Assessment Description
Background:
Daniela is a 32-year-old Latina woman living on the outskirts of a mid-sized city in the Pacific Northwest. Daniela grew up in a low-income household with strong family-oriented and Catholic traditions. She currently works part-time as a cashier at a grocery store and is able to afford a small apartment shared with a roommate who travels frequently for work.
Daniela is taking night classes at a local community college to earn her associate degree, after leaving school in tenth grade to help care for younger siblings. At her job, she has a few coworkers who motivate her to keep up with her studies. They used to gather after work for coffee and study groups; however, Daniela recently started turning down these opportunities, telling them she needs the time for her coursework.
Recently, many of Daniela's friends have taken on second jobs or started working nontraditional shifts, making get-togethers rare. Their text chats are less active, and Daniela has turned to online forums for social connection. These online spaces, however, sometimes worsen her feelings of anxiety and sadness.
Daniela has put on weight over the past year, which she attributes to stress and irregular eating patterns. She joined a fitness class at her community center and attends regularly, but finds that the dietary advice from her instructor is hard to follow due to the high cost of recommended foods.
Daniela has come to your counseling center seeking help for overwhelming anxiety and depressed mood. She expresses low self-esteem and difficulty building meaningful relationships.
Family Relationships:
Daniela's childhood involved significant instability. Her father, who dealt with substance use issues, worked as a seasonal farm laborer and was emotionally distant and sometimes verbally critical. Her mother, a dedicated church member, often worked nights as a cleaner and was rarely home. Daniela has not been in contact with her siblings for several years due to unresolved family conflict.
Environment:
The suburb where Daniela resides experiences long, rainy seasons. The area is scattered with fast-food drive-thrus and convenience stores, with major supermarkets located in the city center or farther-away retail hubs.
Directions for Discussion:
Based on the Daniela Case Study, identify potential problems, issues, and needs at all system levels. Determine which function and related roles seem most relevant for the problems, issues, and needs identified. Need Assignment Help?
This discussion question is aligned to the following Social Work Competencies:
6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Please include reference and in text citation
DuBois, B., & Miley, K. K. (2019). Social work: An empowering profession (9th ed.). Pearson.