Assignment: Using a Genogram in Social Work Practice
As you likely know from your own life, human relationships are complex. As such, social workers may find it difficult to keep these important interactions in mind when addressing an individual client's needs. Several tools have been developed to assist in understanding and assessing relationships in the context of social work. One is an ecomap, which shows connections between the client or family and the social environment. Another is a genogram, which records the members of a family and their relationships, in much the same way as a family tree. Because it shows multiple generations, a genogram is useful in identifying, among other things, intergenerational trauma. Once a social worker creates a genogram for a client, they may refer to it when analyzing the client's unique situation.
For this Assignment, you develop a genogram of your own family or a family with which you are familiar. You then reflect on that experience and apply your learning to social work practice.
To Prepare:
• Review the Learning Resources on genograms and how to create them.
• Access the Social Work Case Studies media. Navigate to the Hernandez family, and explore the example genogram.
• Using a free genogram software or freehand, develop a genogram of your own family or a family with which you are familiar.
Submit 3 or 4 page paper that includes the following:
• A completed genogram of your own family or a family with which you are familiar (as a pasted screenshot, PDF, or image)
• A reflection on what you learned by completing the genogram
• An explanation of how a genogram would be useful in social work practice
• An example from the genogram you created or the Hernandez Family genogram to illustrate the application of this tool in social work
Use the Learning Resources to support your Assignment. Make sure to provide APA citations and a reference list.
Required Readings
Zastrow, C. H., Kirst-Ashman, K. K., &Hessenauer, S. L. (2019). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (11th ed.).
Cengage Learning.
• "Sociological Aspects of Young and Middle Adulthood" (pp. 536-603)
Auerbach, M. P. (2021). Cultural theories of poverty. In Salem Press encyclopedia. Salem Press.
Auerbach, M. P. (2021). Social theories of poverty. In Salem Press encyclopedia. Salem Press.
Miller, B., & Bowen, E. (2020). "I know where the rest of my life is going": Attitudinal and behavioral dimensions of resilience for homeless emerging adults. Journal of Social Service Research, 46(4), 553-570.
Pope, N. D., & Lee, J. (2015). A picture is worth a thousand words. The New Social Worker.
Genogram Software
Wondershare EdrawMax. (n.d.). Online genogram maker.
GenoPro. (n.d.). GenoPro 2020.
Required Media
Walden University, LLC. (2021). Social work case studies [Interactive media]. Walden University Blackboard. https://class.waldenu.edu
• Navigate to the Hernandez Family.