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Graduation Date

Spring 5-8-2026

Document Type

Portfolio

Degree

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Degree Name

Social Work

School or Department

Social Work

Abstract

Introduction

My development throughout the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana has been guided by a longstanding understanding that social work is more than direct service. This belief was central to my decision to pursue an MSW rather than a master’s degree in counseling. While I value clinical skill and therapeutic relationships, I have always been drawn to the broader scope of social work, the profession’s commitment to social justice, systems change, and the integration of individual well-being with structural transformation. Over the course of this program, that orientation has deepened and become more theoretically grounded, intentional, and integrated across levels of practice.

During my specialization year practicum at 3 Rivers Mental Health Solutions, I have served as a case manager while also stepping into an informal leadership role as lead case manager responsible for training new staff. This dual role has required me to operate simultaneously at micro, mezzo, and macro levels, supporting individuals navigating complex mental health and social challenges, collaborating across interdisciplinary systems, and contributing to organizational development efforts. Working within a rural behavioral health system has required adaptability, ethical clarity, and systems-level awareness, particularly in the context of workforce strain, limited resources, and high-acuity client needs.

A defining feature of my growth throughout the MSW program has been ongoing critical self-reflection. I have become increasingly aware of how my values, assumptions, and social location influence my thinking, judgment, and affective responses in practice. Engaging with questions of power, difference, and oppression, particularly within rural and Indigenous contexts, has required humility and sustained reflection. Rather than viewing competence as static mastery, I now understand it as a dynamic integration of knowledge, skills, values, and cognitive and affective processes. This aligns with the model of Advanced Integrated Practice, which emphasizes bridging the micro–macro divide and engaging critically with the historical and political dimensions of social problems.

This portfolio documents my development across the ten competencies outlined by the Council on Social Work Education and demonstrates holistic competence within each of the four dimensions of practice. Through examples drawn from coursework and practicum, including ethical analysis, policy engagement, program evaluation, leadership initiatives, and direct client work, I illustrate how my thinking has evolved from foundational understanding to advanced integration. Importantly, this growth has not been linear. Navigating crisis situations, ethical ambiguity, documentation demands, and organizational change has strengthened my professional judgment and reinforced the importance of supervision, collaboration, and lifelong learning.

Ultimately, my development as a social worker reflects a commitment to integration: integrating theory and practice, integrating direct service with policy and advocacy, integrating reflection with action, and integrating individual well-being with social justice. This portfolio demonstrates not only the competencies I have achieved, but the practitioner I am becoming, one who approaches social work as relational, systemic, and justice-oriented practice where collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and leadership are essential.

Keywords

Portfolio, Social Work, Policy, Advocacy, Collaboration

Subject Categories

Social Work

MSW Portfolio

Included in

Social Work Commons

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