Exploring Leadership and Age in Social Work

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Social workers assume many different types of leadership roles, develop leadership skills, and, over the course of their careers, develop styles of leadership with which they are most comfortable. One of their most important resources in leadership development is the professional use of self—understanding one’s own identity and position and how it impacts one’s work and interaction with others. As developing social work leaders, it is important to be able to apply knowledge and skills through a lens of an understanding of individual identity to practice. In this class, you will be asked to reflect on how age interacts with other aspects of identity (sexual orientation, race, gender, sexual identity expression, religion, abilities) and apply it specifically to your work with groups.
The purpose of this assignment is to guide you in identifying how you as an individual impact your interactions with others and your current approach to leadership, assessing the effectiveness of that approach in various settings or circumstances, and developing a plan for expanding your leadership skills, and to provide you an opportunity to reflect on the style(s) of leadership that you have demonstrated in groups as well as in your practice more generally.
Group Theory and Practice | Master Online Syllabus
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A. Age: For this portion of the assignment, you are being asked to begin by exploring age using the following instructions:
Social work reflection: Identify your own age and how that interacts with other aspects of your identity, either creating privilege or oppression. Answer I’m a 42-year-old African American woman that was raise in small town in Louisiana. I grown up in a middle-class home with both parents until by parents’ divorce and I spent the reminder of my childhood in a single-parent home. How are you either an agent or a target? How do you see yourself experiencing either internalized oppression or internalized superiority (depending on which two of the table of oppression legs are yours to work on)?
▪ Ageism against youth: Reflect on biases and oppression of children/youth. Discuss
the pros and cons of childhood in the United States. How are children and youth
controlled and managed based on culture, structures, and values, including economic, political, and cultural exclusions, in both negative and positive ways? How are youth empowered? I have experienced all the pros of living in a two-parent home. I was involved in extra activities (girl scouts, theater school, science clubs) However when my parent divorce I was unable to participate in those extra activities because my mom could not afford it. I was raised in church and participated in the youth department; which allowed me to sing and travel with the choir. ▪ Ageism against elders: Reflect on biases and oppression of elders. What are your
reactions to the Facts of Aging quiz? (Breytspraak, L., & Badura, L. (2015). Facts on
aging quiz (revised; based on Palmore (1977; 1981). Retrieved from
http://info.umkc.edu/aging/quiz/.) What do you see as the pros and cons of aging in the United States? How are elders disempowered? I was raised to respect my grandparents and elders. I was able to learn about African American history and all the contribution they made to the United States. I had to watch the television miniseries of “Roots” and Roots the next generation. These shows discuss slavery and the importance of family, ▪ Age and group theory and practice: What insights do you have about how age may
impact work in engaging, assessing, and intervening with groups? What values or biases do you hold about different ages that might impact engagement, assessment, and intervention in your work with groups? What would you do differently if you were working with a group of children? What would you do differently if you were working with a group of adolescents? What would you do differently if you were working with a group of elders?
B. Leadership: Articulate your working definition of social work leadership, assess your current level of leadership skills in group settings and more broadly throughout your practice, and develop a plan for expanding or enhancing those skills.
Using the materials that you find in the Zastrow text and from reading at least one of the two articles cited below:
● Define what social work leadership means to you.
● Describe the style(s) of leadership you currently exhibit.
● Identify the leadership skills you already possess and which skills would you
like to develop further in your social work practice as a whole and, more
specifically, with groups.
● Identify your plan for enhancing your leadership skills.
Keenan, E. K., Sandoval, S., & Limone, C. (2019) Realizing the potential for leadership n social work. Journal of Social Work, 19(4), 485–503. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/ejournals/article/368126086
Vito, R. (2020). How do social work leaders understand and ideally practice leadership?
A synthesis of core leaders

📌 Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

This assignment requires you to reflect on your identity, age, and leadership style as a social worker and analyze how these aspects influence your interactions with groups. Below is a step-by-step breakdown to help you understand what’s expected and structure your responses effectively.

🔹 Step 1: Understanding the Purpose of the Assignment

This reflection paper aims to help you:

Analyze how your age interacts with your identity (race, gender, economic background, etc.) and how this creates privilege or oppression.
Examine ageism (biases against youth and elders) and reflect on societal structures that shape age-based experiences.
Apply group theory to understand how age influences your engagement, assessment, and intervention in social work practice.
Assess and develop your leadership skills in social work, reflecting on your current leadership approach and creating a growth plan.

🔹 Step 2: Structuring Your Response

A. Age Reflection

1️⃣ Personal Identity and Age

Introduce yourself: State your age, race, gender, and background.
Reflect on how your age interacts with your identity.
Discuss how your childhood experiences shaped your perspective—mention both privileges and challenges.

📌 Example Response Starter:
“As a 42-year-old African American woman raised in a small town in Louisiana, I have experienced both privilege and struggle. My early childhood in a middle-class, two-parent household provided stability, but my parents’ divorce led to financial constraints that limited my participation in extracurricular activities.”

2️⃣ Ageism Against Youth

Discuss how children and youth experience oppression and control.
Reflect on cultural, economic, and political factors shaping childhood experiences.
Highlight both positive and negative aspects of youth experiences.

📌 Example Talking Points:

Children have limited autonomy and are controlled by adults.
Economic factors dictate access to extracurricular activities and education.
Youth empowerment happens through structured programs like church groups, scouts, and school clubs.

📌 Your Reflection:

How did your childhood experiences compare to those of other children in different economic backgrounds?
How did cultural expectations (such as church involvement) shape your opportunities?

3️⃣ Ageism Against Elders

Reflect on biases and challenges older adults face.
Take the Facts on Aging Quiz and discuss any surprises or insights.
Consider the pros and cons of aging in the U.S. and how elders are disempowered.

📌 Example Talking Points:

Elders often face age-related stereotypes (e.g., being seen as weak, dependent).
Retirement and financial stability vary widely—some seniors enjoy comfort, while others struggle.
You learned about African American history from elders, which gave you cultural pride and awareness.

📌 Your Reflection:

What challenges do elders face that surprised you?
How can social workers advocate for elderly empowerment?

4️⃣ Age and Group Theory & Practice

Explain how age influences social work with different groups (children, adolescents, elders).
Reflect on any biases you hold about different age groups and how they might impact your work.
Identify adjustments you’d make when working with different age groups.

📌 Example Talking Points:

Working with children requires simplified communication and engaging activities.
Adolescents need respect, autonomy, and active listening.
Elderly clients need patience, validation, and acknowledgment of life experiences.

📌 Your Reflection:

How would you modify your communication style for different age groups?
How would you engage elders differently than youth in a group setting?

B. Leadership Reflection

1️⃣ Define Social Work Leadership

Use the Zastrow text and additional readings to define leadership in social work.
Explain what leadership means to you personally.

📌 Example Response Starter:
“To me, social work leadership is about advocacy, ethical decision-making, and empowering communities. A strong leader in social work must be adaptable, empathetic, and proactive in addressing systemic challenges.”

2️⃣ Assess Your Current Leadership Style

Identify the leadership style(s) you exhibit (e.g., transformational, servant leadership, democratic).
Give examples of how you apply leadership in group settings.

📌 Your Reflection:

Do you lead with collaboration and inclusivity (democratic leadership)?
Are you goal-oriented and directive (authoritative leadership)?
Do you prioritize mentorship and service (servant leadership)?

3️⃣ Identify Your Leadership Strengths & Areas for Growth

List the leadership skills you already possess (e.g., communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution).
Identify the skills you want to develop further (e.g., delegation, advocacy, crisis management).

📌 Example Talking Points:

Strengths: Empathy, active listening, teamwork.
Areas for Growth: Public speaking, strategic planning, organizational leadership.

📌 Your Reflection:

What strengths make you a strong leader?
What skills do you need to improve to become a more effective social work leader?

4️⃣ Develop a Leadership Growth Plan

Create a specific plan for improving your leadership skills.
Consider professional development opportunities, such as:
- Attending leadership workshops.
- Taking on more leadership roles in group settings.
- Seeking mentorship from experienced social work leaders.

📌 Example Response Starter:
“To enhance my leadership skills, I will enroll in leadership training courses, seek mentorship from senior social workers, and take on more responsibilities in group facilitation.”

📌 Your Reflection:

What concrete steps will you take to develop as a leader?
How will you apply leadership growth in your social work practice?

🔹 Step 3: Formatting & Finalizing Your Assignment

✅ Organize your paper clearly:

Introduction: Summarize your identity and leadership approach.
Main Sections: Address each part of the prompt systematically.
Conclusion: Reflect on your growth and future goals in leadership.

✅ Use references: Cite the Zastrow text and articles by Keenan et al. (2019) & Vito (2020).

✅ Proofread: Ensure clarity, proper grammar, and APA formatting.

🔹 Final Thoughts

This assignment is a self-reflection on your leadership journey and identity in social work. By following this guide, you can confidently analyze how age, personal background, and leadership development impact your interactions with groups.

🚀 Take your time, be honest, and make a plan for growth! 💡

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