Undergraduate / Social work Admission (advocate for fair and equitable access to public services) [9]

Explain in 375 - 750 words why you are seeking an MSW degree and how you plan yo use the degree to advocate for social and economic justice to benefit populations at risk.

I have been interested in helping profession since I was quite young, I do love to meet the less privileged in my community, indentify their needs and wants, coming up with ideas as to how to alleviate their problems. Most importantly, exploring ways to get help and services that meets their specific needs is my utmost pleasure.

My interest in social work started when I accepted a job offer as a case worker with a provider agency with the Department of Social Services (DHS). The most important role of a foster care social worker was to ensure the safety and well being of children that are committed to the custody of DHS, as well as to ensure permanency in children life; Permanency in a child's life can be achieved by way of reunification with biological parent, adoption or an independent living arrangement when the child is of aged. Through my employment with this agency, I became aware of social and economic injustice limiting the population that I serve. Children are removed from homes due to abuse and neglect, parents lack motivation and do not follow through DHS stipulated goals in order to have their children returned to them. Clients have limited access to public services such as shelter, money, food, medical care, employment, positive support group, transportation, mental health counseling outreach facility and education.

Foster care experiences are detrimental and emotionally traumatic to the life of those involved, children exhibits behavioral challenges that often affects their education performances and self esteem. Children need not to be abandoned in foster care system if the society is doing enough to ensure family stability. Social work isn't about dragging people through the system but it is about advocating for social injustice and empowering clients and community by working with them collaboratively as a member to alleviate their living conditions.

Most of the children in foster care are from lower end of the social-economic status, poverty and poverty- related challenges and structural inequalities are some of key factor that contributed to unequal representation of children in foster care. Lack motivation and inaccessibility of public benefits has kept children in the foster care system. There is greater need of competent social workers to provide the missing link for those in need of connection.

Social work isn't about dragging people through the system but it is about advocating for social injustice and empowering clients and community by working with them collaboratively as a member to alleviate their living conditions.

My immediate goal is to become a licensed social worker. I will like to obtain knowledge and competency needed to advocate for fair and equitable access to public services for my client. I hope to obtain clinical counseling skills needed to empower my clients to become independent and take control over their own lives. I am interested in gaining understanding about how policies are developed in all level and how such policies can influence my practice settings as well as how it will affects the population that I serve. These knowledge and competency will advance my mission of improving the quality of people's life. I am confident that my past experiences and sincere dedication to making a difference will allow me to succeed in this program and I look forward to the challenges and reward of the program.