Description
Im doing a paper on low income individuals I’ve done draft all that needs to be done is add another page or two to make it a final paper and add a few more informations !Conduct a literature review to assess the health and social ecology of a community using scientific data and other information from a variety of academic and public resources.Assess the source and quality of health information and data, as related to individual and community health.Demonstrate understanding of health promotion and disease prevention by analyzing community data, including demographics, health statistics, risk and protective factors, social/environmental context, community design, history, dynamics, current health-related challenges and opportunities.below I have the draft that you can add and edit information to make better into a final
Unformatted Attachment Preview
1
Addressing Health Disparities among Low-Income Hispanic Individuals in Santa Clara
County: A Social Work Perspective on Empowering Change
Sabreen Malhi
San Jose State University
PH 179
Catherine Doyle
September 25, 2023
2
Addressing Health Disparities among Low-Income Hispanic Individuals in Santa Clara
County: A Social Work Perspective on Empowering Change
Introduction
Poor health among low-income Hispanics discreetly plagues Santa Clara County’s
diversified and colorful landscape. In this vibrant and culturally rich community, where Silicon
Valley promises, and harsh economic reality clash, healthcare and social services access is
crucial. This exploration seeks to explain inequality and advocate for revolutionary change by
exploring the many facets of this topic. The statement describes personal experiences,
connections, and problems that led to the resolve to address these disparities through social work.
It stresses social justice and equity by examining social work’s critical concepts in removing
structural weaknesses. This exploration upholds social work values of fairness, decency, and
justice for all, regardless of background or socioeconomic situation, and indicates a willingness
to combine knowledge, practical experience, and activism to improve health inequities in Santa
Clara County.
Influences on Pursuing Social Work
Personal experiences, familial background, and different relationships shaped my job
choice in social work. My parents taught me empathy, compassion, and community service.
Growing up in a Hispanic middle-class community in Santa Clara County, I saw the struggles
low-income people experienced. I often saw my neighbors persevere through the challenges of
low money. Thus, after seeing their hardships and inequities, especially in accessing healthcare
and social services, I was inspired to address these concerns. I realized that social work may
change the lives of neglected and underserved people.
3
My schooling was essential to my social work career. My undergraduate sociology
degree helped me grasp systemic inequalities that cause many of our community’s health
disparities. I understood I needed academic understanding and practical experience to make a
permanent change. This revelation led me to work part-time as a community outreach
coordinator, where I met low-income people with health difficulties. These events confirmed my
social work career choice. Volunteering with local charities and community organizations has
shaped my objectives in addition to my schooling and profession. I saw how low-income
Hispanics struggle to receive appropriate healthcare and social support through these volunteer
opportunities. These experiences enhanced my commitment to advocating for underprivileged
groups’ equitable access to resources and services.
My path to higher education and social work has been difficult. I had work-life restraints
that jeopardized my educational goals, like many others. Working and studying, as well as
navigating the education system, were problematic. These obstacles tested my dedication to my
path. My unshakeable belief in social work’s potential for positive change drove me through
these challenges. Job and volunteer stories of tenacity and hope often inspired me. I decided to
address the systemic causes perpetuating health inequalities among low-income Hispanics to
make society more equitable and just. Therefore, I acquired time management to balance work
and school. I also sought community and university mentors who guided and encouraged me
throughout my schooling.
Understanding and Aspirations in Social Work
My view of social work is to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities
by addressing complex social challenges and achieving social justice. As a future professional
4
social worker, I want a varied career with clear responsibilities that follow the field’s ideals. I
will conduct thorough assessments, collaborate with clients to set achievable goals and execute
evidence-based interventions. Understanding each client’s needs and difficulties allows one to
customize treatments that help people and communities cope with crises, build resilience, and
develop sustainable coping methods (Ayala-Marín et al., 2020). Besides assessment and action,
social workers offer counseling and emotional support. My goal is to provide empathic, clientcentered counseling that values everyone.
Connecting people and communities to resources is crucial. Social workers link people to
services. I want to use my resource expertise to help people get healthcare, housing, education,
jobs, and other essential services. This function involves giving information and lobbying for
resource equity to reduce inequities. Social workers must educate and prevent foreseen and
unforeseen instances (Tartakovsky, 2021). I value community education, prevention, and
resource awareness. I can improve community health and well-being by addressing healthcare
inequities and access among low-income Hispanics. I will continuously operate ethically,
transparently, and professionally with clients and coworkers.
Finally, a diverse world requires cultural knowledge. My priorities include cultural
competence, valuing varied backgrounds and experiences, and customizing solutions to cultural
needs. Cultural biases can be addressed to make my practice sensitive to the particular
viewpoints and issues of the people and communities I serve. I have stressed community service,
social justice, the dignity and worth of every person, human relationships, integrity, and
competence in my volunteer work and personal life. In my future career as a professional social
worker, I will respect these ideals and help people and communities by meeting their needs and
promoting positive change.
5
Choosing ASU and Aligning with Mission
For several convincing reasons, I chose ASU for social work school. First, the ASU
School of Social Work’s mission statement matches my values and career ambitions. The
school’s emphasis on social justice, community empowerment, and diversity matches my goal of
reducing health inequalities among Santa Clara County’s low-income Hispanics. I believe ASU’s
concentration on these ideals will give me the knowledge and abilities to impact my community.
I am thrilled by the redesigned mission statement, which prepares social work practitioners,
researchers, and activists to lead positive change in the Southwest, nationally and worldwide.
This broadened vision emphasizes the school’s responsibility in promoting social justice and
equality. It fits my long-term aim of becoming a social work leader who helps improve
healthcare access and equity. I want to collaborate with groups to reduce health inequities and
improve healthcare access worldwide.
Social Justice and Combating Racism
Social justice is important to social work, and I cherish it. I define social justice as
fairness, equity, and acknowledging all people’s inherent value and dignity, regardless of
background or circumstances. Addressing systemic disparities and aggressively dismantling
barriers to discrimination, oppression, and injustice is vital (Assari et al., 2020). Social justice is
crucial to my problem statement, which addresses health inequities among low-income Hispanics
in Santa Clara County. These discrepancies originate from systematic racism and other
injustices. Social work’s social justice and advocacy ideals can address these social system flaws.
I plan to use a holistic strategy to fight racism and health inequities. This method encompasses
lobbying, education, cultural competence, research, community participation, and policy
6
engagement. My voice and platform will promote racial equity and social justice policies and
practices. This advocacy will include healthcare access, culturally competent services, and
resource allocation that affect Santa Clara County’s Hispanic population’s health.
Education and awareness are vital in fighting racism. I believe in community education
and addressing racism’s health inequities. I organize workshops, seminars, and outreach activities
to raise awareness of this critical topic and start community debates about ending systemic
racism. Cultural competency is another crucial element of my approach. I will constantly
improve my cultural competence to meet diverse populations’ requirements. Self-reflection,
acknowledging and resolving hidden prejudices, and actively listening to underrepresented
communities are part of this. Cultural competence enables respectful, meaningful, and culturally
sensitive interventions (Cheng et al., 2020). By studying Santa Clara County’s low-income
Hispanic health disparities, I seek to find reasons and provide evidence-based solutions. I will
actively seek alliances with community-based groups and grassroots movements fighting racism
and advancing social justice. Finally, local, state and national policy engagement is essential. I
will lobby lawmakers for racism-related health disparities legislation. To stress the necessity of
eliminating systemic racism in our healthcare and social institutions, I will focus on the health
disparities in my issue statement.
Managing Coursework and Internship
I have carefully planned to balance the problematic curriculum, internship, and other
MSW program requirements. I understand that this program requires good time management and
work-life balance. I know time management is critical first. A precise weekly calendar will help
me manage my academics and internship hours. This plan will include classes, internships, and
7
study time to stay on top of homework and assignments. Consistency in following this timetable
will help me balance my workload. I also want to communicate openly with my internship
supervisor and academic advisors. Meeting with my supervisor regularly will help me satisfy
internship obligations and receive assistance and direction. Academic advisors will also help me
balance my school load with my internship. I will evaluate how my additional commitments,
such as part-time work and family, affect my schoolwork and internship management. I will
adapt my work hours or seek additional support to meet MSW program requirements.
Addressing unexpected obstacles requires flexibility and agility. I will prioritize self-care.
Recognizing the importance of physical and mental health, I will schedule rest, exercise, and
recharging activities. Long-term program success requires balancing personal life, academics,
and internships. I will also use university resources and help, such as academic tutoring,
counseling, and time management workshops. These resources will give me tools and ways to
manage various tasks more efficiently.
Conclusion
My mission is to mitigate the health disparities among low-income Hispanic Santa Clara
County residents, focusing on social work. This journey emphasizes cultural competence,
advocacy, and community engagement through personal experiences, background, and
relationships with higher education obstacles. Understanding social work obligations, especially
social justice’s role in tackling structural inadequacies and racism, is essential. The ASU School
of Social Work’s mission is to remove structural barriers, promote fairness, and defend human
dignity. A complete plan for managing coursework, internships, and other life responsibilities
throughout the MSW program will help me align my goal with the institution’s mission.
8
Balanced and sustained academic and professional pursuits require good time management, open
communication, and self-care.
9
References
Assari, S., Mistry, R., Caldwell, C., & Bazargan, M. (2020). Protective effects of parental
education against youth cigarette smoking: diminished returns of blacks and
hispanics
. Adolescent Health Medicine and Therapeutics, Volume 11, 63-71.
https://doi.org/10.2147/ahmt.s238441
Ayala-Marín, A., Iguacel, I., Miguel-Etayo, P., & Moreno, L. (2020). Consideration of social
disadvantages for understanding and preventing obesity in children. Frontiers in Public
Health, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00423
Cheng, C., Beauchamp, A., Elsworth, G., & Osborne, R. (2020). Applying the electronic health
literacy lens: systematic review of electronic health interventions targeted at socially
disadvantaged groups. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(8), e18476.
https://doi.org/10.2196/18476
Tartakovsky, E. (2021). Ethnic minority and majority social workers working with ethnic
minority clients: culture-bound professional interventions and burnout among arab and
jewish israeli social workers. Research on Social Work Practice, 32(2), 215-226.
https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315211049443
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
