Social Work Major

The Mission Statement of the BSW program attempts to integrate the mission of the university as well as the social work program. The mission of the Department of Social Work is to prepare social workers in a faith context for entry level generalist social work practice in a global, diverse setting and/or to pursue graduate level education.

The department aims to prepare students to integrate knowledge, skills, and values into practice by fulfilling the following goals:

• To equip social workers with generalist knowledge, values, and skills and to prepare competent professionals for entry level social work practice with diverse systems within a global context.
• To prepare social workers who understand a Christian worldview (which values social and economic justice while also respecting and appreciating diversity).
• Prepare students with strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
• Foster the student's social work identity including professional use of supervision and consultation, self-awareness, and an appreciation for the profession's history and values.
• To prepare students with critical thinking skills in areas of practice, research, and ethics to help ensure success in graduate social work programs.

• To assist with students' development of understanding and integration of social work theories and practice.
• To develop student's professional social work values and ethics.
• For students to apply systems concepts to practice across the micro and macro continuum.
• For students to demonstrate constructive critical thinking skills.
• To allow students to demonstrate an understanding of social work concepts and the planned changed process based in systems theory.
• Provide opportunities for students to serve in social work settings.
• For students to develop the ability to communicate effectively and professionally in oral and written formats.
• To assist students with their professional development and professional identity.
• Students will develop an understanding of working with people of diversity; including age, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation without discrimination.
• Assist students with an understanding of working toward social justice and advocacy.
• Provide students an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of a bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment.
• Expose students to the history, current realities, and future implications of the social welfare system with regard to the local and global continuum.
• Integrate Christian beliefs and values with professional social work values and ethics as set forth in the code of ethics.

Internship opportunities are available with numerous organizations, including domestic violence shelters for women and children, group homes for children, inner-city ministries, hospitals, non-profit organizations, charities, and government agencies. For example, local institutions like these are possible places for an internship:

• Sunnybrook Children's Home
• Veterans Administration
• University Medical Center
• His Heart Ministries
• Catholic Charities
• Gateway Rescue Mission
• Salvation Army

In spring 2015, student interns from Belhaven University collaborated with Beautiful Ones Ministries, Inc., and Shared Hope International to prepare a report that examines the prevalence of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) in the central Mississippi area.

The study revealed that the children being trafficked in the counties assessed are Mississippi children, largely trafficked by their own family members. Poverty and education gaps prevalent in Mississippi make children in the area particularly vulnerable to trafficking.

The research on DMST used a Rapid Assessment methodology provided by Shared Hope that covered four counties – Hinds, Rankin, Madison and Warren – and evaluated the identification of DMST victims and access to services for victims in these counties.

The Belhaven students interviewed a total of 36 local professionals – from law enforcement, the judicial system, government agencies, nongovernmental service providers and the community – about DMST occurring in the target areas.