Case Study Paper

Assignment 4: Case Study Paper

In this assignment, you will have the opportunity to analyze and write about a client you are working with (or have worked with) in field. If you do not have a client situation to use, you can invent one. Please select a client from an oppressed group with regard to one or more of the following: race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, income, age, (dis)ability. Remember to disguise the client’s name and any other information that could readily identify the client.

The following questions serve as the outline for your paper which should be no more than 13 pages, not including references. APA style is required. A minimum of eight references from social work books or refereed journals is required; at least two references should focus on working with a client from the oppressed group of which your client affiliates. All references should be from outside the course readings.

While the bulk of the paper should be written in narrative form, you may use dialogue to supplement the narrative. Provide specific details, identifying skills and roles used by name.

The paper should be presented with the headings (1-6) and sub-headings (A-D) below.

1. Preparation for Work: Client and Agency Variables and Context for Work
a. What is the client’s demographic information?
b. What are the agency’s mission and your role with the client in the agency?
c. What issues do you “tune into” as you prepare to meet with your client for the first time?
2. Identify Activities in “Engaging the Client”
a. What is the problem according to the client; to you, as the worker; and to the agency?
b. What are the strengths and available resources as the client sees them; and as you, as the worker, see them?
c. Further data collection: What data do you collect; from what sources; and why?
3. Service Agreement/Contract
a. Describe the processes used for arriving at a service agreement and diagnosis.
b. Using the DSM-5 nomenclature, assign the client a diagnosis.
c. Identify at least three specific objectives developed in the service agreement.
d. How will you determine whether the goals are being met?
4. Intervention Methods
a. Name the specific social work roles you employ and how you utilize them.
b. Give names to the specific skills used in this work and make it clear how you use them.
c. Identify and describe how you handle personal biases and/or stereotypes that would cause difficulty for you in your interventions with this client.
5. Ending the Work
a. What are the specific tasks and skills, and how do you use them in ending this case?
6. Evaluating the Work
a. What method(s) do you use to evaluate the effectiveness of your practice with this client?