Competency One

Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior.

1:1

Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics,
relevant laws, and regulations, models for ethical conduct of research, and
additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context.
 Making sure to remember the code of ethics when interning is important.
 I will follow the agency policies and procedures.
1:2

Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain

professionalism in practice situations.
 Many of the agencies clientele population has values that conflict with what
the agencies employees believe. It is important to notice this, to be able to
best handle the clients, and to be able to see the client strengths. Clients are
not to be treated in a different manner for their values and beliefs. They
should be treated with respect.
 My values are similar and different from the staff I work with. Keeping in
mind the similarities and contrasts of my values is important to effectively be
able to work together. I am to think about this and reflect on it to expand my
cultural competency with working with staff at the agency.
1:3

Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, and written,

and electronic communication.
 Making sure to dress professionally such as wearing close toed shoes, dress
clothes, and always keeping my hair nice. Putting effort into how I look while
interning.
 Talking with supervisors and employees respectfully and not using any derogatory
language. For agency documentation always keeping language concise, accurate,
and with application of the strengths perspective in mind. Staying optimistic and
eager in completing duties, and with working with others.
 When communication is made orally, written, and electronically when working for
the agency you represent the agency. Communication should be made effectively
and should be made respectfully. Proper language and grammar should be used.
1:4

Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes.

 Using the computer to do tasks is a big part. Making sure I am correctively and
efficiently documenting and doing other tasks the way they should be
completed. I need to keep in mind all the rules and policies of the agency
when using technology.
1:5

Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.

 Sometimes there will be questions about the responsibilities of the agency, or
there will be a question about how to handle a specific task. Making sure to
utilize the supervisor and agency staff is important. This makes sure the
intern is performing the task correctly and adhering to the agency policies.
The decisions should not be made by the intern but should be identified by
the supervisor and consulters.
Competency Two
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice.
2:1

Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference

in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
 Some of the clients come from backgrounds full of past trauma and abuse. Some
also have families that have a lot of substance and drug use and abuse. I am going
to be patient, understanding, and empathetic of this. I am going to find out
everything I can about evidence based practice, and research/learn the best ways
to be culturally sensitive at the three levels of practice.
 On the mirco level I can be understanding when getting to know the clients of
different cultures and lifestyles.
 On the mezzo level I communicated with the school system that referred the
clients and gave them notice that the client showed up.
 On the macro level I analyzed policies that effect the clientele populations our
agency serves.
2:2

Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts

of their own experience.
 I will make sure to not be sitting around and am always doing a task or asking
what more can I do. I am going to listen to the supervisor and the staff
because they know more about the agency than I do. I will observe how they
interact with clients and groups and take note on how they act.
 I will make sure not to take on tasks I am not qualified to do, as the NASW
code of ethics highlights. (ex- assessments, diagnoses..)
2:3

Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal

biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.
 I am going to always make sure I do not judge anyone and recognize when I
have thoughts or opinions that are biased. Through journaling I can identify
opportunities for growth.
 Becoming familiar with client cultures and lifestyles is an important factor of
working with clientele populations that are diverse. I can examine my values
daily and weekly and make sure they align with the agency values.
Competency Three
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic,
and Environmental Justice.
3:1

Apply understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate

for human rights at the individual and system levels.
 In working with the children I will help them in their treatment and recovery.
By assisting in group and individual meetings, I will make the children more
aware of the dangers and consequences of drug and alcohol usage.
 With this understanding the children are able to fulfill their roles in society,
and will have get justice through their completing the programs. The society
will get justice, in the sense that the individuals will hopefully be positively
changed after completion of programs.
 I am going to educate the children on the law and consequences of drug and
alcohol usage. Working with the children and their parents or guardians
treatment will be specifically tailored to each client.
3:2

Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice.

 In working with the clients and helping with the services, the individuals will
learn behavior modification skills, coping skills, emotional regulation, and
anger management.
 With my assessments and meetings I can help assist clients with their
economic and social needs. I can identify mental health needs of clients, and
also other specific needs of clients.
 Some clients are in need of support groups and activities to do to refrain from
using and abusing drugs. Another need of clients is that they need financial
help/assistance. Legal assistance is a third need for some of the clients. When
noticing needs I can link them to services and programs that will be
beneficial.
 Competency Four
Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
4:1

Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research.
 Give assessments to clients and evaluate clients according to the standards
and evidence-based template/questions.
 Following clients through the treatment sessions and implementing
presentations that have been proven to be helpful.
 Learning the foundational basics of topics on substance abuse licensure tests.
4:2

Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative

research methods and research findings.
 Research statistics ands information on drug and substance abuse and
evidenced based practice treatments, for group presentations.
 Consulting with co-workers and helping with service delivery implementation
for services.
4:3

Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and
service delivery.
 I learned the assessment protocol and also observed and completed
assessments.
 Learning some of the basics about the coverage offered for services and
advocated for policy revisions/amendments that expand service coverage.
Competency Five
Engage in policy practice.
5.1

Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-
being, service delivery, and access to social services.
 I learned the policies related to the coverage for insurance for rehab
programs.
 Called rehab centers and asked them what is normally paid from aca
coverage.
 Learned about LME coverage, which is funds that go to clients who cannot
afford services.
5:2

Assess how the social policy, economic, policies impact the delivery of and
access to social services.
 I learned about the polices for services when it came to the processes for the
students to get back to school from their drug alcohol related suspensions.
 I learned some about the policies about dwi cases regarding their license
revocation and getting their licenses back.
 I learned some of the clients had trouble meeting the required treatment
policies due to lack of transportation.
5:3

Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that
advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
 I signed the Tyler Petition which mandated 90-180 day coverage for inpatient
rehabilitation services.
 I advocated to the Robert Pittenger to sign the Tyler act. I also encouraged
him to advocate to make the ACA include more sufficient coverage for
inpatient rehabilitation programs/services.
 Competency Six
Engage with individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities.
6:1

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-

environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with
clients and constituencies.
 Observed assessments and sessions being held with clients.
 Understanding clients mentality and awareness of the treatment and
recovery. Also taking into account the clients environmental factors.
 Understanding with some clients they are only there because mandated and
will make no progress in treatment, but making sure to be empathetic and
making them aware we are here for them if the decide to make progress.
6:2

Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse

clients and constituencies.
 In assessments and group, I express and showed empathy through verbally and
non verbally, with clients about their concerns and troubles. I make sure to
always show I am listening to them and have them be aware of this.
 Understanding the different ways to build rapport with clients of all ages and
mental development and educational backgrounds.
 Taking into account some clients will be harder to get to talk/open up and
either giving them time to open up, or being creative inn attempts to get
them to talk.
 Competency Seven
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
7:1

Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information
from clients and constituencies.
 Completing assessments and considering client drug and alcohol usage, along
with other areas in clients’ lives that can be improved. Applying not only the
clients verbal and non verbal behaviors, actions, and attitudes, but also
scores and results from the screening instruments, and client contacts.
Additionally, keeping in mind the clients awareness about the harms of their
actions and about drug/alcohol, and clients willingness for treatment, to
tailor the group and individual sessions to best fit the client.
 This is done with completing the written part of assessments and throughout
treatment.
 Using the LCAS and CSACs for consultation and advice on the best practices
and approaches, when I may question.
7:2

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-

environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions
with clients and constituencies.
 Understanding that clients are affected by the systems theory, learning theory
and person-in-environment theory. This is helpful in understanding ways to
build rapport, understand their behaviors, understanding clients support
systems, and being knowledgeable about clients accesses and barriers to
resources.
 By completing the assessments, screening and evaluations, I can learn more
about how the clients can best reach their treatment goals. Learning
everything I can about clients helps me gain a better picture of their lives. I
also use these frameworks to guide how I interact with clients and to see
progress, resistance, and motivations.
7:3

Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical
assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies.
 In completing assessments, I personalize the treatment plans to each clients life,
supports, strengths and barriers. I do not have that much flexibility with the
treatment recommendations, but I can learn from the clients, listen, and try to
use their words and motivate them for positive life changes when necessary.
 Including the client in the assessment and making sure they know I am here to
assist but that the goals are up to them. I enable them to have control and say in
creating their treatment plans and goals.
 Incorporating family and friends with their treatment. This could mean contacting
and speaking with the support systems they identify, or just highlighting them if
they for the client if they could help with treatment.
7:4

Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research

knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.
 Applying the screening tools that are used in assessments.
 Making sure to gather as much information as possible every time I speak with
the clients. Completing thorough assessments with every as. These will set
the foundations for the therapist and client relationships, and for the clients
treatment.
 Competency Eight
Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities.
8:1

Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and

enhance capacities of clients and constituencies.
 I sent information from to the public school system when my clients followed
the schools recommendations for seeking our services.
 I collaborated with the clients, and the client’s families, to personalize the
assessments and to create personalized treatment goals.
 With all the assessments I made sure the client had a say in their goals. For
example, whether the client states they are just wanting to comply with the
services to comply with the school, or whether they report that they are
wanting to stop using drugs and alcohol, I take not of their opinions and goals.
 8:2

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-

environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions
with clients and constituencies.
 With working with adolescents who are referred here for getting in trouble at
school, I try to understand their mindsets, their relationships with caretakers,
to really be able to view the issues in their perspectives.
 In engaging with the adolescent clientele population, I learned a lot about
ways to build rapport, while also being a teacher/role model/authority
figure. When trying to understand my clients behaviors I take into account
each individual client’s family background/family history, the client’s social
environments and institutions they are connected with, who they look up to,
and also who they are surrounded by. This helps me really understand the
clients intersectionality and helps me learn more about my clients, which is
beneficial to helping the client.
8:3

Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice

outcomes.
 I worked with the other counselors at the agency with interventions to get
second opinions. This collaboration was also helpful for clients, because it
added more people .
 With assessments, since I hold no substance abuse or counseling credentials, I
sometimes collaborated on assessments and always had my assessments
singed.
 I collaborated and networked with the local agencies, departments, and
universities to involve them in the workshop.
 Attending local community meetings and continuing education trainings to be
educated more on intervening in oppressed populations.
8:4

Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and
constituencies.
 I work as in advocate for the adolescent child to their parents.
 Some clients need a mediator when they are sitting in our agency with their
parents. I acted as a mediator with adolescent clients and their
parents/guardians during assessments, because often at assessment/intake
they are full of emotion and are not the best communicators.
8:5

Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on

goals.
 Realizing that our services are normally temporary and that time with the
clients is limited. I try my best to enforce/let the clients know, that once
their services are completed here, that they are going to be more
accountable to keeping themselves out of trouble.
 Making sure the clients take the post-treatment and follow up drug tests, and
to follow up with the client progress/client goals.
 Competency Nine
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities.
9:1

Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes.

 Used the assessment screening tools to assess clients and get the necessary
information. Also I used the screening tools to make a decision about the
sensitivity and severity of the clients presenting problem.
 Working, networking, and communicating with the town leaders and
organizations, to gain involvement in our workshop on FASD.
9:2

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-

environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the
evaluation of outcomes.
 Learning how to network and gain involvement from the community
organizations, which increases community support/involvement/awareness.
9:3

Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and
outcomes.
 Learning about funding for the programs and the needs of the current
programs.
 Follow-ups with clients.
 Completing agency needs assessments.
9:4

Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo,

and macro levels.
 Comparing clients pre and post questions to evaluate progress, and to see
the best ways to accommodate specific populations.
 Keeping good communication with the organizations we collaborate and
contract services with.