Week 6: Assessment of the Elderly/Aging We are an aging society, as evidenced by the number of individuals from the baby boomer generation in the United States (born between 1946 and 1964) who have begun to turn 65. According to the United States Census Bureau (2013), there are more than 41 million Americans who are…

Discussion: Screening and Assessment Tools What is important to know and when is it important to know it? To intervene in a problem, a social worker must first identify the problem. Screening and initial assessment can be useful to identity individuals who may be experiencing mental health concerns and could benefit from seeing a clinical…

Week 5: Assessment of Adults Assessment is the first step in the treatment process. A comprehensive and well-planned assessment is necessary to provide the most effective intervention. While initially assessment might seem to be a small first step, used to merely collect data, it actually has the potential to lead the entire treatment protocol. This…

Week 3: Assessment of Children It is essential to obtain a strong knowledge base on the relevant assessment tools used specifically with children. Assessment tools historically have been created and tested primarily on adults, more specifically Caucasian adult male subjects. Children, similar to people with disabilities or those from various ethnic backgrounds, are often ignored…

Discussion 1: Attachment Theory The adolescent stage can be described as a time where there is a loss of innocence and a preentry into adulthood. A large part of being an adolescent is beginning that process of stepping out into the world and learning about oneself as a unique and autonomous individual. This movement out…

Discussion 2: Dual-Role Relationships Consider this scenario: You receive a hotline call at your mental health agency from a client requesting a same-day appointment. You are the only social worker available to work with clients at the time, as your coworker is out of town on vacation for 10 days. A 15-year-old boy struggling with…

Discussion: Sociocultural Differences in Perspectives on Aging Western cultures think of time in linear terms while other cultures perceive the passage of time in cyclical terms (Helman, 2005). Helman states, “The clock, the watch and the calendar are among the main cultural symbols of Western industrial society” (para. 3). How might a culture’s perception of…

Discussion 1: Informed Consent Informed consent means that a social worker or another professional will not intervene in a client’s life or release confidential information about him unless that client has freely consented — Dolgoff, Harrington, & Loewenberg, 2012, p. 160 Social workers are bound by the NASW Code of Ethics (2008) to provide informed…

Discussion 2: Integrating Theory and Practice As a social work student, it is important to understand the need for theory-informed practice. As you assess, intervene, and evaluate in your practice, theory is an essential foundation for clinical social work. The use of theory to inform and guide your practice is what establishes you as a…

Discussion: Using Research to Select a Therapeutic Modality Imagine that some of your colleagues mention using cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and reality therapy. Your colleagues continue to say that based on their experiences, they really like these therapies and that they appear to work. Your instincts also tell you…