My Personal Stance as a Social Worker Free Essay Example, 2000 words

Communication skills should also be sharpened because â€Å"in conversations with the professional, clients speak out about their pains and sorrows, and about their hope and beliefs. † (Van Nijnatten, 2006, p. 133). With children, social workers take on a more critical role, as they adjust to the developmental stages and needs of the child client. Like the parents’ role, a social worker helps the child to find the words that enable him to express himself well. When the child feels empowered enough to become the author of his life story, he becomes better able to reconstruct his life. (Van Nijnatten, 2006). Social workers are essential in the problem management of children at risk. They become part of a group of advocates that protect children from harm, or if such children are already abused, social workers alleviate their pain and help in preventing the damage caused by the abuse to elevate further. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) declares, "the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth". We will write a custom essay sample on My Personal Stance as a Social Worker or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Article 2.2 further details, â€Å"States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the childs parents, legal guardians, or family members† (UNCRC, 1989). Adults, especially social workers working with children now become duty-bound to protect and help children recover from any harm and still grow up to live productive lives as adults. Anda et al (2005) discussed in their study that the traumatic experiences of abused or neglected children often stays on with the victim into adulthood, and can even influence the raising of that victim’s own children. More often than not, abused children repeat the pattern with their own children. Some children may never fully recover from the trauma, resulting in lifelong depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. Other individuals may be predisposed to engage in prostitution, pornography, drug abuse, or crime (Browne Bryant Ferrara, 2002; Malinoskey-Rummell & Hansen, 1993). The long-term consequences of child maltreatment can be so devastating that it has been called "soul murder" (Shengold, 1989). It takes special skills and a compassionate nature to be a social worker for children at risk.