Mission Statement & Goals
Mission Statement
Our program’s purpose and mission are inextricably related to the purpose and mission of the University, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Meridian Campus. The mission statements of the University, College of Arts and Sciences, Meridian Campus Social Work Program, and the purpose of the Social Work profession reflect a strong commitment to students, community and service to society.
With the liberal arts as our foundation, the mission of the Social Work Program at Mississippi State University-Meridian is to prepare BSW graduates to engage in entry–level generalist social work practice to competently and effectively work with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations within a multicultural society and to continue their formal education in social work or other graduate studies.
It is the vision of the Program that students will diligently work toward the achievement of civil rights for all populations, including the impoverished, underserved, undereducated, disenfranchised, and biopsychosocially vulnerable. The Program further expects students to become trustworthy, dedicated leaders in social service delivery through professional expertise, evidence informed practices, and systematic advocacy.
Goals
The Social Work program goals derived from the mission statement are:
To practice according to the principles, values, and ethics that guide the social work profession
(Core Competency 1).
To influence social policies with the goal of alleviating poverty, oppression, and social injustice as well as advocating for human rights
Core Competencies 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5).
To provide communities with professional social work services in a manner that reflects a commitment to the historic mission of social work and empower communities to address issues of social, economic and environmental injustice
(Core Competencies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 & 9)
To identify and affect the bio-psycho-social, spiritual, and cultural functioning of people
(Core Competencies 5 & 6)
To engage in research-informed entry-level generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations within a diverse and multicultural society
(Core Competencies 1, 4, 5 & 7)
CSWE Core Competencies
Competency 1
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Competency 2
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Competency 3
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Competency 4
Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Competency 5
Engage in Policy Practice
Competency 6
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 8
Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 9
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
(Adapted with permission of the Council on Social Work Education)