Competency 1: Demonstrate Professional and Ethical 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 life-long 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.
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.
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Injustices
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.
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 multi-disciplinary sources and multiple ways of knowing. They also
understand the processes for translating research findings into effective practice.
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.
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.
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 inter-professional collaboration in this process. Social
workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may affect their assessment and decision-
making.
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 inter-professional teamwork and communication in interventions, recognizing that beneficial
outcomes may require interdisciplinary, inter-professional, and inter-organizational collaboration.
Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, 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.