SMART Goal Development for MSW Core Competencies

An essential strategy in social work to make abstract concepts real, functional, and palpable is the setting of goals using the SMART technique. The SMART framework means that these are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. As a structured and clear template for articulating learning goals, this approach helps to delineate students’ advancement of their capabilities in major areas of practice (Latham, 2020). These goals will also enable me to monitor my progress in achieving them and ensure that I apply theoretical knowledge in practice. This paper presents two critical competencies in social work, accompanied by SMART goals to assist me in learning and professional development.

Core Competency 4: Engaging Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice

SMART Goal: By the end of this semester, I will be able to complete a literature review on evidence-based interventions in substance abuse treatment in an urban community and apply these findings to enhance my practice with clients suffering from addictions.

· Specific: The goal focuses on a literature review of evidence-based approaches to treating substance abuse in urban areas.

· Measurable: The outcome of the success will be some form of a 10-page report that summarizes the findings and applies them to practice.

· Achievable: The goal is feasible since I have access to research databases, faculty members, and community practitioners who would be able to assist in providing practical insight on how this is applied in their practices (Latham, 2023).

· Relevant: The goal addresses Core Competency 4 regarding the integration of research into practice for improved outcomes for clients.

· Time-bound: I will be able to do this within the next 12 weeks, which coincides with the schedule of the semester.

This objective is important to me because it not only makes me a consumer of research but also an active user in the field, thus building my professional competence in evidence-based practice.

Core Competency 5: Policy Practice

SMART Goal: Over the course of the next three months, I will participate in a local policy advocacy campaign with the purpose of enhancing mental health services for underserved populations by writing a policy brief and presenting the recommendations to local lawmakers.

· Specific: In this goal, participation is highlighted in regard to policy campaigns, where an apparent result would be the creation and presentation of a policy brief (Locke & Latham, 2020).

· Measurable: The accomplishment of the policy brief and its presentation to policymakers.

· Achievable: This is considered an achievable goal, looking at the current position one holds in the internship and the availability of resources required.

· Relevant: Since the goal is directly attributed to Core Competency 5, which is in regard to policy practice: advocating for changes in systems and improvements in social welfare.

· Time-bound: I would like to achieve this within a three-month period, ensuring a clear timeline for engagement.

These SMART goals thus provide me with the ability to practically prove my skills within the field, ensuring depth in engagement with both research-informed practice and policy work. By having clear, achievable objectives, I will be better placed to fulfill my MSW program requirements and contribute meaningfully towards social work.

References

Latham, G. (2020). Goal setting: A five-step approach to behavior change. In Organizational collaboration (pp. 10-20). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315881201-4/goal-setting-gary-latham

Latham, G. P. (2023). Motivate employee performance through goal setting. Principles of Organizational Behavior: The Handbook of Evidence‐Based Management 3rd Edition, 83-111. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781394320769.ch5

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2020). Building a theory by induction: The example of goal setting theory. Organizational Psychology Review, 10(3-4), 223-239. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2041386620921931

NOTE: Previous feedback from learning agreement assignment

neither goal is formulated as a successful SMART goal. Please do not list individual statement for each of the letter of SMART. Rather develop one cohesive and concise statement that captures all of these. You are listing a number of non-specific objectives and/or justifications, which should not be in the SMART goal. But yes, they, too, should be formulated as SMART objectives. Perhaps once you view the recording, things will be more clear. Ask yourself: WHY am I wanting to look up research and EB interventions? What’s the purpose…what do I hope to accomplish or see as a result of doing this…that will be the goal. I won’t take points off for not knowing how to set SMART goals well…we are still practicing :o)

The discussion for how SMART goaling connects to your work as social work intern is quite general and non-specific. I’d love for you to tell me concretely how each applies.

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