Personal Value Paper

Kimberly Glenn

Value Paper
SW 3410
February 18, 2015
Kimberly Glenn

Personal Value Paper

Kimberly Glenn

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Introduction
Social workers make a meaningful contribution to society and improving the lives of
individuals. As a social worker, I may need to work on a macro scale, which might mean
working for an organization that helps the oppressed population, or I may choose to work on a
micro level, such as in a private practice providing individual counseling. Regardless of the
setting I choose to work in, Im expected to adhere to a professional code of ethics, which
includes the six core values of social work. This paper aims at discussing social work and values
focusing on both personal and professional levels. The paper will continue to examine what
values are reflecting upon their significance of social work practice and to the National
Association Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics. I will describe how the six core values have
embraced me as a student and a future social worker and how they provide direction to everyday
living as well. I will also enlighten my reader with values that would be helpful and rewarding
to my workplace, my consumers, and me.
Throughout all of my reading and writing this paper I have done a lot of thinking. Mainly
thinking about what I believe is the right decision for both personal and profession. When asked
write about my personal values that represent me I was lost. It is not as though I am walking
through life without standards or values but when asked to write them down I had to think of
words that really did encompass me as a person and what I want to stand for. I came up with
several values that I strive to achieve and put on my forefront every day.

One of the values is my self-determination to promote social justice and social change on
behalf of the clients. I would like to emphasize how significant this value is to me because this
was one of the reasons that motivated me to pursue this career. I was able to see myself doing

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something related to substance abuse and mental health population, which I believe would
challenge my skills. I saw a need of sincere and passionate for people like myself in this type of
setting in where these women and men are being oppressed. Oppression has always bother me
because I find it unfair that individuals are not treated with dignity and respect as they should
instead many people take advantage of them for lucrative purposes. Now as social work student
and working at Detroit Recovery Project (DRP) I am able to challenge social injustice
Another important personal value that is related to social work and the NASW Code of Ethics
is integrity. On a personal level integrity is one of the qualities that I seek in friendships. From
my experience friendships based on good integrity are being trustworthy; I have the security that
my friend is going to respect my confidentiality and will not divulge to a random stranger or
gossip. Integrity relates to social work because as a social worker this value will make me more
capable to establish a good rapport with my client. The client will trust me and be more likely to
divulge information that can be helpful towards their assessment. Also it will facilitate the
process of properly following and implementing privacy and confidentiality in the NSAW Code
of Ethics.
Competence is another important personal value that is congruent as it relates to social work
and the NASW Code of Ethics. At my work on a daily bases I strive to be competent by
absorbing and sharing important information. Competence allows me to provide appropriate
services by exercising careful judgment and making responsible measures to ensure my
competence of work and protect clients from harm.

Establishing human relationships is a personal value that is congruent as it is related to social

work and the NASW Code of Ethics it aids in enforcing or promoting change. Networking

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allows many in industry to mobilize it facilitate their process of obtaining job resources for
clients and companies. This is similar in the social work profession and the NASW Code of
Ethics in that human relationships build networks for social workers to mobilize within a
community that benefits the client. Also, it allows social workers to engage people as partners in
the helping process in the effort to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, social groups,
organizations, and communities. Building relationships will allow me mobilize myself within the
groups of people just mentioned, giving me a better understanding of the relationship between
people. As a social worker it is crucial for me to acknowledge the importance of building
relationships since it will facilitate my researching process of resources for clients.

Open-mindedness provides a platform on which I can build, piling one idea on top of another.
With an open mind I can learn about new things and I can use the new ideas to build on the old
ideas. Everything I experience can add up, strengthening who I am and what I believe in. It's
very hard to build on experiences without an open mind. When Im open minded I allow myself
establish relationships and see h from others' perspectives I allow myself not only to recognize
potential mistakes

As children, we were taught by our parents that it is wrong to lie, cheat, and steal. As we grow up
and enter into the real world with some knowledge of right and wrong, we see first- hand the
importance of ethics and values as well as its complexity. The role of ethics in our society is very
necessary because it has a large influence on today, as well as the future. I need to learn about
good ethics because they guide our decisions, make us who we are, and determine our future.

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Another one of my personal value is God is love. I wanted to get a better understanding of
what love mean so I look it up in the Webster dictionary and it simply said an intense affection
for another person based on familial or personal ties". This is not how God loves, Gods love is
unconditional, and it's not based on feelings or emotions. He doesn't love us because we're
lovable or because we make Him feel good; He loves us because He is love. He created us to
have a loving relationship with Him, and he expects for us to have the same love for others.
However in an unhealthy society we love other people or we say we love other people, when we
are attracted to them and when they make us feel good. I also notice that a key phrase in the
dictionary definition of love is the phrase "based on." I gather that this phrase implies that we
love conditionally; in other words, we love someone because they fulfill a condition that we
require before we can love them. How many times have you heard or said, "I love you because
you are cute;" or "I love you because you take good care of me;" or "I love you because you are
fun to be with"? Our love is not only conditional, it is also unpredictable. We love based on
feelings and emotions that can change from one moment to the next.
The second personal value is the welfare of other; Helping and caring for yourself and others
should be a natural extension of every ones life rather its business or personal responsibilities.
Unfortunately, it doesnt come as easy as you would think. As humans we often get too caught up
in our own problems rather than to give people the help they need. However, since Ive been in
recovery and working at Detroit Recovery Project as a Recovery Coach, Ive realized that most
of my involvement has come from me helping someone. I also realize that I had to create a
balanced lifestyle that includes service to others can help me feel less stress as well, feel more
connected to my spirit, more grateful for what I have, and less invested in the rat race that

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causes stress for so many of us. Focusing on the positive in my life, and creating more positive
things in the world, can help me to maintain greater feelings of happiness and fulfillment as well.
The third personal value is Forgiveness I would like to share my personal experience relating
to forgiveness. I was hurt by someone I had never seen a day in my life; Im talking about the
man or women who killed my only son in 2008. I became angry, sad and confused. I dwelled on
this hurtful event for almost a whole year I was filled with grudge, resentments, vengeance and
hostility. It allowed negative feelings to crowd out positive feelings, I found my self-swallowed
up by my own bitterness or sense of injustice. I had to immediate come out of this state of mind
and learn the core value of forgiveness. With the help of my family and the fellowship of NA and
a lot of prayers I begin to heal. A member in the fellowship told me I must forgive the person
who killed my son in order for me to begin to heal holistically, it all made sense.
In closing, values and ethics can help keep things in order and in peace. Because our decisions
have such a great influence, it is our responsibility to our society and those around us to live a
life of good values.