1 University of Maryland School of Social Work Welcome to our School and the Path to the Profession Dean Richard P. Barth Fall 2014 Orientation for MSW Students

2 Six Goals for Orientation Talk 1.Welcome you 2.Remind you what a unique and gifted class you are 3.Help explain the science of social work 4.Discuss key ethical actions now expected of you 5.Call you to excellence 6.Finish on time

3 o The only profession committed to the practice of “scientific charity” (shout out to Baltimore’s very own Mary Richmond) o 113 years young and growing stronger o Science of Social Work (see John Brekke’s article in Research on Social Work Practice)  Even though you may never have aspired to be a scientist, if we do our job we will help you to understand the science of social work so that you can answer a lifetime of questions and choose between many opportunities to advance what you do and what our profession accomplishes Welcome to the Science and Practice of Social Work

4 Talented Together You are a very talented, experienced, and promising entering class You are, arguably, the most talented entering class the School has ever had – Here are a few things I learned about you, and your peers who are starting the program this fall:

Students in this incoming class, have done volunteer work, all over the world including: The Gambia, Haiti, India, El Salvador, Peru, Uganda, Hawaii, Spain, France, Honduras, Czech Republic, Mexico, Nigeria, Iran, China, South Africa and Violent Urban Neighborhoods in the U.S.

Organic Farm Worker Bank of America Assistant VP Founding Blogger for Homosexuality and Judaism Certified Thanatologist Dance Instructor Stunt Team Member Professional Printmaker Community Development Worker Budget Analyst Peace Corps Volunteer Interpreter for International Rescue Committee Lobbyist Child Welfare Worker Our 2014 incoming students have had careers as: Research Analyst Leadership Consultant Military Personnel Addictions Counselor Music Producer Master Carpenter Copy Editor NAACP Community Coordinator US Dept. of Agriculture Social Service Coordinator for Israel Defense Force

Degrees There are those among you who have prior graduate degrees in MA Teaching Early Childhood Education MA Thanatology MA Hispanic Studies MA Experiential Psychology MA Public Policy Master of Theology MA Counseling MA Human Resource Development

A number of you speak Spanish, Italian, or French Others speak Mandarin, German, Punjabi, Hebrew, Wolof and American Sign Language And at least one of you is fluent in Hindi Other languages? Te amo

Talented TOGETHER 2 Each of you brings skills and experiences to draw on in class and it is critical that you share your ideas!!! – If you don’t take risks you may not fail your courses but you will fail yourself and your classmates When you are wondering whether you can do all of this—you can. Graduation will arrive in a blink of an eye for 99% of you – When you finish the first semester you will be half way finished (because you will have already learned so much about how to succeed)

Talented TOGETHER 3 TITLE IX Applies Here – Protection for pregnant and parenting students – Protection against sexual harassment & bullying – Protection for survivors of sexual assault or rape – We must work TOGETHER to ensure that TITLE IX protects everyone here

11 The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) will become one of your guides  Your ethical and moral compass has gotten you this far.  You have all made tough decisions along the path to today.

12 Mission The mission of social work is rooted in a set of core values. The following core values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession’s history, are the foundation of social work’s unique purpose and perspective.

Value: Service Ethical Principle: Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.

Value: Social Justice Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice.

Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person Ethical Principle: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.

Value: Importance of Human Relationships Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.

Value: Integrity Ethical Principle: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.

Value: Competence Ethical Principle: Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise.

Commitment to Clients 1.02Self-Determination 1.03Informed Consent 1.04Competence 1.05Cultural Competence & Social Diversity 1.06Conflicts of Interest 1.07Privacy and Confidentiality 1.08Access to Records 1.09Sexual Relationships 1.10Physical Contact 1.11Sexual Harassment 1.12Derogatory Language (and more) Social Worker’s Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues (Section 1 of the NASW Code of Ethics)

1.06 Conflicts of Interest (c)Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client.

1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality (a)Social workers should respect clients’ right to privacy. Social workers should not solicit private information from clients unless it is essential to providing services or conducting social work evaluation or research. Once private information is shared, standards of confidentiality apply.

1.09 Sexual Relationships (a) Social workers should under no circumstances engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with current clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced. (b, c) or with clients relatives or persons close to clients or with former clients.

23 Section 2: Social Worker’s Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues Section 3: Social Worker’s Ethical Responsibilities in Practice Settings Section 4: Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals (aka, the “plagiarism section”)

4.08 Acknowledging Credit (a) Social workers should take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed and to which they have contributed. (b) Social workers should honestly acknowledge the work of, and the contributions made by others. STAY OUT OF STUDENT REVIEW ! It’s far better to be late or wrong than to be dishonest.

25 So… Use discretion in what you say and what you do and who you say it to or do it with Write tight and cite right; when in doubt, over cite Read the DAILY BULLETIN faithfully STAY ON TRACK TO GRADUATE, SURPRISE YOURSELF WITH HOW MANY LEARNING CHANCES YOU TAKE, MAKE US ALL PROUD!

26 Settle Only for Excellence We are at a time in our nation when people may have never needed effective services more and had fewer resources to dedicate to them. I hope you will join me in dedicating yourself to excellence in every aspect of your time here—you need that to succeed. Our nation and world needs us to succeed.

27 Welcome on behalf of all our School’s faculty and staff to the fascinating, profoundly enriching, and honored profession of SOCIAL WORK, and what we hope will be a happy and life long membership in the family of those who are part of the past and future of the University of Maryland School of Social Work.