CORE COMPETENCIES

By: Carmen Johnson

CORE COMPETENCY 1
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional
Behavior

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 1.1

Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of
Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making,
ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate
to context.
Review the Code of Ethics and current policies to make sure that the
patrons are being treated fairly and to the best of my knowledge.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 1.2

Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and
maintain professionalism in practice situations.
I will reflect through my daily journals on my own personal values and
biases. I will not allow them to get in the way of my professionalism.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 1.3

Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral,
written, and electronic communication.
I will be professional in my appearance and manners when dealing with
patrons. I will communicate effectively with them as well.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 1.4

Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice
outcomes.
I will record data on the electronic devices when necessary. Also, I will not
use my own personal cellphone for personal matters unless there is an
emergency.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 1.5

Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgement and
behavior.
I will meet with my supervisor weekly and ask for guidance when needed.

CORE COMPETENCY 2
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 2.1

Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and
difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and
macro levels.
I will interact with patrons from diverse backgrounds.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 2.2

Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as
experts of their own experiences.
I will interact with patrons and colleagues with knowledge about the
policies and procedures of the center.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 2.3

Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of
personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and
constituencies.
I will interact with diverse patrons and acknowledge my own personal
values and biases. I will record them in my journal.

CORE COMPETENCY 3
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 3.1

Apply understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to
advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels.
I will research policies and procedures of different services for patrons
and gain a better understanding of how to advocate for those individuals.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 3.2

Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental
justice.
I will do research and communicate with the patrons to see what is
needed for them to help them not need the services of the center
anymore.

CORE COMPETENCY 4
Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 4.1

Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and
research.
I will do research and relate what I have learned in previous classes and
field to what I am doing at the center.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 4.2

Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and
qualitative research methods and research findings.
I will research different interventions that could be beneficial for the
patrons. I will gain knowledge through analyzing data and communicating
with the patrons about what they need help with.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 4.3

Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice,
policy, and service delivery.
I will do research and use information that I have gathered to think of
ways to improve the services and policies at the center.

CORE COMPETENCY 5
Engage in Policy Practice

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 5.1

Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts
well-being, service delivery, and access to social services.
I will do research and participate in potential workshops to help patrons
get back on their feet.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 5.2

Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of
and access to social services.
I will use oral communication and potential surveys.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 5.3

Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies
that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental
justice.
I will do research and make myself aware of current policies that are
impacting the community.

CORE COMPETENCY 6
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 6.1

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, personin-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to
engage with clients and constituencies.
I will review the different frameworks and theories and apply them to
practice in the center.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 6.2

Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage
diverse clients and constituencies.
I will interact with patrons while showing empathy and reflection when
communicating with them.

CORE COMPETENCY 7
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 7.1

Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret
information from clients and constituencies.
I will do intake and collect data through what the patrons needs are and
by communicating with them.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 7.2

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, personin-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in
interventions with clients and constituencies
I will assess what the patrons might need.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 7.3

Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on
the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients
and constituencies.
I will assess what they need and think about possible interventions to
implement in the future.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 7.4

Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment,
research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and
constituencies.
I will do research on different interventions and communicate with the
patrons.

CORE COMPETENCY 8
Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 8.1

Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals
and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies.
I will do research and try to come up with possible interventions to
implement in the future.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 8.2

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, personin-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in
interventions with clients and constituencies.
I will do research and use oral communication.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 8.3

Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial
practice outcomes.
I will communicate with my colleagues and supervisor to collaborate on
ideas.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 8.4

Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients
and constituencies.
I will do research as well as advocating and communicating with them.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 8.5

Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreedon goals.
I will research ways to help the patrons in the long run and set goals for
their futures as well as advancing their skills by having workshops. I will
be working on creating a curriculum for a Care Pal program that will
connect the patrons with resources and I will be simplifying the resource
list that the center has to the most important ones that the patrons may
need.

CORE COMPETENCY 9
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and
Communities

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 9.1

Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes.
I will keep track of their visits and communicate with them. I will assess
and evaluate their individual outcomes.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 9.2

Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, personin-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the
evaluation of outcomes.
I will do research and relate the theories and frameworks that I have
learned to the evaluation of outcomes.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 9.3

Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program
processes and outcomes.
I will analyze data that is collected.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 9.4

Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro,
mezzo, and macro levels.
I will get feedback from the patrons through surveys and communication.