It is not enough to describe or summarize content from your sources. You must use critical thinking skills by interpreting and analyzing what you read. Focus on depth, not breadth. There are two different ways I can assess what you know, and you can choose which way works best for you.
1. Either, Write a paper about it in the traditional way,
2. OR, create a video production that demonstrates your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
There are three main sections to the project – you can also mix-n-match (e.g., write a paper for one section and do a video for the other two sections, and vice versa).
Capstone Assignment
Everyone: Reflection:
Reflect on each course you took in the Specialization year. How did each course contribute to your development as a social worker? Write a sentence or two for each course that best describes your “take-away” from the course. You are going to expand on these things in later assignments to show that you can integrate them. This is not intended to be a litany of everything you learned, rather, how do key concepts come together to contribute to new learning. – 1 page
Everyone: Caritas
What is your understanding of the blended philosophy and values of caritas and professional social work? Describe the values of each (caritas and social work), and discuss characteristics they have in common. How has your understanding of caritas evolved and changed over the last year? 1 page
Everyone: Themes/Introduction
What are the general themes related to the Lopez family? How will you identify the level of practice intervention (individual, family, group, organization, community), considering the dynamics within the family and between the family and its environment? How do you think your understanding of caritas in social work will influence your approach with the Lopez family? 1 – page
Option A: Paper – (Macro practice)
Use the case study that is provided to you. What theory of organizations and/or communities will help you to understand the problem or situation at the macro level? Why did you choose this theory? How does social policy at the local, state, and federal level affect this family (and families like them) with regard to access to social services, service delivery, and client wellbeing? What are best practices with or on behalf of the Lopezfamily regarding a policy approach to this problem? Discuss issues of human rights and of social, economic, and environmental justice. How would these practices be influenced by using a blended philosophy of caritas and professional social work, and what macro interventions would you recommend? What did you learn in your coursework that relates to this? In what ways are you demonstrating cultural competence and respect for diversity? 8-10 pages
Option B: Video of Yourself Giving Mock Congressional Testimony – (Macro practice)
Use the case study that is provided to you. What theory of organizations and/or communities will help you to understand the problem or situation at the macro level? Why did you choose this theory? How does social policy at the local, state, and federal level affect this family (and families like them) with regard to access to social services, service delivery, and client wellbeing? What are best practices with or on behalf of the Lopez family regarding a policy approach to this problem? Discuss issues of human rights and of social, economic, and environmental justice. How would these practices be influenced by using a blended philosophy of caritas and professional social work, and what macro interventions would you recommend? What did you learn in your coursework that relates to this? In what ways are you demonstrating cultural competence and respect for diversity? 20-30 minutes
Option A: Paper: (Mezzo practice) – How does the family’s situation create a problem for families or small groups and affect client wellbeing? What theory of families or small groups will help you to understand the problem or situation? Why did you choose this theory? What are best practices regarding a mezzo approach to this client system? Discuss issues of human rights and of social, economic, and environmental justice. How would these practices be influenced by using a blended philosophy of caritas and professional social work, and what mezzo interventions would you recommend? What did you learn in your coursework that relates to this? In what ways are you demonstrating cultural competence and respect for diversity? 8-10 pages
Option B: A Video that Demonstrates Practice with a Family or Small Group (Mezzo practice) – How does the family’s situation create a problem for small groups or institutions: how does it affect client wellbeing? What theory of families or small groups will help you to understand the problem or situation? Why did you choose this theory? What are best practices regarding a mezzo approach to this client system? Discuss issues of human rights and of social, economic, and environmental justice. How would these practices be influenced by using a blended philosophy of caritas and professional social work, and what mezzo interventions would you recommend? What did you learn in your coursework that relates to this? In what ways are you demonstrating cultural competence and respect for diversity? 20-30 minutes
Option A: Paper (Micro practice) – How does this family’s situation create a problem for individuals? What theory individuals will help you to understand the problem or situation? Why did you choose this theory? What are best practices regarding a micro approach to this client system? Discuss issues of human rights and of social, economic, and environmental justice. How would these practices be influenced by using a blended philosophy of caritas and professional social work, and what micro interventions would you recommend? In what ways are you demonstrating cultural competence and respect for diversity? 8-10 pages
Option B: Video of you Leading a Therapy Session for an Individual. (Micro practice) – How does this family’s situation create a problem for individuals? What theory individuals will help you to understand the problem or situation? Why did you choose this theory? What are best practices regarding a micro approach to this client system? Discuss issues of human rights and of social, economic, and environmental justice. How would these practices be influenced by using a blended philosophy of caritas and professional social work, and what micro interventions would you recommend? In what ways are you demonstrating cultural competence and respect for diversity? 20-30 minutes
Everyone: References page, using APA format.Approximately 15-18 reputable, scholarly sources.
Reflection – Reflect upon this course and your experience of integrating what you have learned. What did like or not like about this approach?
Case Study
Capstone MSW 699
Esteban and Valeria Lopez are parents to Tomás (16), Gabriela (14), and David (10). Mr. Lopez is the biological father of all three children. Mrs. Lopez is stepmother to the two oldest, and is the biological mother to David.
Mr. Lopez and his first wife, Clara, began an arduous journey from Guatemala to theU. S. approximately 14 years ago. At the time, Tomás was 2 and Clara was pregnant with Gabriela. They emigrated from Guatemala due to the presence of crime and gangs, and they made their way through Mexico to the Texas border. Before they reached their destination, Clara gave birth to Gabriela in the rough terrain where they were traveling by foot and died during childbirth. Mr. Lopez thought they had probably reached their way into Texas, which would have made Gabriela a U.S. citizen, but he was not certain. Mr. Lopezcontinued the last leg of their journey with a 2-year old and a newborn.
Four years later, Mr. Lopez married Valeria, and they had a son, David. Mrs. Lopez was the child of Mexican immigrants; however, she was born inthe U.S. and is a U.S. citizen. Mrs. Lopez and David are U.S. citizens; Mr. Lopez and Tomásare not U.S. citizens. Gabriela’s status is not determined. Mr. Lopez, Tomás, and Gabriela have been living in the U. S. now for about 14 years.
The family lives in an urban area, in a neighborhood of Latino families, both documented and not. Mrs. Lopez’s family was deported about six months ago back to Mexico, which has upset everyone. There is currently no extended family living in the area, but the parents have made friends in the neighborhood.
The family struggles financially and has also struggled to obtain legal residency in this country. Mr. Lopezdoes agricultural work about 7-8 months out of the year. Mrs. Lopez works as a teacher in an elementary school.Tomás and Gabriela are bilingual in Spanish and English. David understands Spanish but does not speak it. Both languages are spoken in the home. All three children are enrolled in public school.
Both parents were reluctant to see a therapist because of their documentation status. The family has come in to therapy after a referral from Tomás’ high school. Tomás has become increasingly oppositional, angry, and suspicious. He hasn’t been turning in his homework, and his grades have gone down. Mr. Lopez has been worried that Tomás’s grades are suffering and that he is not taking advantage of the education available to him. Tomásis disrespectful toward Mrs. Lopez, and she sometimes feels frightened by his temper. Tomásis protective toward Gabriela. They both go to the same high school and he makes sure she doesn’t get with “the wrong crowd.”
The family describes David as a well-adjusted boy who has done well in school until recently, and his teachers say that he is often “day dreaming” and unable to concentrate. The parents attribute this to the stress that his older brotherTomásbrings to the family. Mr. Lopez also worries that David is not serious about life and does not appreciate the benefits he has in this country. David sometimes plays practical jokes on family members, but they find the jokes less humorous than they did. He has been the “comedian” in the family, using humor to break tension when it occurs. The family is less tolerant of his jokes lately, and David seems to be struggling to adjust to changes in the family.
The parents describe Gabriela as a beautiful young girl who will soon reach herquinceañera. She helps with household responsibilities and child care of David when he gets home from school and her parents aren’t home yet. Gabriela never gives them any problems, but they also describe her as “kind of lost,” and having no particular interests or goals. This concerns her mother, but not her father, who doesn’t see this as an obstacle to her finding a husband and having children of her own someday.
The social worker met with the entire family, created a genogram, and explained the nature of services available at the agency. The social worker explained confidentiality and exceptions to it and obtained informed consent for services. Before the meeting, the social worker made sure that all relevant forms had been translated into Spanish. The social worker also met separately with the adults and with the sibling group. The services available at the agency are individual and family therapy. There are a number of groups led at both the elementary school and high school by school social workers. There are also advocacy services available in the community.