to be said to other social workers, otherwise harm will come to the client or a person a client knows.  As a social worker, having an understanding of your client is knowing when to be quiet and not gossip about their client (Proverbs 11:12-13).  One thing that is different with confidentiality based on the scriptures is that gossip does happen within the Christian community, and as a social worker it cannot, because of the rules set in the ethics of confidentiality (Psalms 41:6).  With passion being a human services professional we need to look at Mark 12:29-31 which looks at loving your God with all your passion, but we need to love God with more passion than our passion for loving people.  With having a passion for our jobs, and when we love ourselves we can love people as much as well love ourselves in our daily lives.  Also with passion in an interview with Debbie Musselman from the godparent home says that having passion for people will help you want to stay involved in a job that helps people (Liberty University Video Presentation, 2014).

The characteristic that I see in myself and will work on to obtain as an essential characteristic that is not fully acquired yet is boundaries. Boundaries are sometimes hard to follow, because you want to help people, but I need to set boundaries because it will protect me and keep me from getting hurt by people.  With setting the right boundaries it will help me to not get burnt out from people who always want, and need help instead of working things out by themselves, and walking alongside Jesus to help them.  I know I need to look to Jesus more to set the correct boundaries with people instead of my own power.  I believe that when I look to Jesus more for help in this category I will acquire better boundaries in every aspect of my life.  I have seen growth in this category, but with out looking to Jesus to help set boundaries with people I would not be growing in this category.  I praise God that I am growing in this category and I cannot wait to obtain this category one hundred percent to the fullest.  As we look at boundaries there is way that we can internalize and externalizing feels when looking at boundaries (Martin, 2014, pg. 127-128).

Reference

McCraw, B. (2014, October).  (Brent McCraw Pathways Treatment Center).  (K.      Cosrsini, Interviewer)

Central Virginia Community Services. (2014, October).  (Central Virginia Community Services).  (K. Cosrsini, Interviewer).

Martin, M.  E.  (2014).  Introduction To Human Services Through The Eyes of Practice Settings.  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Pearson Education, Inc.

Musselman, D. (2014, October).  (Liberty Godparent Home).  (K. Cosrsini, Interviewer).

The Life Application Study Bible is an edition of the Holy Bible, New Living

Translation.  (2nd ed.).  (2004).  Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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