Assessment is the tool used in the Social Work profession to interpret data gathered from individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. It is in this stage that we call upon the knowledge gained from other academic disciplines, apply knowledge of how humans behave within their social environment, and make use of the theoretical frameworks at our disposal. After doing so, we as Social Workers develop mutually agreed-on goals with our clients in order to create the best outcome.
Practice Behaviors
- Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies.
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies.
- Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies.
- Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research, knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.
Evidence
Academic Experience
In my Junior year of the Social Work program, I was assigned to a group to conduct an organizational assessment of a Social Work agency. For this project, we were tasked with looking at the organization structured their power, how they related to the community, and its strengths and weaknesses. The company in which we conducted our review was called La Paz, meaning The Peace.
Field Experience
It took some time for Dylan and I to determine what platform we needed to use in order to digitize our intake form. Our first attempt was made using the Google Sites free platform, a beginner-friendly program which allowed us to create a functional site for Feed My Sheep. We assessed the needs of our student base: would they be interested in using electronic forms to reach out to us? Would it be more beneficial to have the intake forms done in person? After a visit to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, we came to the conclusion that having the forms online were the best option.