Family-Level Intervention
Family-Level Intervention
Family-Level Intervention:
9
I need a sample of this assignment
Assignment: Apply Theory in Family-Level Intervention
Name
Professional Practice with Individuals and Families
For Professor of MSW-5002 v5
September , 2022
Week 5 – Assignment: Apply Theory in Family-Level Intervention
| Turnitin™ | |
| Instructions |
As should be well engrained by now, social work practice occurs at the micro-, mezzo-, and macro-levels. Practice with families is considered micro-level, but systems theory also tells us that what happens at one level influences what happens in the other levels. An understanding of the factors that impact on families at all levels is critical for you to develop a comprehensive assessment of the problems that families face. For you to integrate all possible perspectives and explanations of a family’s issues, you must explore a variety of perspectives
For this assignment, select a family issue such as alcohol abuse, working with a disabled member of the family, a marital affair, a child with severe emotional or behavioral problems at school, sexual orientation, or another issue you are interested in researching further.
Develop an educational pamphlet specifically for families who are facing this issue. The purpose of this pamphlet is education families about the issue they are struggling with and to begin engaging the family in the idea of social work treatment by normalizing their struggle. (Hint: while most of what we read about engagement focuses on in-person interactions with clients, there are things to be learned from this week’s readings about how to present information in a way that can jumpstart the process of engagement). This pamphlet should include:
A description of the issue, as it pertains to the family- not as an individual issue.
A discussion about how things that happen at the micro, mezzo, and macro (or individual, group, organization, and community- if that’s easier to conceptualize) levels influence the family’s experience with this issue.
A brief description of how a family’s experience of this issue might be assessed if they presented for social work intervention,
Brief descriptions of at least TWO different theoretically informed, evidence-based family interventions used in social work treatment for this particular issue.
Support your assignment with at least three scholarly resources. In addition to these specified resources, other approp Length: 2 to 3-page pamphlet, not including title and reference pages riate scholarly resources, including seminal articles, may be included
Your assignment should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the Course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards.
Interventions with Families
This week, you will explore social workers’ attitudes and philosophies about the role of professionals in dealing with families and the initial assessment. Attitudes about families can be thought of as a continuum per the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health (2017):
Attitudes about families can be thought of as a continuum
per the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health (2017):
Professionally Centered
On one end of the continuum is a professional stance that considers the professional to be the expert and views the family as a hostile, resistive force in the way of achieving professional goals. This is the least friendly to families, the least family-centered. The professional-parent relationship is viewed as adversarial, with the parent as the problem. At best, this attitude results in the view of parent as student, or patient, someone who can be taught or treated.
Family Allied
This professional philosophy is a step in the right direction, but it still views the professional as expert. The improvement is that this philosophy views families as helpers and allies to the professional, rather than as hostile obstacles. Still, the professional knows best, and the relationship to the parent is one of getting the parent to become a partner in helping the professional. The parent remains “one down” however, because the professional decides the rules and roles, and the parent is agent of the professional.
Family Focused
The next step on the continuum is the family-focused attitude, which views families as consumers of services, so the professional strives to attune the services to the needs and desires of the parent as consumer. The parent is seen as an equal colleague, one who has expertise, knowledge, and choice. The two work together as a team to address mutually agreed upon goals.
Family Centered
The final step on the continuum is one that is seldom reached. In fact, if the third level of Family Focused was consistently reached, most parents would report a dramatic improvement and probably be quite satisfied. Some parents and professionals, however, believe that the best and most appropriate philosophy is one in which professionals put themselves “one-down” to the parent in the relationship. In this view, parents know what is best for themselves and their children, and professionals exist to help parents, to be the agents of parents in achieving parent goals. In this view, the parent is seen as the employer and the professional as an employee. The professional asks, “How can I help you; how can I be of service to you
ttitudes about families can be thought of as a continuum
per the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health (2017):
Professionally Centered
Family Allied
Family Focused
Family Centered
Reference:
National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. (2017).
Ultimately, a family-centered attitude is the theoretical ideal. Exploring how you can become family-centered from the very beginning of your contact with the family is important. Beginnings with families start with your initial contact. You must decipher their expectations, anxieties, motivation, and why they are contacting you at this time. Initial information is critical in forming an effective working relationship.
Last week, we looked at a developmental approach to understanding and assessing families. We now focus on some skills for engaging and assessing a client family and moving into intervention. The next step would be to form an initial hypothesis. You are not looking for answers yet but finding questions. Decide what questions will provide more information that might prove helpful. Be careful not to jump to easy conclusions.
The following information contains guidelines to assist you:
Initial Interview
You must join with everyone. This is not a recipe for success, but rather an art form. Introduce and personally connect with everyone you meet. Remember to be culturally sensitive and respectful. Discover each person’s motivation, expectations, and personal goals.
Initial Assessment
· Rule out potential causes of harm
· Rule out possible substance abuse
· Rule out biological problems
· General family assessment is then completed
General Family Assessment – focus on relevancy
· Affect
· Behavior
· Cognition
· Meaning – narrative
· Spirituality
· Couple and family system
· Family Structure – alliances, sibling position, boundaries
· Life cycle issues
· Relationship with other systems they are involved with
Be sure to review this week’s resources carefully. You are expected to apply the information from these resources when you prepare your assignments.
