Section 5 – Generalist Practice: Engagement, Assessment, Intervention, Evaluation
Section 5: Generalist Practice: For this section of your paper use the scenario or case summary you created to address each of the following sections of the change process. This portion of the seminar paper will be submitted in two sections (section 1 engagement and assessment) (section 2 intervention and evaluation) as outlined in the course schedule; both sections are worth 20 points – totaling 40 points for this section.
Engagement – Describe the context of the situation and the ways in which the context influences the nature and process of engagement with the systems identified in the situation. Discuss the preparation (knowledge, values, and skills) necessary for the social work professional to engage with the systems involved in the situation (2-3 pages).
Assessment – In this section address what is the concern/issues identified as the focus of the interaction between the client system and social worker? How does the client system perceive the situation/concerns? What does the situation mean to those involved with the situation? Identify concerns/issue in order of priority from highest to lowest from the perspective of the client system and from the perspective of others significant in the client system experience. Consider the following: How did the situation come to be as it is? How long has it been occurring? What has been done up to the point of the interaction between the client system and social worker to manage the concerns/issues? What is the intensity of the concern/issue? What stressors are emerging as a result of the concern/issue or are contributing to the concern/issue? What intrapersonal, interpersonal, and/or contextual factors and forces are impacting the situation? Identify the client system’s strengths and contextual resources available to the planned change process (2-3 pages). Identify and discuss the human behavior and social theories which best contribute to an understanding of the impact of the issue on individuals, families, groups, and communities and the adaptive and maladaptive patterns of behavior one would expect from individuals, families, groups, and communities experiencing the issue. Discuss the relevance of the theories to understanding populations who are different by virtue of ethnicity, culture, gender, gender identity, mental and physical condition, religion, age, socioeconomic condition, lifestyle, sexual orientation, and locality. Discuss your understanding of the importance of difference in shaping the life experience of the people involved in the situation (3-4 pages).
Intervention – Discuss the micro through macro level prevention and intervention strategies, practice approaches, and professional roles to address the issue. On what evidence are the assessment conclusions, professional judgments, and intervention strategies based? Evaluate the evidence for practice effectiveness in rural areas with diverse populations. Discuss the ways in which the practice interventions identified for this situation advocate for policies/policy changes to advance human rights and social and economic justice for the persons involved in the situation (3-4 pages). Identify the ethical dimensions, standards, and potential ethical dilemmas social workers might face in intervention with the systems involved in the situation. Discuss a strategy of ethical reasoning and decision making for managing the ethical dilemma(s) identified (3-4 pages).
Evaluation – Discuss how the people involved in the change process know when the desired change has occurred. On what evidence are decisions about the effectiveness of the prevention and intervention strategies based? Identify the indicators that change has occurred and how the indicators will be measured. What questions emerge from this situation that could be the foundation of future research? (2-3 pages)
