Levels of Social Work Assessment and Intervention

Vocabulary flashcards covering social work assessment levels, systems theory concepts, ecological theory, and theoretical perspectives.

Micro Level Assessment

An assessment level incorporating facets of the individual such as biological, psychological, developmental, spiritual, emotional, cognitive, recreational, and financial aspects, as well as age, gender, income, and ethnic background.

Mezzo Level Assessment

An assessment level consisting of elements in a person's immediate environment, such as family, friends, co-workers, neighborhoods, work environment, church activities, local resources and services, and transportation.

Macro Level Assessment

An assessment level including larger social forces that might affect an individual, such as government policy, discrimination, oppression, social policy, economic conditions, societal values, and historical events.

Biopsychosocial Approach

A framework that conceptualizes human behavior by breaking it down into biological, psychological, and social functioning components assessed in relation to a client's presenting problem.

Biological Level Functioning

Aspects of client functioning including diet, past and present health, exercise patterns, sexual functioning, medication and substance use, and family health and genetic history.

Psychological Level Functioning

Aspects of client functioning including self-esteem, coping skills, past and present mental health, personality characteristics, family history of mental illness, spiritual development, and cognitive and emotional development.

Social Level Functioning

Aspects of client functioning including work stability, engagement with social activities and recreation, and relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.

General Systems Theory

A universal theory introduced by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy (1969) that describes how to break a whole apart, examine interrelationships, and understand how the parts work together.

Systems Theory

A theory viewing human behavior as the result of active interactions between people and their social systems, which are composed of interdependent parts forming an organized whole.

Open System

A system engaged in interchanges with its environment, allowing it to continue to grow and change.

Closed System

A system that does not interact with other systems nor produce outputs to them.

Boundaries

In Systems Theory, patterns of behavior that define relationships within systems and give systems their identity.

Differentiation

A system's movement from a simple existence toward a more complex form of functioning, while still maintaining its unique characteristics.

Entropy

A system's movement toward disorganization and death, whereas negative entropy is movement toward growth and development.

Equifinality

The tendency for the same end state or outcome in a system to be achieved through many different paths or trajectories.

Homeostasis

The tendency that systems have to work toward and maintain stability and equilibrium.

Multifinality

The possibility that similar circumstances or conditions in a system will lead to different results or outcomes.

Synergy

The energy that systems create to maintain themselves.

Change Agent System

In Pincus & Manahan's framework, the agency or organization that employs the social worker who will plan and work with the systems toward change.

Client System

In Pincus & Manahan's framework, those who have asked for the social worker's services and are expected to benefit from these services.

Target System

In Pincus & Manahan's framework, the person, group, or organization that the social worker needs to influence or change in order to achieve the client's goals.

Action System

In Pincus & Manahan's framework, those with whom the social worker interacts in a cooperative way in order to bring about change helpful to the client.

Ecological Theory

A theory developed by psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner (1979) that explains human development by describing aspects of the individual, the environment, and the interaction between the two.

Microsystem

In Ecological Theory, all the roles and relationships a person has in their immediate environment, containing physical places such as home, school, work, and the neighborhood.

Exosystem

In Ecological Theory, social settings in which events happen that affect a person directly or indirectly, even if that person is not an active participant.

Chronosystem

In Ecological Theory, the transitions and shifts throughout one's lifespan and socio-historical contexts that influence a person.

Strengths Perspective

A perspective developed by Dennis Saleebey asserting that all human beings have the capacity for growth, change, adaptation, resilience, and resourcefulness.

Structural/Functional Perspectives

A perspective envisioned by Emile Durkheim asserting that society functions like an organism, where each social institution plays a necessary role to maintain overall stability.

Manifest Functions

In Robert K. Merton's framework, social structure functions whose purposes are readily discernible.

Gender and Development (GAD) Perspective

A participatory and empowering development perspective seeking gender equality, transforming social structures, and recognizing women as active agents of development.