Case Presentation Assignment: Client System Analysis
Select a client system for beginning problem analysis. This can be an individual, couple, family, small treatment group, or community task group (Note: limited contact, i.e. 1 to 2 encounters with the client system, is acceptable and expected since this is your second semester in your field placement.)
I. Client description and engagement
1) Briefly describe your client system (identify the members of the client system and theirkey demographic information, e.g. role, age, gender, ethnicity, SES). Discuss how yourclient system came to the attention of your agency or its social work unit. Identify thereason for the referral and/or the client system's presenting problem.
2) Choose one of the two issues below to further describe the context for engagement withthe client:
a. Evaluate the degree to which the agency's mission, services, and policieshelped or hindered the client system's ability to use the agency.
b. Examine concerns related to an ethical dilemma, diversity and/orsocietal/institutional oppression, which were relevant to the engagement process.
II. Assessment
1) Describe one problem-for-work (presenting problem) of your client system. (Note:there may be several problems on which to work; summarize the situation andproblems generally, and then focus on one for the purposes of this analysis.)
a. Include an analysis of the problem as the client sees it, as defined by significantother systems involved, and as you see it.
b. Provide at least 2 plausible hypotheses for the cause (etiology) and/or maintenanceof the problem. Make sure that your hypotheses reflect at least two levels:intrapersonal, interpersonal, or environmental.
c. Refer to theory (e.g., role, cognitive behavioral, systems) to frame yourperspective. Access a sufficient amount of empirical research to help you tounderstand the cause or maintenance of the problem. In other words, develop yourcase theory based on theory and evidence.
2) Discuss the strengths and resources of the client, which became apparent in the process of problem identification and assessment. Describe how at least one of these strengths or resources could be pivotal in the development of an intervention plan.
III. Contracting and Planning for Intervention
1) Describe the process of moving from problem identification to contracting and goalsetting with your client system.
2) Evaluate the status of your relationship with the client. How will you maintain (or ifneeded improve) it?
3) Briefly describe any missteps you had in contracting and goal-setting for intervention.How did you recover?
4) Specifically, describe the contract and goals that you have developed or aredeveloping to address the problem-for-work you identified. In particular, comment onthe nature of the contract established (verbal, written, implicit, explicit) and therationale for your choice.
5) Evaluate the quality of your goals. Are they specific? Measurable? Were theymutually developed with the client? How will you know the goals have been met?
Remember, as a student, you will not be rated on the basis of what you did but on your level of understanding and analysis of your assessment and interventions. The presumption is that demonstrating insight will contribute to the development of your future competence.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.