Problem:
Respond to your colleague by Recommending specific skills your colleague may use to engage individuals or communities who may be reluctant to accept social work services or participate in the assessment process. Use learning resources or reference to support response apa format
Understanding Assessment in Social Work
What is an assessment in social work?
An assessment is the second step in the planned change process and plays a critical role in effective social work. It requires the use of critical thinking skills and should always align with best practices in the field (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull (2018). Social workers employ valid assessment methods and tools to collect comprehensive information, which is then carefully evaluated regarding the client, family, or community. Through assessments, social workers can gain a thorough understanding of needs and strengths. This understanding is essential for providing the most appropriate interventions.
Importantly, assessments are not one-time activities-they are ongoing processes. Over time, clients' problems, strengths, and issues may evolve, and social workers need to be able to recognize these changes promptly. This enables them to update care plans and interventions accordingly (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull (2018). Additionally, assessments vary depending on whether they focus on individuals, families, or communities, reflecting the micro, mezzo, or macro levels of practice.
Assessments for Individuals
Assessing individuals requires active engagement with the client. Social workers must examine the micro, mezzo, and macro aspects of a client's situation, as well as consider human diversity (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull (2018). Within each dimension, it is important to gather information about the client's problems, needs, and strengths. In the decision-making process, social workers need to identify and prioritize aspects of the situation that are most significant for intervention. When preparing for assessments with clients, social workers should plan to achieve several key goals.
Assessments for Families
When conducting family assessments, social workers still identify needs, strengths, and problems. However, rather than focusing on a single individual, each family member must be considered, as everyone has a role within the family system. Family members also share various responsibilities that contribute to the overall functioning of the family. It is crucial to remember that changes affecting one member can have repercussions for the entire family (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull (2018). Key concepts to examine in family assessments include communication patterns, family structure, adaptability, impacts of the social environment, sources of conflict, and family relationships. Working with families combines micro and mezzo levels of practice.
Important information to gather, whether working with individuals or families, includes mental health diagnoses, past or current traumatic experiences, cultural and religious beliefs, levels of resiliency, support systems, available resources, coping skills, and environmental factors.
Comparison of Micro and Macro level assessments
Micro-level practice focuses on individuals or small groups, whereas macro-level practice seeks to bring about changes that impact a larger population or an entire community. Assessments at both levels aim to identify needs and strengths. For communities, strengths might include the potential for resources that are not yet in place. Factors examined during community assessments include demographic data, economic conditions, communication systems, social service organizations, civic groups, and health and medical services (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull (2018). While some of these factors are also considered at the individual level, the perspective differs. For instance, when evaluating economic factors, a micro-level assessment might look at a person's employment, income, expenses, and available assistance, such as food stamps. In contrast, a macro-level assessment would examine broader trends like major sources of employment, average wages, housing costs, the quantity and quality of housing, and rates of homeownership within the community.
Macro level assessments
At the macro level, assessments focus on identifying the needs of a community and prioritizing them. Community needs might relate to policies or organizations that provide social services. Sometimes, community needs reflect the absence of essential resources, such as public transportation, or highlight issues that need attention, like high substance use rates.
Prior to beginning an assessment, social workers must clearly define the information required and determine whether the data gathered will be sufficient to guide effective decisions or changes. One approach to acquiring this information is the participatory research model, which involves interviewing at-risk residents about problems with existing community services (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull (2018).
Reluctance to engage in the assessment process
Resistance to change is present at both the micro and macro levels of practice. Clients may resist assessments because they are not yet motivated to undertake the changes required. Resistance can also serve as a means for clients to maintain control over their behavior, or it may stem from their belief that they do not have a problem.
At the macro level, reluctance may arise from the community's perspective on the issue. If policymakers and legislators do not perceive the problem as a priority, they may not be inclined to address it. Additionally, the financial costs associated with addressing the problem can contribute to community reluctance to embrace change (Kirst-Ashman, & Hull (2018). Need Assignment Help?
References:
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H. Jr., (2018). Empowerment Series: Understanding Generalist Practice, 8th Edition. Cengage Learning (pp. 1-53). [VitalSource Bookshelf version].
References:
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.