A Case About Social Work

Ana G. Mendez University
School of Social Work

MSW Program

SWGR 606: Theories and Models of Human Development and Behavior II

Assignment: Case Assessment

Objective: This Assignment assesses competency 7, established by the Council on Social Work
Education, and aims to assess the transactions between individuals, families, groups,
organizations, and communities. In addition, the assignment evaluates the integration of the
Evidence-Based Practice model.

Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers understand that assessment is an ongoing component of the dynamic and
interactive process of social work practice with and on behalf of diverse individuals, families,
groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand theories of human
behavior and the social environment and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in
assessing diverse clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups,
organizations, and communities. Social workers understand assessment methods with diverse
clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers recognize the
implications of the larger practice context in the assessment process and value the importance
of interprofessional collaboration. Social workers understand how their personal experiences
and affective reactions may affect their assessment and decision-making.
Behaviors:

• Collect and organize data and apply critical thinking to interpret information from
clients and constituencies.

• Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-
environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to analyze
assessment data from clients and constituencies.

• Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on critically
assessing strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies.

• Select appropriate intervention strategies based on clients’ and constituencies’
assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences.

Instructions: Students will read the case vignette assigned by the professor. After reading and
critically analyzing the case vignette assesses the circumstance by applying the ecological-
system perspective to analyze the developmental stage and biopsychosocial, spiritual, cultural,
and historical factors impacting the client. Students may include any other conceptual
framework, model, or theory discussed in class. The analysis should be at least six (6) pages, not
counting references and cover pages. This assignment is due during the last week of class and is
worth 30% of the final grade. Students must write using the latest APA format, including in-text
citations and references and at least five (5) academic references. Students must use the
following outline to guide the development of their written responses.

Case Vignette

Rose is a 25-year-old Latin female who was married six months ago. She has a history of
generalized anxiety and was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) last year, both of
which have recently worsened. She smokes marijuana most nights to calm her nerves and to
sleep. She describes having good communication and mutual respect with her husband, John (30-
year-old/African American). She states, “I’m confused and frustrated with myself”; “I feel
anxious about my future, marriage, and health.” She mentioned her recent physical and mental
health struggles because she feels she should be a happy and carefree newlywed. Rose is very
artistic and feels dissatisfied with her retail job, which she describes as requiring no creativity.
She also hates her job because she feels like people stare at her due to her MS. It makes her feel
like she does not fit into “normal” society.

She wants to return to college to finish her degree but cannot afford to do so. Rose and John live
in their tiny house with his parents to get by financially. It is an agitated situation in which Rose
feels cramped, controlled, and demeaned by her in-laws. Shortly after they moved in, her in-laws
started mocking Rose for meditating, so she discontinued these practices. No longer
contemplating, she has lost one of her main coping strategies for managing stress and her
primary way of connecting to her higher power. Her in-laws also yell at her for smoking
marijuana despite its legalization and complain that she wastes John’s “hard-earned” money.
Rose has one female friend (Sandra) whom she enjoys but does not often see, primarily due to a
lack of motivation or money. Her lack of motivation has contributed to her missing doctor
appointments and physical therapy and losing her Medical Assistance benefits due to not
completing paperwork on time.

Rose is close to her mom, whom she describes as loving, gentle, and supportive. While their
relationship brings her comfort, it is also worrisome when her symptoms of schizophrenia
become active. At these times, she feels responsible for ensuring her safety because her mom’s
mental health agency is too short-staffed to provide crisis or after-hours services. Rose stopped
all contact with her dad after they got into a physical altercation three years ago. Rose has two
half-siblings, ages 35 (Male) and 32 (Female), from her dad’s prior marriage, with whom she had
no contact growing up.

Rose has never been able to connect with her brother, but she and her sister have started to meet
for lunch once per month and get along well. Her sister has a baby whom Rose loves to babysit,
and her sister is very grateful for the help. Also, Rose recently started to Zoom with an aunt in
Texas whom she sees as a wise and encouraging mentor. She followed her aunt’s advice to go to
the free clinic to ask about how to get help for her emotional and physical health issues. She is
especially interested in gaining assertiveness skills.

Outline:

• Introduction
• Write a description of the client system that incorporates the following:

o Relevant information (sociodemographic).
o Strengths and areas of opportunity.

o The description of the client system must reflect structure, coherence, unity, and
meaning.

o Develop an ecomap based on the nature and quality of Rose’s relationships and
community resources.

o Develop a Genogram based on the nature and quality of Rose’s relationships.
• Indicate the social problem or objective of intervention:

o What is directly impacting the client system?
o Identify, describe, and evaluate the social problem or objective of intervention

using a bio-psycho-social perspective.
 Consider the following:

• Member interactions, responses, and challenges.
• Demand, resource, and force characteristics
• Nested systems: micro, mezzo, macrosystem
• Critical factors and Protective factors.
• Boundaries, open and close system.

o Analyze the identified area(s) of opportunity by considering aspects related to
human diversity.

o Explain how the area of opportunity is linked to the defense of human rights.
o Justify if and why the area of opportunity negatively impacting the client system

warrants professional intervention.
• Describe the theoretical or conceptual framework to be used considering:

o The main premises of the theoretical or conceptual framework.
o Strategies that address both human behavior and the social environment.
o The integration of the theoretical or conceptual framework concepts to the area of

opportunity.
o The application of knowledge about the theories or models to support the case.

 Remember to take a critical look at the situation and consider proposing
various points of view, alternatives, and possible solutions.

• Determine a service or intervention plan that:
o Is consistent with the selected theories or models,
o Establish objectives according to the goals proposed in the intervention plan by

the recognized areas of opportunity.
o Identify resources and services needed to carry out the intervention.
o Establishes an approximate time to comply with the service or intervention plan.
o Incorporates appropriate strategies, techniques, and activities.
o Using an evidence-based practice approach, briefly describe how you would

integrate empirical research, client values/preferences, and expertise to guide your
work on the identified goal.

• Conclusion

SWGR 606: Theories and Models of Human Development and Behavior II

Assignment: Case Assessment

Student Name: _____________________________________________

Student ID Number: _________________________

Date: _______________________

(4)

Kn
ow

le
dg

e

Excellent applied knowledge of human behavior and the social environment,
person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in
analyzing assessment data from clients and constituencies.

(3)
Meets expectations by applying knowledge of human behavior and the social
environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical
frameworks to analyze assessment data from clients and constituencies.

(2)
Needs improvement in applying knowledge of human behavior and the social
environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical
frameworks to analyze assessment data from clients and constituencies.

(1)
Does not meet expectations applying knowledge of human behavior and the social
environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical
frameworks in analyzing assessment data from clients and constituencies.

(0)

No evidence demonstrating the application of knowledge of human behavior and
the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary
theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and
constituencies.

(4)

Va
lu

es

Excellent selection of appropriate intervention strategies based on clients’ and
constituencies’ assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences.

(3)
Meets expectations by selecting appropriate intervention strategies based on
clients’ and constituencies’ assessment, research knowledge, and values and
preferences.

(2)
Needs improvement in selecting appropriate intervention strategies based on the
assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and
constituencies.

(1)
Does not meet expectations selecting appropriate intervention strategies based
on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients
and constituencies.

(0)
No evidence demonstrating the selection of appropriate intervention strategies
based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of
clients and constituencies.

(4)

Sk
ill

s

Excellent intervention goals and objectives are developed based on the critical
assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies.

(3)
Meets expectations by developing intervention goals and objectives by critically
assessing strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies.

(2)
Needs improvement developing intervention goals and objectives based on
critically assessing strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and
constituencies.

(1)
Does not meet expectations in developing intervention goals and objectives based
on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and
constituencies.

(0)
No evidence demonstrating the development of intervention goals and objectives
based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients
and constituencies.

(4)

co
gn

iti
ve

/a
ffe

ct
iv

e
pr

oc
es

se
s

Excellent data collection and organization, applying critical thinking to interpret
information from clients and constituencies.

(3)
Meets expectations by collecting and organizing data and applying critical thinking
to interpret information from clients and constituencies.

(2)
Needs improvement in collecting and organizing data and applying critical thinking
to interpret information from clients and constituencies.

(1)
Does not meet expectations in collecting and organizing data and applying critical
thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies.

(0)
No evidence demonstrates data collection and organization and applying critical
thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies.

(4)

co
gn

iti
ve

/a
ffe

ct
iv

e
pr

oc
es

se
s

Excellent ability to describe the client system comprehensively while considering
sociocultural aspects of diversity.

(3)
Meets expectations comprehensively by describing the client system while
considering sociocultural aspects of diversity.

(2)
Needs improvement comprehensively describing the client system while
considering sociocultural aspects of diversity.

(1)
Does not meet expectations comprehensively describing the client system while
considering sociocultural aspects of diversity.

(0)
No evidence demonstrates the description of the client system in a way that
needed to be more comprehensive while considering sociocultural aspects of
diversity.

Pts. % Grade

17-20 85% – 100% A

13- 16 65% – 84% B

9 – 12 45% – 64% C

5 – 8 25% -44% D

0 – 4 0%- 24% F

Final Score: __________

Comments:
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Professor Signature: _______________________________