Assess with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Advanced practicing social workers must be capable of assessing individuals, families, groups, organizations, and/or communities to provide necessary services. The social worker must be able to utilize all sorts of assessment tools that are evidence-based to help understand the client. The assessments should not be limited to needs, so the advanced practicing social workers should also consider strengths, opportunities, and threats in their assessments. A social worker must also be able to design and implement organizational and/or community assessments if there aren’t any designed for a specific population.
Practice Behavior:
7.1 – Formulate comprehensive assessments, using a variety of diagnostic classification systems
Course Evidence: For my final project in SOCW-633, Psychopathology, Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis II, I was tasked with conducting a comprehensive clinical assessment of a pseudo client. I used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). I analyzed the client’s identifying factors, symptoms, and presenting problems to give an accurate diagnosis. Along with my diagnosing of the client, I assessed factors such as predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors, using the client’s family history, social history, traumatic experiences, and current environment.
Field Evidence: A newly arrived incarcerated individual was assigned to my caseload. I read through his file and made notes in my First Session Note to be prepared for the session. I also gathered the Patient Safety Screener – 3 (PSS-3) and the Comprehensive Suicide Risk Assessment (CSRA) if needed. I conducted the PSS-3M on my client and I did not need to do the CSRA due to the results of the PSS-3.
7.2 – Design and implement organizational and/or community assessments.
Course Evidence: Within the Needs Assessment and Program Proposal Plan for SOCW-612, Advanced Administrative Practice: Program Development, I completed a SWOT Analysis – an assessment on the strength, weakness, opportunity, and threats. The SWOT analysis help with the Peer-To-Peer Support Program by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the Peer-To-Peer Support Program, as well as listing external opportunities and threats that can impact its effectiveness. The SWOT analysis is a comprehensive assessment that helped the program develop a full awareness of all the factors involved in making a business decision. The SWOT Analysis resulted in development of the SWOT Matrix, which also contributed to the development of our program.
Field Evidence: Within the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, I noticed that the The Humane Alternative to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act (HALT act) is a topic that causes frustration and anger within the DOCCS staff and the mental health providers. In March I began to look into and assess how this policy is affecting the structure and safety within the DOCCS facilities. I briefly documented my long assessment process in Week 2 of my March Monthly Journal and Week 3 of my April Monthly Journal. A correctional officer provided me with data showing an increase in assaults since the HALT Act has taken into effect. The negative effects of the HALT Act had motivated a group of GOP legislators to come and hold a rally in front of Auburn Correctional Facility – though their focus was more on election than repealing the HALT Act. You can find that story here in this link. In Week 3 of my September Monthly Journal, I document observing a colleague doing rounds in the Special Housing Unit (SHU), otherwise referred to as “the box.” I had taken note that the SHU was filled to capacity since the rounds continued to an overflow unit. In my assessment, I witnessed an incarcerated individual (II) from the Intermediate Care Program (ICP) get into fights or receive multiple tickets for severe misbehaviors, but still return back to their unit. The HALT Act prevents IIs with a mental illness diagnosis from being placed in the SHU. If two II’s from ICP get in a fight, they are both sent to Diversion, where they are allowed to roam freely – which does not stop the fight. Depending on the circumstances, some IIs had to be housed in the Residential Crisis Treatment Program (RTCP) to prevent more fights. Here is an email informing about one individual being involved in two fights within a short period. I had observed this individual still remain in the ICP unit. Here are some quotes from Correctional Officers at my practicum concerning the HALT Act: “A good box you, is a good prison. Without it, you lose it,” “No fear for action, no deterrent,” “There’s been more drug use in my entire career,” “[HALT]makes it dangerous,” “There are weapons in fights now.” “There’s more risks to us,” “It’s a [explicit] show,” and “I’ve been doing this for 24 years here, I have never seen it this dangerous.” Here are some quotes from the incarcerated individuals in General Population about the HALT Act: “It’s better than population,” “This [explicit] is lit,” “You get everything up there [referring to more privileges.” In conclusion to my assessment of the impact the HALT Act has had in DOCCS, the act takes away the consequences of violent actions, and often puts blame on the mental illness instead of the individual. The HALT Act was created due to the persistence of advocacy groups with no knowledge of a prison’s internal structure and functioning. The HALT Act has made it more dangerous for DOCCS.
