Across its many modalities, the social work profession challenges its members to continually re-evaluate the way we engage with others around our differences. Using the ecomap template provided, create a visual self-reflection of your comfort level working with each of the following groups:
- A person whose age is significantly different from your own
- A person whose racial, ethnic, or cultural identity differs from your own
- A person whose sexual orientation or gender identity differs from your own
- A person whose socioeconomic situation is significantly different from your own
- A person who primarily speaks a different language from your own
- A person with a disability and/or chronic illness
- A person with a criminal record
- A person who is abusing alcohol or drugs
- A person who is recovering from an addiction
- A person whose political beliefs strongly differ from your own
To create the map, put your initials in the center circle. Then, using the key provided, draw a line from your center to each of the groups named on the map. The line you draw should reflect your comfort level in the present day – not in the past, or what you hope it will be in the future.
create a narrated response to the following questions:
- With which client groups do you feel like you would struggle the most?
- What specific actions can you take to work on biases and assumptions that would interfere with your ability to effectively help someone?
