University of Nebraska Kearney

Social Work Assessment Mission

Mission 

Through the teaching of social work knowledge and practice, the Social Work Program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney will empower individuals with strong social work ethics and values, relevant theoretical foundation, and strong practice skills to promote the optimal social functioning of individuals, families, groups, and communities within a generalist setting. Students are armed with preventive and interventive social work knowledge and expertise necessary for the building and maintenance of a progressively equitable social environment favorable to all people regardless of race, color, gender, age, creed, ethnic or national origin, disability, political orientation, or sexual orientation.

Goals: 

1. Preparation of students for beginning professional practice with individuals, families, small groups, organizations, and communities.
2. Preparation of students for lifelong learning and critical thinking skills by combining a liberal arts foundation with professional social work education.
3. Preparation of students to develop an identity which will incorporate the values and ethics of the social work profession, which are crucial for the promotion of economic and social justice.
4. Preparation of students for practice with diverse and at risk populations using a strengths perspective.
5. Preparation of students as beginning social work generalist who are able to apply social research to social service practice.

Objectives: 

1. Apply critical thinking skills to generalist social work practice.
2. Support and uphold professional standards, values, and ethics.
3. Employ generalist practice skills in a way that is sensitive to diverse, oppressed, and at-risk populations.
4. Demonstrate the professional use of self.
5. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and the strategies of change that advance social work and economic justice.
6. Understand the history of the social work profession and its current structures and issues.
7. Utilize a strength perspective, employ a planned change approach that reflects assessment, goals, alternative strategies that lead to effective intervention on individual, group, environmental, and societal levels.
8. Assist and empower people to develop and use problem-solving, coping, and networking capacities.
9. Apply knowledge of bio-psycho-social variables that affect individual development and behavior.
10. Identify and assess interactions of people within their social environment.
11. Analyze the impact of social policies on client systems, workers, and agencies.
12. Evaluate the extent to which the objectives of planned change efforts are achieved.
13. Evaluate research studies and apply findings to practice.
14. Use communication skills differentially with a variety of client populations, colleagues, ad members of the community.
15. Under supervision, function within the structure of organizations, and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change.
16. Link people with and assist in the development of resources, services, and opportunities.

Previous Mission, Replaced Fall 2005