Competency 7
ASSESS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES
ASSESS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES
Social workers understand that assessment is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in the assessment of diverse clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand methods of assessment with diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers recognize the implications of the larger practice context in the assessment process and value the importance of interprofessional collaboration in this process. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may affect their assessment and decision-making.
For my first artifact, I selected a copy of an adult Digital Literacy Skills Survey. This is an assessment used by the Digital Language Literacy Department at my field placement, and it is administered to refugee clients to assess their understanding and fluency of the English language, and used as a tool to gauge their needs regarding learning the English language going forward. At my internship I have both shadowed and independently conducted these DLL assessments through client home visits, which has allowed me to gain a better understanding of clients' social systems as well as critically evaluate their skills and needs as Competency 7 states. My second artifact is a Cultural Orientation Assessment form that is another means by which I have practiced Competency 7 through means of assessment. I have used this Cultural Orientation Assessment as a tool to evaluate clients' adjustment to life in the U.S. and decipher whether or not they feel as though they are comfortable navigating through various societal systems or if they require further education and assistance.
This artifact is an assessment we use frequently at my field placement, Samaritas, when working with refugees. This tool is used to assess clients' skills within the English language by presenting various scenarios related to technology use, as well as other assessments such as providing a blank envelope and seeing how well a client is able to fill it out and so on. When I conduct these DLL assessments, I will arrange a home visit with a client, as it is more convenient and comfortable for them, and allows me to observe how clients interact within their own social environment. Next, I would typically use Certified Languages International, an over the phone translation service, to communicate with the client as clients who take these assessments are typically new arrivals to the U.S., and often speak little to no English. I explain what the assessment is, inform them that if they do not know the answer they can mark 0 on the scale, or leave an answer blank, and that if they cannot read the questions in English, I can read it to them through the translator. Then, there is an assessment given in their native language, but often times the clients may not be literate in which case we waive this step. Then, I work with the client to complete the assessment, some requiring more assistance than others based on their levels of English language abilities. At the end of the assessment, the client is typically enrolled in English classes, and often we administer a computer in order for the client to either attend classes online, or use it to further their education. In this instance I will also instruct a client on how to use the computer if they are unfamiliar. During the first semester of my internship, I made DLL home visits frequently and enjoyed working one on one with clients to evaluate their skills and therefore be able to help meet their needs within their learning and understanding of the English language. I further developed within Competency 7 by revisiting clients who had already taken a DLL assessment previously but now were enrolled in English classes, and I would administer the assessment again to gauge if any progress has been made, or if they require any other resources and assistance in order for their needs to be met.
This artifact is an example of one of the various cultural orientation forms that we administer to clients within their first 30 days of arrival. In my casework, I will go through basic cultural orientation with a client, where we go over topics such as transportation, using technology and appliances, when it is appropriate to call 911 or when the doctor should be called, and so on. This is typically done with the help of an in person translator rather than over the phone in order to ensure that the client and caseworker are understanding each other thoroughly. This is a means of assessment that I have had experience with at my field placement, as we assess the client's knowledge of the cultural orientation topics when they first get here, within their first 30 days, and then again when they are at their 180 day arrival check in. It is interesting to see the changes in their responses as they are getting used to living within the American culture and society, and it has allowed me to observe the effectiveness of cultural orientation.
Assessment is a component of social work that I actually find very interesting and engaging. I think it is valuable to be able to critically assess outcomes and progress with clients, and to be able to measure if they are improving and having successes, or if they are struggling or regressing and a new approach is required. With the experiences i have had at my field placement with assessment so far, I have learned that it is a way to become engaged with your clients, to get to know their personalities, and to gauge a better understanding of their goals.