School of Social Work

Current BHP Students

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

Social workers understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards, as well as relevant laws and regulations that may impact practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Social workers understand frameworks of ethical decision-making and how to apply principles of critical thinking to those frameworks in practice, research, and policy arenas. Social workers recognize personal values and the distinction between personal and professional values. They also understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions influence their professional judgment and behavior. Social workers understand the profession’s history, its mission, and the roles and responsibilities of the profession.Social workers also understand the role of other professions when engaged in inter-professional teams. Social workers recognize the importance of lifelong learning and are committed to continually updating their skills to ensure they are relevant and effective. Social workers also understand emerging forms of technology and the ethical use of technology in social work practice.

Social work students should: 

  • Guided by ethical reasoning and self-reflection, demonstrate adherence to the key principles of
    the Mental Health Services Act and other behavioral health-related laws, policies, and procedures. (See related Competency 5.)
  • Engage in active dialogue with practicum instructor regarding behavioral health placement agency policies and culture around behavior, appearance, communication, and the use of supervision.
  • Develop and sustain effective collaborative relationships that respect consumer perspectives and self-determination with colleagues and community stakeholders, including consumers of behavioral health services, their family members, others with lived experience in the behavioral health care system, and Tribes.
  • Effectively manage professional boundary issues and other challenges arising in the course of behavioral health work, particularly ambiguities presented by the multiple roles sometimes
    characteristic of recovery-oriented practice, trauma, and other highly involved and potentially emotionally triggering aspects of the work.
  • Develop and sustain relationships with members of interdisciplinary and integrated health care teams, including social workers, primary care providers, psychiatrists, psychologists, behavioral health specialists, substance use disorders treatment staff, Tribal service providers, and others, that reflect clear understanding of their roles in behavioral health settings.
  • Demonstrate both knowledge of the history and evolution of behavioral health care practice in the United States and California, and a commitment to lifelong learning around this practice.
  • Follow all ethical guidelines and legal mandates in the use of technology in order to maintain the confidentiality of all personal, behavioral health, and health-related information.

Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

Social workers understand how diversity and difference characterize and shape the human experience and are critical to the formation of identity. The dimensions of diversity are understood as the intersectionality of multiple factors, including, but not limited to, age, class, color, culture, disability and ability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, marital status, political ideology, race, religion/spirituality, sex, sexual orientation, and Tribal sovereign status. Social workers understand that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. Social workers also understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and values, including social, economic, political, and cultural exclusions, may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create privilege and power.

Social work students should:

  • Engage in critical analysis of the interpersonal, community, and social structural causes and effects of disproportionality, disparities, and inequities in the incidence and trajectory of behavioral health issues, including mental health issues, substance use disorders, and chronic health conditions.
  • Evidence respectful awareness and understanding of the impact of being a member of a
    marginalized group on health and behavioral health, and accurately identify differences in access to and quality of available services for members of different communities and populations.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultural norms and traditional methods of recognizing and
    treating behavioral health issues, and an applied understanding of how these realities affect work with consumers from diverse backgrounds.
  • Develop and use practice methods that acknowledge, respect, and address how individual and cultural values, norms, and differences impact the various systems with which behavioral health consumers interact, including, but not limited to, families, communities primary care systems, mental and behavioral health care systems, and integrated care systems.

Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice

Social workers understand that every person regardless of position in society has fundamental human rights such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education. Social workers understand the global interconnections of oppression and human rights violations and are knowledgeable about theories of human need and social justice and strategies to promote social and economic justice and human rights. Social workers understand strategies designed to eliminate oppressive structural barriers to ensure that social goods, rights, and responsibilities are distributed equitably and that civil, political, environmental, economic, social, and cultural human rights are protected.

Social work students should: 

  • Clearly articulate the systematic effects of discrimination, oppression, and stigma on the behavioral health needs and experiences of service consumers and on the quality and delivery of services offered to them and identify and advocate for policy changes needed to address these issues.
  • Advocate for changes in policies and programs that reflect a social justice practice framework for facilitating access to providing behavioral health services based on the principles articulated in the Mental Health Services Act and for including support for consumers serving as peer providers and facilitators.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary collaborations to develop and provide interventions that confront stigma and discrimination and provide integrated care to meet the specific needs of diverse behavioral health care consumers.
  • Integrate into all aspects of policy and practice sensitivity to the reality that fundamental rights, including freedom and privacy, may be compromised for consumers who are mandated to receive services within the behavioral health care system, and the goal that services should be provided in the least restrictive environment possible.

Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice

Social workers understand quantitative and qualitative research methods and their respective roles in advancing a science of social work and in evaluating their practice. Social workers know the principles of logic, scientific inquiry, and culturally informed and ethical approaches to building knowledge. Social workers understand that evidence that informs practice derives from multidisciplinary sources and multiple ways of knowing. They also understand the processes for translating research findings into effective practice.

Social work students should:

  • Demonstrate the ability to understand, interpret, and evaluate the benefits and limitations of various evidence based and evidence-informed treatment models as they influence behavioral health practice.
  • Engage in critical analysis of research findings, practice models, and practice wisdom that inform behavioral health practice, including how research practices have historically failed to address the needs and realities of exploited and/or disadvantaged communities, and how cross-cultural research practices can be used to enhance Equity.
  • Clearly communicate research findings, conclusions, and implications, as well as their applications to behavioral health practice across a variety of professional interactions with consumers, families, and multidisciplinary service providers.
  • Apply research findings to behavioral health practice with individuals, families, and communities and to the development of professional knowledge about behavioral health, wellness, and recovery.

Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice

Social workers understand that human rights and social justice, as well as social welfare and services, are mediated by policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels. Social workers understand the history and current structures of social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development. Social workers understand their role in policy development and implementation within their practice settings at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and they actively engage in policy practice to effect change within those settings. Social workers recognize and understand the historical, social, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental, and global influences that affect social policy. They are also knowledgeable about policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation.

Social work students should:

  • Demonstrate familiarity with relevant statutes, civil codes, and the roles of relevant policy entities, including, but not limited to:
    • The California Mental Health Services Act
    • The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
    • Other local, state, and federal legislation and policies related to mental health, behavioral health, and treatment parity issues
    • SAMHSA, HRSA, DHHS, and other federal entities
    • CDHCS, CDMHC, and other state entities
    • NAMI and other consumer and family-driven advocacy organizations
  • Understand and adhere to local policies and procedures that influence behavioral health practice.
  • Engage with the political and legislative arena of behavioral health through involvement with relevant activities, including, but not limited to:
    • Maintaining ongoing familiarity with changes to behavioral health-related legislation and the rationale for such changes, including reviewing ongoing legislative actions related to the funding and implementation of the MHSA;
    • Reading, analyzing, and communicating in speech and writing about proposed legislation relevant to behavioral health; and
    • Attending Legislative Lobby Day events in Sacramento
  • Utilize policy knowledge to effectively develop, implement, and evaluate agency, local, state, and federal policies in the course of behavioral health practice.

Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, And Communities

Social workers understand that engagement is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers value the importance of human relationships. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to facilitate engagement with clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand strategies to engage diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may impact their ability to effectively engage with diverse clients and constituencies. Social workers value principles of relationship-building and inter-professional collaboration to facilitate engagement with clients, constituencies, and other professionals as appropriate.

Social work students should:

  • Appropriately engage and activate behavioral health consumers, their families, and other care providers in the development and coordination of wellness, resilience, and recovery-oriented behavioral health care plans in a variety of service delivery settings.
  • Effectively utilize interpersonal skills to engage consumers and families in culturally responsive, consumer driven, and trauma-informed integrated behavioral health interventions that address mutually agreed upon goals within a recovery framework.
  • Establish effective and appropriate communication, coordination, and advocacy planning with other care providers and interdisciplinary care teams as needed to address mutually agreed upon behavioral health service goals within a recovery framework. Recognizing the complex nature of behavioral health service engagement, ensure that communications with consumers and their families regarding service goals are both sensitive and transparent.
  • Manage affective responses and exercise good judgment around engaging with resistance, trauma responses, and other potentially triggering situations with consumers, their families, and other care providers.

Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Social workers understand that assessment is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in the assessment of diverse clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand methods of assessment with diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers recognize the implications of the larger practice context in the assessment process and value the importance of interprofessional collaboration in this process. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may affect their assessment and decision-making.

Social work students should:

  • Identify, understand, and implement appropriate health and behavioral health screening and assessment tools, including population-based screenings and functional assessments used in behavioral health, primary care, integrated behavioral health, and other settings.
  • Include assessment data from all relevant parties and systems to inform appropriate and comprehensive assessment of differential diagnoses and intervention needs. Relevant parties/systems may include, but are not limited to, consumers, families, communities, primary care, behavioral health, and integrated behavioral health care systems.
  • Engage in effective and ongoing critical analysis of behavioral health assessment data that:
    • Reflects respect for consumer and family strengths and desires, and facilitates consumer development;
    • Acknowledges the effects of intervention on family and community members;
    • Addresses the interactive and cumulative effects of trauma, adverse health conditions, and co- occurring disorders on behavioral health issues; and
    • Culminates in assessments that address needs for care within the framework of recovery, wellness, and resilience.
  • Document and maintain all behavioral health assessment data responsibly and balance the need for accurate assessment data with consumer and family privacy concerns and the sensitivity of behavioral health information.

Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, And Communities

Social workers understand that intervention is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are knowledgeable about evidence-informed interventions to achieve the goals of clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to effectively intervene with clients and constituencies.Social workers understand methods of identifying, analyzing, and implementing evidence informed interventions to achieve client and constituency goals. Social workers value the importance of interprofessional teamwork and communication in interventions, recognizing that beneficial outcomes may require interdisciplinary, inter-professional, and inter-organizational collaboration.

Social work students should:

  • In partnership with consumers and families, develop appropriate intervention plans that reflect the principles of recovery, wellness, and resilience, as well as contemporary theories and models for behavioral health treatment. Plans should:
    • Reflect cultural humility and acknowledgement of individualized needs;
    • Incorporate consumer and family strengths;
    • Utilize community resources and natural/peer supports;
    • Incorporate multidisciplinary team supports and interventions;
    • Include non-pharmacological interventions; and
    • Include psychiatric consultation and demonstrate knowledge of issues related to pharmacological interventions.
  • Apply the principles of teaming, engagement, inquiry, advocacy, and facilitation within interdisciplinary teams and care coordination to the work of supporting consumers, family members, and service providers to accomplish mutually agreed upon intervention goals.
  • Effectively implement evidence-based interventions in the context of providing emergency response, triage, brief treatment, and longer-term care, and in the course of addressing a range of behavioral health issues presented in behavioral health, primary care, specialty care, community agency, intensive outpatient, and inpatient treatment settings. Interventions should be guided by the principles of recovery, wellness, and resilience, and should include components such as psychoeducation, problem- solving treatment skills, symptom tracking, medication therapies, follow-up, and relapse prevention.
  • Effectively plan for interventions in ways that incorporate thoughtfully executed transitions during time-limited internships, recognizing that consumer needs for support may continue beyond these time periods.

Competency 9: Evalute Practice with Individuals, Familes, Groups, Organizations and Communities

Social workers understand that evaluation is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Social workers recognize the importance of evaluating processes and outcomes to advance practice, policy, and service delivery effectiveness. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in evaluating outcomes. Social workers understand qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating outcomes and practice effectiveness.

Social work students should:

  • Record, track, and monitor consumer engagement, assessment, and intervention data in behavioral health practice accurately and according to practicum education agency policies and guidelines.
  • Conduct accurate process and outcome analysis of engagement, assessment, and intervention data in behavioral health practice that incorporates consumer perspectives and reflects a focus on the principles of recovery, wellness, and resilience.
  • Use findings to evaluate intervention effectiveness, develop recommendations for adapting service plans and approaches as needed, improve interdisciplinary team coordination and care integration, and help agency and community policies better support behavioral health consumers and their families.
  • Share both the purposes of such data collection and the overall results of data analysis with behavioral health care consumers, their family members, and communities whenever possible, with the goal of engaging them more meaningfully in the evaluation process.