In seeking to help others, social workers understand that assessment is continually an important part of the process. By integrating principles from human behavior and the social environment, social workers are able to more effectively evaluate the individuals, groups, and communities with which they work. Social workers also possess different techniques for assessing diverse clients. With the best interest of clients in mind, social workers utilize interdisciplinary teams and/or inter-professional collaboration throughout the assessment process. Throughout the process, social workers practice self-awareness in regulating reactions and biases that might impact assessments in order to keep work ethical and excellent.
7A – Formulate comprehensive assessments, using a variety of diagnostic classification systems.
I learned about formulating comprehensive assessments while taking Mental Health Practice in Social Work Foundation. During this class, multiple reading assignments covered integral parts of assessments for a variety of contexts. One of the reading sections covered the use of eco maps, and I had to demonstrate my understanding of this by creating an eco map. The Person-in-Environment Framework is used when completing assessments as a social worker. This consists of gathering information regarding the person and their background and living conditions in order to attain a most complete picture of clients and their needs.
While completing my practicum at Parkridge Valley Child & Adolescent, I noticed that assessments were an important aspect of providing services to the patients there. Upon intake, social workers complete a psychosocial assessment for each patient. The patients also complete other assessments regularly, such as assessments designed to measure depression and anxiety. In order to complete an evaluation for each patient, the social workers must make a diagnostic impression. I utilized the DSM to practice making diagnostic impressions. My field instructor discussed different strategies used to accomplish this. In order to make a diagnostic impression, I had to have knowledge of the disorders in the DSM-5 and how presenting criteria appear. I also had to have comprehensive knowledge of the patients.
7B – Design and implement organizational and/or community assessments.
During Advanced Program Development, I helped my group design a program to serve LatinX and Hispanic high-school students in Dalton, Georgia, who have been impacted by second-hand trauma. The program consisted of psychoeducational groups. For this project, my group and I designed a needs assessment (p. 49) for the students in order to better determine the direction for the psychoeducational groups. In designing programs, needs assessments are critical because they paint a more accurate picture of where resources should be aimed to make the most impact. On an affective level, I demonstrated responding. I have never created this type of assessment, but my group and I utilized what was learned in order to put one together for this project. On a cognitive level, I demonstrated applying in that I took information that I have learned and used it to demonstrate my understanding through creating an assessment. In completing this project, the values of integrity and competence were demonstrated. Creating an assessment enabled more relevant groups to be created. By having this preparation, social workers can act with more integrity and competence.
As an intern at Parkridge Valley Child & Adolescent, I designed an assessment to measure wellbeing among the Social Service Representatives. I then distributed the assessment to the Social Service Representatives at Parkridge Valley Child & Adolescent. After collecting the assessments, I scored them and averaged the different areas in order to show the overall results. The results could then be better used to determine what areas needed more improvement. In order to create an organizational assessment, I had to utilize skills of critical thinking, reviewing research, and working together with others.