Course Competencies

The Council of Social Work accreditation requires that CSWE and practice behaviors are taught in each social work class. The specific competencies relate differently to each class and some classes focus more on some than others. The mastery of five core competencies was focused on in this blog and was demonstrated separately through each post.

Competency 3: Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments was addressed in all of the posts by appraising and integrating multiple sources of knowledge through research and practice wisdom. Many organizations were studied and cited throughout this blog that related to childhood obesity: CDC, WHO, Department of Health and Human Services, Childwelfare.gov, Child Welfare Information Gateway, The New York Times, International Association for study of Obesity, ABC news, and many more.  

Competency 4: Engage diversity and difference in practice was focused on in the posts related to diversity and child obesity. Their are specific statistics that were addressed through cultural differences and obesity. Their were also different organizations listed that focus on cultural bias and obesity, which relates to the prevention of childhood obesity. The cultural structures and different values related to cultural beliefs were enhanced throughout these posts.  

Competency 6: Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research was addressed mainly in the research posts related to child obesity, which used evidence to inform practice and education. Much research has been done on childhood obesity and will continue to be done on this growing epidemic. It will be important for social workers to keep current with their research on this subject in order to help prevent this among children. Many of the posts address facts and evidence that has been done by researchers in order to reverse and prevent childhood obesity.

Competency 8: Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services by analyzing, formulate and advocate for policies that advance social well-being. There was a post that was done on how child obesity is affecting the economy on a global scale and a youtube video was correlated with this post as well. Their were also posts done related to childhood obesity and policy, which was focused on through a global standpoint.

Competency 9: Respond to contexts that shape practice was addressed in most of the posts by continuously discovering, appraising and advocating for policies that affect childhood obesity. Each week we were able to help shape our beliefs and future practice methods by researching this topic and relating it to social work practice. By educating ourselves and others we are able to improve our skills and develop better practice methods.