Response 1: Spiritual Development Respond to at least two colleagues in one of the following ways: · State how your colleague's examples of spirituality's influence in client relationships resonate with you. Provide support for your perspective. · State whether you are likely to use your client's strategy in your own social work practice, and explain why. Be sure to support your responses with specific references to the resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to provide full APA-formatted citations for your references. Colleague 1: Brooke As future social workers, we are in a unique position to guide our potential clients to their most desireable outcomes, regardless of whether or not we are in agreement.  When we enter into this field, we do so with the understanding that our clients’ beliefs and resulting goals are to be maintained with utmost priority.  It would be a violation of our code of conduct to not conduct client-professional interactions in this manner, and therefore, remaining unbiased when providing counseling and implementing intervention is an integral part of this profession (Code of Ethics of the NASW, 2008). This will become particularly challenging, however, when a client’s spiritual beliefs do not align, or even negate, those of the professional charged with their guidance.  In order to be prepared for these interactions, developing a cultural competence of the client is vital to successful interactions (Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, 2016).  Although this competence is achieved over time, research can be conducted even before meeting with the client to understand the beliefs and values that define their religion.  In the Muslim religion, for example, it is not acceptable for a man to touch a woman, other than his wife.  Knowing this information prior to an initial meeting, the female professional would understand how to properly greet her client, which will most definitely not include a handshake.  Secondly, views regarding abortion are affiliated with specific religions.  Catholics, for example, take a pro life stance on this controversial topic.  This religion strongly asserts than any unborn fetus is a human being and therefore, abortion can be viewed as murderous.  While not every Catholic may hold this unwavering belief, understanding this is a belief held by many practicing Catholics may guide initial interactions with a client carrying an unplanned pregnancy.   As a practicing Roman Catholic, my interactions with future clients may also be affected.  While I understand the religion’s position on abortion, I do not necessarily hold the same emphatic views.  This understanding, yet my openness to consider specific circumstances, may help a client whose religion is an impacting factor in a life choice she has to make.  The Catholic religion also denounces adultery, regardless of the circumstances.  I can safely say I, too, do not believe adultery is acceptable.  However, as in any situation, .

1. Response 1:
Spiritual Development
Respond to at least two colleagues in one of the following ways:
·
State how your colleague's examples of spirituality's influence
in client relationships resonate with you. Provide support for
your perspective.
·
State whether you are likely to use your client's strategy in your
own social work practice, and explain why.
Be sure to support your responses with specific references to
the resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to
provide full APA-formatted citations for your references.
Colleague 1: Brooke
As future social workers, we are in a unique position to guide
our potential clients to their most desireable outcomes,
regardless of whether or not we are in agreement. When we
enter into this field, we do so with the understanding that our
clients’ beliefs and resulting goals are to be maintained with
utmost priority. It would be a violation of our code of conduct
to not conduct client-professional interactions in this manner,
and therefore, remaining unbiased when providing counseling
and implementing intervention is an integral part of this
profession (Code of Ethics of the NASW, 2008).

2. This will become particularly challenging, however, when a
client’s spiritual beliefs do not align, or even negate, those of
the professional charged with their guidance. In order to be
prepared for these interactions, developing a cultural
competence of the client is vital to successful interactions
(Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, 2016). Although this competence
is achieved over time, research can be conducted even before
meeting with the client to understand the beliefs and values that
define their religion. In the Muslim religion, for example, it is
not acceptable for a man to touch a woman, other than his wife.
Knowing this information prior to an initial meeting, the
female professional would understand how to properly greet her
client, which will most definitely not include a handshake.
Secondly, views regarding abortion are affiliated with specific
religions. Catholics, for example, take a pro life stance on this
controversial topic. This religion strongly asserts than any
unborn fetus is a human being and therefore, abortion can be
viewed as murderous. While not every Catholic may hold this
unwavering belief, understanding this is a belief held by many
practicing Catholics may guide initial interactions with a client
carrying an unplanned pregnancy.
As a practicing Roman Catholic, my interactions with future
clients may also be affected. While I understand the religion’s
position on abortion, I do not necessarily hold the same
emphatic views. This understanding, yet my openness to
consider specific circumstances, may help a client whose
religion is an impacting factor in a life choice she has to make.
The Catholic religion also denounces adultery, regardless of
the circumstances. I can safely say I, too, do not believe
adultery is acceptable. However, as in any situation, I would
feel more comfortable assessing the situation before making
judgement. This may present a challenge if working with a
client in the throes of an adulterous relationship. Each
interaction with this client would have to be approached as
unbiased and non judgmental.

3. Awareness, above all else, is the foundation of establishing
cultural competence, an integral piece of social work practice.
Research of cultures, both environmental and religious, should
be the first step, particularly when working with new clients. It
is most important to maintain a professional demeanor of
acceptance and understanding, even if specific points are not
agreed upon. Validation of a client’s situation and their life
choices does not necessarily indicate agreement, but rather
support. Although we are working to become social workers,
there must be a proverbial line drawn between our professional
and personal lives, so as to not lose ourselves in our journey of
guiding others.
Colleague 2: Shaneika
Spirituality plays a vital role in the lives of many people and
whether or not they affiliate themselves with a religion; it
somewhat influences their behavior and adds to their diversity.
As social workers interact with their clients it is important that
there are aware of their clients’ spirituality because it may very
well be the contributing factor of their culture that affects the
way they seek or receive help from social workers. Being aware,
respectful and sensitive to our clients’ spirituality shows them
that we are empathetic and looking out for their best interest.
Spirituality includes one’s values, beliefs, mission, awareness,
subjectivity, experience, sense of purpose and direction;
spirituality is an important means by which many people
organize their view of the world (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman
2016). While everyone may view the world in different light, a
social worker has the role where he/she cannot let their
spirituality affect the level of service they offer their client
because it is never about them but about the clients. For
example, if a member of the LGBTQ community seeks
assistance the social worker cannot give them mediocre service

4. because they don’t believe their lifestyle is right because they
don’t identify with the norms of our society. Whatever
assistance they seek the social worker should implement the
GIM so they are able to be fair and cover everything they need
to know in regards to the client to meet their needs and
empower them.
The Asian spirituality and culture portrays them as being tightly
knitted so they believe that whatever it is they need to stick
together so seeking help from social services goes against what
they believe which will make it difficult for them to relate well
with the social worker. Their worldview may affect those
seeking help because they would seem like a failure if they seek
help because that is not what they stand for. Therefore the
social worker is going to have to be very sensitive and
culturally aware of this population because divulging
information will be harder from them; again the GIM will have
to be implemented because every bit of information to be able
to dissect their case and evaluate the services that they need and
present it in such a way that it doesn’t offend them.
One way in which my spirituality may support my social work
practice is the fact that I believe that everyone should be treated
equally and respected for who they are and where they come
from. I also believe that not everyone is able to advocate for
themselves should have someone to do so for them and this is
where I fit in being an agent of change; Zastrow & Kirst-
Ashman (2016) states spirituality are the personal search for
meaning in life and have a value system. One possible barrier
that may arise from my spirituality is not being able to help
some clients because some clients may not open up to you once
they think your religious affiliation is opposite from theirs and
not seeing that religion doesn’t affect my ability to help.
One strategy that would be effective for applying an awareness
of spirituality to social work practice in general is to host

5. seminars that would provide social workers with an array of
information about cultures around the world and to key in on
how their spirituality affects their ability to function. Social
work has its historical roots in religious organizations where
they have an appreciation and respect for religious beliefs that
differ from their own beliefs (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman,
2016).The general gist is that a social worker religion should
not affect their spirituality because it is in their spirituality that
their morals and values are brought out.
Response 2
:
Stakeholders in Health Care Policy
Respond
to at least two colleagues in one of the following ways:
·
Describe two factors that might make minority groups
especially vulnerable in the Medicaid policy your colleague
cited. Explain why these groups may not have a voice in the

6. policy-making process.
·
Offer examples of organized self-help and citizens’ groups as
both support mechanisms and potentially powerful lobbies.
Describe how these lobbying bodies can help in amending the
policy your colleague described.
Support your response with specific references to the resources.
Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.
Colleague 1: Jesse
With the vast improvements in health care the quality and life
expectancy has increased. Because of this we have seen an
increase in our population both young and old. The increase of
the elderly population has caused the government to increase
the amount of money is spent on Medicare. Health care
expenditure has grown substantially; in 1960 it was $26.9
billion versus in 1990 it was $1,035.1 billion (Acker, 2010).
Even with the increase in health care funding, health care has
still been limited due to the costs. There have been an increase
in insurances; large research grants have driven up costs, and
the increase use of prescription drugs have driven
pharmaceutical costs up. All of these developments have made
the American government raise funding for programs such as
Medicaid and other health care programs that aid the lower
social classes. Programs like these are necessary because other
wise many American’s wouldn’t be able to afford to see
doctors, get medications, or even afford to get simple health
care preventives like vaccines. With the passing of the
affordable health care act Alabama had the option to expand
Medicaid but choose not to. This choice has lead to many

7. Alabamians uninsured. I would amend this policy by accepting
the expansion of Medicaid. This would make it to wear
everyone would be able to be insured whether they are able to
pay for insurance and receive a tax credit or be able to receive
Medicaid free of charge. There are many stakeholders involved
with Medicare and Medicaid in the state of Alabama. There are
many hospitals, doctors, and even patients who all have
differing positions and opinions on health care policies. I
believe that the creation on comprehensive programs is a
critical step in advancing our current health care policies.
Colleague 2: Rachel
One health care policy in Indiana that can be revised would be
Medicaid's Hoosier Health Care Plan. Historically speaking,
Medicaid has come a long way, and has is now providing health
care and other amenities to low income families all over
Indiana. The Hoosier Health Care Plan is offered to low income
families who virtually have no income. The reason why I feel
this policy needs to be changed, is because it doesn't allow
people to use their services while trying to become self
sufficient while also lack cultural competence to the reasons
that contribute to low income families. One of those
contributions is addiction and substance abuse, and this health
care plan does not allow for people to use substances or alcohol.
However with stakeholders oppose to funding those that are
under substances thus programs that are supposed to help the
needy, enable the needy.