wk8 discussion

  

Assessment is a structured approach to gathering and analyzing information about the client system and their story. How is the assessment process different when the client system is an individual or family versus a community made up of individuals and families?

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ASSESSMENT AT THE MICRO AND MACRO LEVELS

Assessment is a structured approach to gathering and analyzing information about the client system and their story. How is the assessment process different when the client system is an individual or family versus a community made up of individuals and families?

Assessment involves gathering the needed information in order to determine appropriate intervention. Thorough assessment allows social workers to identify the problems that need to be addressed. Complex social problems often mean that both the micro and macro level factors contribute to social work cases.

In this Discussion, you compare differences in the assessment stage at different practice levels.

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. 

WEEKLY RESOURCES

BY DAY 3

Post a response to the following:

· Describe the assessment process as related to individuals and families.

· Briefly identify the types of information it is important to gather.

· Compare how assessment at the macro level is similar and dissimilar than at the micro level.

· Explain how you would gather the needed information at the macro level.

· Identify a situation where a client system (micro or macro) may be reluctant to engage in the assessment process.

Support your post with examples from the course text and any other resources used to respond to this Discussion. Demonstrate that you have completed the required readings, understand the material, and are able to apply the concepts. Include a full reference of resources at the bottom of the post.

BY DAY 6

Respond to at least two colleagues:

Recommend 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.

References

st-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). 
Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.

· Chapter 5, “Engagement and Assessment in Generalist Practice” (pp. 175–223)

· John  Wiley & Sons, Inc. (2014). 

Clinical interviewing: Intake, assessment & therapeutic alliance: With John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD and Rita Sommers-Flanagan, PhD (Playlist “active listening”) Links to an external site.

. [Video].

· Walden University. (2018, 2021). 
Child welfare [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com

RESPONSE 1

Samantha Gutshall-Lowrey

WednesdayLocal: Jan 18 at 8:04pm
Course: Jan 18 at 9:04pm

Manage Discussion Entry

· Describe the assessment process as related to individuals and families.

The assessment is the process of gathering and organizing data and information to arrive at an accurate picture of the person-in-environment situation. Kirst-Ashmon Hull (2018). The assessment process looks at the functions of interactions.

 

With the assessment of the individual, the environmental influences must be considered. All interactions must be evaluated for their functions. This means the mezzo and macro must also be regarded. An evaluation of any problems outside the client need to be considered. What role customs and cultures play in the individual/ family life must also be taken into consideration. The individual’s needs and goals must be considered in relationship to the family members and the family unit as a whole. The client’s strengths must be recognized. Highlighting the clients strengths can show growth opportunities and reveal a sense of competence. After all this has been completed, a definition of the problem should be established. This may not be a clear definition, since the assessment will be made without all information. It must be asked how much the client wants to be an active part in changing. The client must partake in the process of evaluation and treatment in order for the program to be effective. While progress is being attempted, assessment through evaluations need happen in specific time frames. It is to see if progress is made or if regression occurs.

· Briefly identify the types of information it is important to gather.

During an assessment it is important to gather information about the strengths, needs, problems or situations that are going on. This must be completed to figure out if the problem is a micro, mezzo, and macro. Thereby knowing if the individual, family or group needs treatment. For example, is the problem an interpersonal one, involving social relations, or is it organizationally related.

· Compare how assessment at the macro level is similar and dissimilar than at the micro level.

Whether an assessment is completed on the micro or macro level, both must consider planning, implementation, evaluation, termination, and follow-up. Strengths must be identified on both levels. Micro focuses on the individual. On a micro level, the evaluation is directed toward the individual as to what the needs and strengths of individual are. The micro looks at the strengths, impacts and quality of the individual connections to the environment. Macro focuses on making positive changes that affect a large number of people. When viewing the macro level the evaluation must include reviewing the impact of the change on a large scale. The strengths, impact and quality of the connections must be evaluated within the defined group as well as on the society that encompasses the defined group.

· Explain how you would gather the needed information at the macro level.

The first step is to clearly define what the community is. Is the community is defined by a determined geographical location or by is it defined by common interests or common needs. To gather information is distinctive to each situation. The approach will also be unique. For example, if a group of residents are having a problem with garbage collections. Those are the individuals who may conduct interviews with other residents having the same challenge. As a social worker, just talking to the people in the community would be a wealth of information. Information gathered would be about the culture, the community needs and the community strengths. Community leaders, mayors, council members, pastors, and organizational leaders are all aware of what is going on in the community. Therefore they are a resource of information.

Other information may be obtained from searching the internet, often through government websites, databases, and public libraries. This information may include demographic, economic, social services, civic groups, service organizations, medical services and modes of communication for the community.

Finally, gathering information from other communities may need to be done. This would show how improvements were completed. Then those improvements ideas could be implemented to help the original community in need.

· Identify a situation where a client system (micro or macro) may be reluctant to engage in the assessment process.

If a couple were to come in for marriage counseling, this may be a client system where one partner may be reluctant to engage in the assessment process. If the husband feels the marital problems are caused solely by the wife, he may be reluctant to verbalize information for the assessment. He may also be reluctant participate in any of the treatment. Yet, on the other hand, he may be willing to verbalize his information for an assessment on his wife. Not necessarily on himself or the marriage.

References:

Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). 
Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.

Kennedy, V. (2010). Ecomaps. 
MAI Review, 3, 1–12.

Iversen, R. R., Gergen, K. J., & Fairbanks II, R. P. (2005). Assessment and social construction: conflict or co-creation? 
The British Journal of Social Work, 35(5), 689–708.

Bennett, J., & Grant, N. S. (2016). Using an Ecomap as a Tool for Qualitative Data Collection in Organizations. 
New Horizons in Adult Education & Human Resource Development, 28(2), 1–13.

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RESPONSE 2

Alexis Sauls

WednesdayLocal: Jan 18 at 9:06pm
Course: Jan 18 at 10:06pm

Manage Discussion Entry

Describe the assessment process as related to individuals and families

Assessment is the process of gathering and organizing data and information in order to arrive at an accurate picture of the person-in-environment situation (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). Through the assessment process, a worker needs to pinpoint the problem or problems, the factors that add to the problem/problems and how to address the problem in hopes of minimizing it or eliminating it altogether. Assessment in general practice should always include four considerations: micro, mezzo, and macro dimensions of a client situation, in addition to aspects of human diversity. Effective assessment looks at micro, mezzo, and macro aspects of the client situation and fully engages the client in the process. (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018).

Briefly identify the types of information it is important to gather

According to Kirst- Ashman & Hull, 2018, information that is critical to gather during the assessment phase includes the client’s strengths, who the client is and what their needs are, what the client system looks like, the interactions within the client system, and any other missing information that is important to better understand the situation. Specific examples of information a worker would gather during an assessment include mental health diagnosis, behavioral disorders, family dynamics, family history, former treatments for identified problem/problems and areas of concern for client and client strengths.

Compare how assessment at the macro level is similar and dissimilar than at the micro level & explain how you would gather the needed information at the macro level

Assessment at the macro and micro level are similar in that they both serve similar purposes. Both levels of assessments aim to identify problems in various categories and reduce them or eliminate them; those categories include but are not limited to mental health, emotional health, social network and family history. However, the two vary in who they affect and the impact each level has. The micro level involves interacting with clients directly and focuses on individuals and families (examples include: case management, substance abuse counseling, family therapy). Macro practice focuses on making positive changes that affect large numbers of people (Kirst-Ashman & Hull. 2018). At the macro level, research, interviews, libraries, courthouse, and policies can all be utilized to gather information. Utilizing these resources can help workers in several ways with their identified problem; this could help clarify things how serious the problem is, the history of problem, former methods used to address the problem and which of those were successful and unsuccessful.

A specific scenario where both can be applied – A juvenile is referred to you due to being involved in a firearm incident. On a micro level, you provide case management to the individual and create a case plan with them; the case plan addresses the identified problem, triggers, contributing factors, client history, goals, interventions, etc. On a macro level, the worker can sit in on meetings in town regarding the crime in their community, do research regarding firearm violence both in their community and worldwide, and research different methods being used to address this issue.

Identify a situation where a client system (micro or macro) may be reluctant to engage in the assessment process.

I chose a micro situation where a client may be reluctant

A client may be reluctant to engage in the assessment process if they had a previous negative relationship with a worker. Due to that experience, that client may have a negative outlook on everyone that practices social work. For example: A teenage client is court ordered to engage in several services (substance abuse, mental health therapy and case management) however, this same client remembers that when he was younger, he was removed from his home along with his siblings and they were split between several foster homes. Because of this experience, this client may answer yes or no questions to help the worker identify the problem but will not further explain past that.

 

                                                                                                              References

Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). 
Empowerment series: 
Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.

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