THIS IS THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION POST PLEASE ANSWER THE PROFESSOR BACK FROM HER QUESTIONS SHE IS ASKING BELOW THAT SHE IS REFERENCING THE QUESTION FROM…THANK YOU
Question 1: Describe the assessment process as related to individuals and families.
Working with people and families requires a complex social work evaluation procedure. While working with people, we concentrate on the client’s background, experiences, and issues. This requires rigorous interviews, document reviews, and standardized evaluation methods as needed. The evaluation for families includes family dynamics, communication patterns, and the family system. Empathetic listening helps social workers understand family dynamics (Finne et al., 2020). It is important to examine people’s and families’ strengths and resources and their issues. A strength-based approach helps create treatments that build on current capabilities. Understanding the person or family’s surroundings, social level, and culture is crucial to understanding their experiences. This micro-level evaluation establishes the groundwork for client-centered, focused treatments to address identified concerns.
Question 2: Briefly identify the types of information it is important to gather.
Comprehensive information is needed to design therapies during the assessment phase with persons and families. Knowing the client’s trauma, life experiences, and developmental phases illuminates their current issues (Sweeney et al., 2022). Mental health, substance usage, and physical health examinations are necessary to understand the client’s well-being. A culturally competent examination must also include the client’s values, beliefs, and history. Housing, jobs, and money affect the client’s whole life. Social workers must assess their clients’ goals, preferences, and desire for change to tailor therapies to their requirements. Micro-level evaluations that fully understand the individual or family enable client-centered social work.
Question 3: Compare how assessment at the macro level is similar and dissimilar to that at the micro level.
Both macro and micro evaluations aim to understand client systems, although their scope and focus vary. The macro-level assessment covers communities, organizations, and populations, whereas the micro-level evaluation covers individuals and families (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). Macro-level analysis examines societal structures, laws, and cultures that impact larger systems. Similarities include building rapport, understanding context, and identifying strengths and weaknesses, but macro-level systemic issues must be examined.
Question 4: Explain how you would gather the needed information at the macro level.
Macro-level data collecting must be more systematic. Organizational structures, community dynamics, and political, social, and cultural effects on the target audience must be examined. Methods include community surveys, policy research, and stakeholder collaboration. Macroscopic assessment incorporates data analysis, leader interviews, and community forums. The macro level relies on data gathering and systemic understanding, unlike the micro level, which requires observation and in-person interviews.
Question 5: Identify a situation where a client system (micro or macro) may be reluctant to engage in the assessment process.
Micro and macro assessment participation resistance may occur in several contexts. Lack of faith in the social worker, fear of being judged, or mental health stigma may cause hesitancy. The community or organization may be hesitant since assessments may influence their reputation or autonomy. Past trauma, cultural mistrust, and legal concerns may also cause resistance. Trust, open communication, and emphasizing the collaborative assessment process are needed to empower the client system rather than scrutinize it.
References
Finne, J., Ekeland, T.-J., & Malmberg-Heimonen, I. (2020). Social workers use of knowledge in an evidence-based framework: a mixed methods study. European Journal of Social Work, 25(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2020.1783214
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H. (2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Sweeney, A., White, S., Kelly, K., Faulkner, A., Papoulias, S., & Gillard, S. (2022). Survivor‐led guidelines for conducting trauma‐informed psychological therapy assessments: Development and modified Delphi study. Health Expectations. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13585
PLEASE RESPOND BACK TO THIS QUESTION FROM THE PROFESSOR AND MAKE SURE YOU REFERENCE YOUR WORK
PROFESSOR REPLY # 1 Dr. Janella Melius
Hello KG, thank you for the information regarding general areas a practitioner would gather information in the assessment process. What are some critical areas you think would be necessary when working with a client experiencing substance abuse? How would it be adjusted to accommodate clients in that setting? (Consider the micro, mezzo and macro aspects in your response.
PLEASE MAKE PROFESSOR AND 2 STUDENT REPLIES A 150 WORD COUNT USING REFERENCES ON EACH ONE…THANK YOU
STUDENT REPLIES
STUDENT REPLY #1 Guadalupe Azzam
Describe the assessment process as related to individuals and families.
Assessment is a crucial step in the planned change process for Social Workers. It encompasses defining problems, identifying contributing factors, and recognizing potential solutions. The process begins when meeting the client, extends to ongoing internal analysis, and shares insights with the client system. Information is drawn from various sources, including client interactions, observations, self-assessments, external reports, testing, and the worker’s interactions with the client. The goal is a comprehensive understanding of individuals or systems within their environment, addressing issues from micro to macro perspectives. This helps Social Workers tailor interventions and support systems to promote well-being (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018).
Briefly identify the types of information it is important to gather.
In the assessment process for individual families, gathering information about family structure, relationships, mental health, history of trauma, support networks, and coping mechanisms is crucial. Understanding strengths, challenges, and cultural factors is also essential for a comprehensive assessment. Additionally, Social Workers may collect data on parenting skills, child development, educational background, employment status, and any involvement with the legal system. Information about the family’s community connections, access to healthcare, and overall social support network is essential for a thorough assessment. This approach enables Social Workers to formulate effective strategies to address the specific needs of each family (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018).
Compare how assessment at the macro level is similar and dissimilar than at the micro level.
Assessment at the macro level typically involves evaluating overall organizational performance or strategic goals, while assessment at the micro level focuses on individual tasks or specific components within the organization. Both levels aim to measure effectiveness and identify areas for improvement, but the scope and granularity differ. A focus on long-term goals and overarching strategies is common in macro-level assessment. This includes evaluating the alignment of organizational objectives with the mission and vision. At the micro level, assessments often involve day-to-day operations, individual performance reviews, and the implementation of specific tactics to achieve broader goals outlined at the macro level (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018).
Explain how you would gather the needed information at the macro level.
Macro assessments use methods like community research, needs assessments, and trials where people share concerns. In Social Work, gathering big-picture info involves studying government policies, analyzing community data, and using surveys and interviews. It’s like putting puzzle pieces together to understand the whole picture and guide efforts for positive changes on a broader scale (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018).
Identify a situation where a client system (micro or macro) may be reluctant to engage in the assessment process.
(Macro): Think about a community unsure about joining an assessment because they worry it might reveal too much about their personal lives. They might only participate if they fully trust the assessors or are concerned that the assessment could shake up how things work in their community. It’s like wanting to keep certain things private and being cautious about who gets to know what.
Reference:
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.
STUDENT REPLY #2 Erika Kaletta
The assessment procedure includes identifying challenges and determining factors the family or social worker can leverage to assist the family or individual(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). Assessment involves recognizing issues from the social worker’s perspective and considering the insights provided by the client system. When aiding a family or individual, the challenge is seldom a singular, straightforward issue; instead, it is a complex situation that requires the social worker’s careful attention to identify strengths and weaknesses that need support(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). A meaningful way to gather information to find support and strengths is through an eco-map; one can visualize and understand the layout of a person’s connections and resources(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018).
There are distinctions in evaluating situations at the micro level compared to the macro level. In both cases, it entails identifying a problem and directing efforts toward the system needing change or influence(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). In macro systems, the social worker serves as an agent of change within larger agencies or communities, focusing on policy or system changes rather than individual changes specific to a particular set of client systems(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). While gathering the necessary information can be more challenging, various resources are available. Local government centers and news articles can provide valuable information (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). Engaging with community members, particularly influential figures with solid connections to the community, is also pertinent (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018).
In a microsystem, an individual may be hesitant to interact with social workers, particularly if they come from a culture where corporal punishment is the norm. In such cases, a child protective services worker might question if the disciplinary actions toward the child align with the definition of child abuse in the current geographical location. The client may feel a sense of judgment or a lack of cultural understanding, leading to reluctance to engage with the social worker.
Resources
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.