Exam 1: Assessment: Assessments and Interventions in Social Work

A social worker visits a home after a referral comes in about inappropriate disciplinary techniques being utilized by a mother of a nine-year-old boy. The child is described as out of control, and the parent spanks him five or six times a day. The mother has been heard screaming at the boy, and this has not helped the situation. Shortly into the initial assessment, it is discovered the child has been referred for ADHD testing by a counselor at school. The mother feels her son is simply defiant and angry because his father left the family two years ago. Should the social worker be concerned?

Al is described by friends and family as being self-centered. He has problems with anger but never wants to accept the blame. Al's relationships with two different women failed because he was physically abusive. A social worker might assess this client with reaction formation disorder. Which category of reaction formation disorder would he fall into?

Persistent unhappiness, loss of appetite, changes in sleep patterns, withdrawal and decreased energy are all symptoms of what mental illness?

A family has asked for help with their son. Adrian is an active nine year old who is always on the go. His past behaviors have been blamed on high energy levels and the need to be expressive. Lately, these behaviors have become a problem for Adrian's teachers. There have been three conferences between parents and school staff in the last three months pertaining to the child questioning rules and talking back inappropriately. When he is confronted, Adrian displays resentment towards the authority figure. What might the child be assessed for by the social worker?

Cassandra works as a case manager for Child Protective Services. A new family she has been helping has a parent that is starting to raise red flags. The mother is the sole caretaker for the children but is demonstrating some peculiar behaviors. She has not kept consecutive doctor's appointments, has difficulty utilizing public transportation and fails to follow through with basic directions. This parent is always accompanied by another adult when she leaves the home on an errand. When Cassandra starts questioning the mother on her background, it is discovered that she attended special education classes and did not graduate from high school. These factors should arouse concern in what area?

What is the first step in a psychological assessment?

Lisa is a social worker who has received a case referred for possible child abuse. She realizes keeping the children safe is her top priority. The household consists of two parents and three children. There are steps to determine if abuse may have occurred or if the family is at-risk. Which kind of assessment should she use to determine the best possible assistance for this referral?

A social worker needs to be cautious when completing an assessment for oppositional defiant disorder. The problem should be observed at home and school. Behaviors must occur in a manner that affects family, social life and academic life. Which of the following symptoms need to be displayed in order to correctly diagnose oppositional defiant disorder?

A social worker is helping a client named Beth with anxiety issues that surface when she is in dark places. The problem has occurred since the client was young, and she sleeps with every light on in her home. Most nights, Beth dozes on the couch, and the lack of sleep is interfering with her home and social life. Which of the following types of therapy would be most effective in combating Beth's anxiety issues?

After a social worker has identified the target behavior of a client, it is time to start collaborative problem solving, including examining the problem situation and developing a hypothesis. There are three parts to this particular type of problem solving: identifying the antecedent, identifying the function of the behavior and:

Impulse control disorder is an umbrella term for a set of psychological disorders. Which of the following is not part of this set?

Dependent personality disorder is often defined as the need to be taken care of by others. Individuals with this problem have low levels of confidence in their own intelligence and abilities. How is dependent personality disorder different from avoidant personality disorder?

The Jacobs family has decided to incorporate the services of a social worker due to intense conflict between parents and children. During the first session, the Jacobs' take turns discussing their issues while the social worker listens intently. There is no focus on what is wrong, but rather on the complex interplay of risks and strengths. This type of assessment is known as what?

A short-term, problem-solving approach to social work practice consists of three phases. The initial phase is centered on setting up initial tasks. The middle phase consists of evaluating the outcomes of tasks and identifying obstacles to achieving said outcomes. Last is the termination phase, which emphasizes what the client has learned or accomplished. Which of the following problem-solving approaches is described above?

The Henderson family is receiving help from a Child Protective Service worker. There have been incidents of inappropriate parenting, and the social worker wants to help rectify the situation. The approach chosen for this family will identify their positive resources and abilities. What type of assessment will be completed?

Psychoanalysis is part of Sigmund Freud's structural id-ego-superego model of an individual's mind. Practice components focus on pathological development and management of aggressive impulses. How one adapts to reality is called:

When applying behavior analysis, assessment guides the recognition of target behaviors and the development of an intervention. What are the four methods utilized to obtain a complete understanding of a person's behavior?

When multiple behaviors are identified, a social worker must prioritize according to significance. Factors in determining the significance of a problem include the effect of the behavior on a person's environmental access and its social importance and whether intervention is age-appropriate. What is the term for the priority or most significant behavior?

The Madisons are meeting with their social worker, who is helping them with daily functioning. They are called into one room and shown a flow chart describing the processes the family unconsciously follows. There are distinguishing hierarchies and alliances within. What type of therapy is the social worker utilizing?

Children will normally avoid being disciplined by their parents. Some, however, seek out discipline by displaying inappropriate behaviors and acting on uncontrollable impulses. If a child acts up in a way that forces people around him to step in and help him control his impulses, he is mostly likely suffering from which of the following problems?