Human Development, Diversity, and Behavior in the Environment

Question 1

Task Groups

Answer 1

These groups in which the primary purpose is to accomplish some explicit goals that may or may not meet the individual emotional needs of members. The focus of group discussion is on the tasks at hand, with a formal agenda and rules for conducting the meeting

Question 2

Natural helping networks

Answer 2

Informal linkages and relationships between people who voluntarily provide important services and support to people in need and those to whom they provide the services. Ex. Members of a person’s church or needy person’s family or neighbors.

Question 3

Primary Group

Answer 3

People who are in intimate and frequent face-to-face contact with one another, have norms in common, and share mutually enduring and extensive influences

Question 4

Reference group

Answer 4

A social status, culture, subculture, or association of any type in which behaviors, values, and lifestyles are emulated by an individual. The person may or may not be a member of the group with which he or she is identifying

Question 5

Reframing

Answer 5

A technique used help people understand a symptom or pattern of behavior by seeing it in a different context. For ex: a family might see a child diagnosed as depressed as being disrespectful and detached from them. Reframing changes the understanding for the problem from an individual’s illness to a family problem

Question 6

Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 6

An organic mental disorder occurring most often in older people. The condition is also known as “SDAT” (senile dementia, Alzheimer’s type). Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, mood swings, impaired cognition to learn, disorientation, and dementia. It is thought to be the result of diffuse brain atrophy, especially in the frontal lobes.

Question 7

Advocacy

Answer 7

The act of directly representing or defending others. Also championing the rights of individuals or communities through direct intervention or through empowerment. It is a basic obligation of the progression of social work and it’s members.

Question 8

Affirmative action groups

Answer 8

Segments of the society identified by federal, state. And local jurisdictions as meriting protection from employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, disability, religion, gender, or nation origin. Employment discrimination refers to people who are currently discriminated against. For ex: are not hired, promoted, or retained as often as members of other groups of whose group is underrepresented because of past discrimination

Question 9

Piagetian Theory

Answer 9

A theory of cognitive development that explains the processes by which humans come to perceive, organize knowledge, solve problems, and understand the world. According to this theory human cognitive development is the product of a consistent, reliable pattern of plan of interaction with the environment, know as a Scheme. The scheme’s are sensorimotor( occurring in infancy and early childhood, which reflexes and motor responses are prevalent) and cognitive (based on experience and on mental images, reflecting the person’s ability to develop the use of abstract reasoning and symbolism)

It has Four stages:

1. Sensorimotor. stage
2. preoperational stage
3. Concerted operations stage
4. Formal operations stage

Question 10

Scheme

Answer 10

Piagetian Theory in which describes the mental structure that allows information to be understood and processed if it fits the individual’s. Cognitive processes.

Question 11

Sensorimotor Stage

Answer 11

1 stage of Piaget theory: Birth to 18 months:

acterized by the formation of increasing complex sensory refinements and motor skills that permit the child to understand and control his or her environment better

Question 12

Preoperational Stage

Answer 12

2nd stage of Piaget theory: 2 to 7 years old:

The Child begins to use symbols and some rezoning ability but still cannot group objects and must deal with each item individually

Question 13

Concerted Operations Stage

Answer 13

3rd Stage of Piaget theory: 7 to 11 years old

In which the individual learns to apply logic to observable and manipulated physical relationship

Question 14

Formal Operations Stage

Answer 14

4th stage of Piaget Theory: Adolesecence

Characterized by greater flexibility in thought increasing ability to use logic and deductive rezoning. The ability to consider complex issues for several view points, and a reduction of egocentrism.

Question 15

Commitment to client

Answer 15

Social workers’ primary responsibility is to promote the well­being of clients. In general, clients’ interests are primary. However, social workers’ responsibility to the larger society or specific legal obligations may on limited occasions supersede the loyalty owed clients, and clients should be so advised. (Examples include when a social worker is required by law to report that a client has abused a child or has threatened to harm self or others.)

Question 16

Self- Determination

Answer 16

Social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self­determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals. Social workers may limit clients’ right to self­determination when, in the social workers’ professional judgment, clients’ actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others.

Question 17

Informed Consent

Answer 17

(a) Social workers should provide services to clients only in the context of a professional relationship based, when appropriate, on valid informed consent. Social workers should use clear and understandable language to inform clients of the purpose of the services, risks related to the services, limits to services because of the requirements of a third­party payer, relevant costs, reasonable alternatives, clients’ right to refuse or withdraw consent, and the time frame covered by the consent. Social workers should provide clients with an opportunity to ask questions.
(b) In instances when clients are not literate or have difficulty understanding the primary language used in the practice setting, social workers should take steps to ensure clients’ comprehension. This may include providing clients with a detailed verbal explanation or arranging for a qualified interpreter or translator whenever possible.
(c) In instances when clients lack the capacity to provide informed consent, social workers should protect clients’ interests by seeking permission from an appropriate third party, informing clients consistent with the clients’ level of understanding. In such instances social workers should seek to ensure that the third party acts in a manner consistent with clients’ wishes and interests. Social workers should take reasonable steps to enhance such clients’ ability to give informed consent.
(d) In instances when clients are receiving services involuntarily, social workers should provide information about the nature and extent of services and about the extent of clients’ right to refuse service.
(e) Social workers who provide services via electronic media (such as computer, telephone, radio, and television) should inform recipients of the limitations and risks associated with such services.
(f) Social workers should obtain clients’ informed consent before audiotaping or videotaping clients or permitting observation of services to clients by a third party.

Question 18

Competence

Answer 18

(a) Social workers should provide services and represent themselves as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, license, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.
(b) Social workers should provide services in substantive areas or use intervention techniques or approaches that are new to them only after engaging in appropriate study, training, consultation, and supervision from people who are competent in those interventions or techniques.
(c) When generally recognized standards do not exist with respect to an emerging area of practice, social workers should exercise careful judgment and take responsible steps (including appropriate education, research, training, consultation, and supervision) to ensure the competence of their work and to protect clients from harm.

Question 19

Cultural competences and Social Diversity

Answer 19

a) Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures.
(b) Social workers should have a knowledge base of their clients’ cultures and be able to demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients’ cultures and to differences among people and cultural groups.
(c) Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical disability.

Question 20

Conflicts and Interest

Answer 20

a) Social workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment. Social workers should inform clients when a real or potential conflict of interest arises and take reasonable steps to resolve the issue in a manner that makes the clients’ interests primary and protects clients’ interests to the greatest extent possible. In some cases, protecting clients’ interests may require termination of the professional relationship with proper referral of the client.
(b) Social workers should not take unfair advantage of any professional relationship or exploit others to further their personal, religious, political, or business interests.
(c) Social workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. In instances when dual or multiple relationships are unavoidable, social workers should take steps to protect clients and are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries. (Dual or multiple relationships occur when social workers relate to clients in more than one relationship, whether professional, social, or business. Dual or multiple relationships can occur simultaneously or consecutively.)
(d) When social workers provide services to two or more people who have a relationship with each other (for example, couples, family members), social workers should clarify with all parties which individuals will be considered clients and the nature of social workers’ professional obligations to the various individuals who are receiving services. Social workers who anticipate a conflict of interest among the individuals receiving services or who anticipate having to perform in potentially conflicting roles (for example, when a social worker is asked to testify in a child custody dispute or divorce proceedings involving clients) should clarify their role with the parties involved and take appropriate action to minimize any conflict of interest.

Question 21

Privacy and Confidentially

Answer 21

Social workers should respect clients’ right to privacy. Social workers should not solicit private information from clients unless it is essential to providing services or conducting social work evaluation or research. Once private information is shared, standards of confidentiality apply.

(b) Social workers may disclose confidential information when appropriate with valid consent from a client or a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of a client.
(c) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of all information obtained in the course of professional service, except for compelling professional reasons. The general expectation that social workers will keep information confidential does not apply when disclosure is necessary to prevent serious, foreseeable, and imminent harm to a client or other identifiable person. In all instances, social workers should disclose the least amount of confidential information necessary to achieve the desired purpose; only information that is directly relevant to the purpose for which the disclosure is made should be revealed.
(d) Social workers should inform clients, to the extent possible, about the disclosure of confidential information and the potential consequences, when feasible before the disclosure is made. This applies whether social workers disclose confidential information on the basis of a legal requirement or client consent.
(e) Social workers should discuss with clients and other interested parties the nature of confidentiality and limitations of clients’ right to confidentiality. Social workers should review with clients circumstances where confidential information may be requested and where disclosure of confidential information may be legally required. This discussion should occur as soon as possible in the social worker­client relationship and as needed throughout the course of the relationship.
(f) When social workers provide counseling services to families, couples, or groups, social workers should seek agreement among the parties involved concerning each individual’s right to confidentiality and obligation to preserve the confidentiality of information shared by others. Social workers should inform participants in family, couples, or group counseling that social workers cannot guarantee that all participants will honor such agreements.
(g) Social workers should inform clients involved in family, couples, marital, or group counseling of the social worker’s, employer’s, and agency’s policy concerning the social worker’s disclosure of confidential information among the parties involved in the counseling.
(h) Social workers should not disclose confidential information to third­party payers unless clients have authorized such disclosure.
(i) Social workers should not discuss confidential information in any setting unless privacy can be ensured. Social workers should not discuss confidential information in public or semipublic areas such as hallways, waiting rooms, elevators, and restaurants.
(j) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients during legal proceedings to the extent permitted by law. When a court of law or other legally authorized body orders social workers to disclose confidential or privileged information without a client’s consent and such disclosure could cause harm to the client, social workers should request that the court withdraw the order or limit the order as narrowly as possible or maintain the records under seal, unavailable for public inspection.
(k) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients when responding to requests from members of the media.
(l) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of clients’ written and electronic records and other sensitive information. Social workers should take reasonable steps to ensure that clients’ records are stored in a secure location and that clients’ records are not available to others who are not authorized to have access.
(m) Social workers should take precautions to ensure and maintain the confidentiality of information transmitted to other parties through the use of computers, electronic mail, facsimile machines, telephones and telephone answering machines, and other electronic or computer technology. Disclosure of identifying information should be avoided whenever possible.
(n) Social workers should transfer or dispose of clients’ records in a manner that protects clients’ confidentiality and is consistent with state statutes governing records and social work licensure.
(o) Social workers should take reasonable precautions to protect client confidentiality in the event of the social worker’s termination of practice, incapacitation, or death.
(p) Social workers should not disclose identifying information when discussing clients for teaching or training purposes unless the client has consented to disclosure of confidential information.
(q) Social workers should not disclose identifying information when discussing clients with consultants unless the client has consented to disclosure of confidential information or there is a compelling need for such disclosure.
(r) Social workers should protect the confidentiality of deceased clients consistent with the preceding standards.

Question 22

Access to records

Answer 22

Social workers should provide clients with reasonable access to records concerning the clients. Social workers who are concerned that clients’ access to their records could cause serious misunderstanding or harm to the client should provide assistance in interpreting the records and consultation with the client regarding the records. Social workers should limit clients’ access to their records, or portions of their records, only in exceptional circumstances when there is compelling evidence that such access would cause serious harm to the client. Both clients’ requests and the rationale for withholding some or all of the record should be documented in clients’ files.

(b) When providing clients with access to their records, social workers should take steps to protect the confidentiality of other individuals identified or discussed in such records.