Practice Online Questions Flashcards
A family has adopted a seven-year-old boy who had previously experienced severe neglect. The adoptive parents are meeting with a social worker because they are frustrated that he continues to hoard food. They report that they often find food under his bed and he “steals” extra food to put in his backpack for school. What recommendations should the social worker make?
A. The parents should ignore the behavior as it will likely go away on its own once the child realizes that the family has plenty of food.
B. They should install locks on the cupboards and the refrigerator so they can better monitor his food intake.
C. The parents should take away privileges each time they discover that he is hoarding food.
D. They can provide the child with a food basket where he can keep his healthy snacks and they can refill the basket when it is nearing empty.
D. They can provide the child with a food basket where he can keep his healthy snacks and they can refill the basket when it is nearing empty.
They can provide the child with a food basket where he can keep his healthy snacks and they can refill the basket when it is nearing empty.
Supporting the child and helping him learn that he will not go without food is important in helping him overcome the neglect he experienced.
Children who have experienced neglect sometimes hoard food, even when they are placed in foster or adoptive homes. They have learned this as a survival skill and should not be punished. Instead, they should be given support. Caregivers can help them learn to recognize that their needs will be taken care of. Over time, with helpful reinforcement, these behaviors are likely to diminish.
A social worker is employed at a doctor’s office. The program director, who is a doctor at the office, reports that the office will begin providing services via video conferencing to established clients who live in rural areas. The purpose is to increase access to services for clients who lack reliable transportation. What should the social worker do?
A. Begin services with clients who have already begun receiving service via video conferencing with a doctor.
B. Discuss with each client the potential risks, benefits, and consequences of receiving services via electronic media.
C. Explain to the program manager that social workers cannot establish therapeutic relationships with clients when clients are not physically present.
D. Inform the program manager that social workers are not allowed to provide telemedicine.
B. Discuss with each client the potential risks, benefits, and consequences of receiving services via electronic media.
It is important to discuss the risks and potential consequences with clients so that clients are aware how services delivered via electronic media differ from face-to-face contact
The NASW states that social workers should use caution when providing services via electronic media. Social workers should ensure that clients are aware of the potential risks as well as benefits so they can make an informed decision about whether or not they wish to have this service.
A social worker is conducting an initial assessment with a client. What the best way for the social worker to inquire about the client’s sexual orientation?
A. “Are you attracted to men or women?”
B. “Do you consider yourself to be gay or straight?”
C. “What is your sexual orientation?”
D. “Tell me about your sexuality.”
C. “What is your sexual orientation?”
This question, asked in a non-judgmental fashion, is the most effective way to encourage a discussion of sexuality.
When addressing issues about sexual orientation, ask questions in a non-judgmental fashion and make it clear what information you are looking for. During an assessment, this closed-question approach can help put clients at ease and encourage them to answer clearly and succinctly.
A couple requests help in improving their seven-year marriage. When you ask them about their goals, they begin to argue almost immediately. The husband states his wife nags him too much about chores. The wife states her husband is lazy. How should you proceed with establishing treatment goals?
A. Recommend that they each attend sessions with you individually to set separate goals to work on until they are ready to work together in a session.
B. Recommend they receive individual treatment to help them work on individual issues.
C. Assist them in establishing treatment goals to help them learn to improve their communication and resolve conflict.
D. Assist them in setting a goal to help them resolve their arguments around household responsibilities.
C. Assist them in establishing treatment goals to help them learn to improve their communication and resolve conflict.
It is correct to help them learn new skills that they can use to address the problem of disagreements over chores as well as other problems in their relationship.
When establishing treatment goals, it is important to teach people skills that they can use during and after treatment. Sometimes solving the current problem will not give them these skills. Teaching people new skills and how to apply them to their lives can assist them in making progress after treatment ends. In couples therapy, sometimes each person wants their spouse to be “fixed.” It is important to keep longer-term goals in mind while helping the couple with their immediate marital issues.
A 32-year-old man is referred to a social worker after his children were removed by child protective services due to allegations of neglect. He tells the social worker that he is not sure that he wants to fight to get them back. He states he doesn’t think he wants to go through all the things child protective services wants him to do only to not regain custody in the end. Which response is the best thing the social worker should say to the client?
A. “You are free to choose whether or not you want to try to regain custody of the children.”
B. “Your children will benefit from knowing that you at least tried to regain custody, even if you aren’t successful.”
C. “It’s important to look at how not attempting to get custody of the children will be viewed by child protective services.”
D. “It may be helpful to work toward regaining custody initially, and if at any time you decide you want to to give up, you can do so.”
A. “You are free to choose whether or not you want to try to regain custody of the children.”
It is appropriate to tell the client that he has the right to choose how to respond to child protective services.
A core principle of social work is the client’s right to self-determination. The NASW Code of Ethics is clear that social workers should support a client’s right to self-determination, unless a client is posing a risk to self or someone else. Social workers should set aside their own values and encourage clients to make their own choices based on what they think is right for them. Although it may be appropriate at times to discuss the pros and cons of a decision, clients need to know that ultimately the decision is up to them.
A social worker has started to treat a woman who has been diagnosed with dependent personality disorder. The woman reports a variety of failed relationships. She acknowledges that she often makes unhealthy choices in the kinds of partners that she picks. When establishing a therapeutic relationship with the client, what sort of information should the social worker keep in mind?
A. The client’s dramatic presentation and desire to be the center of attention may interfere with developing the therapeutic relationship.
B. Establishing rapport will be difficult and the client is likely to drop out of treatment early.
C. The client is likely to have difficulty expressing her emotions and most likely lacks basic social skills.
D. The client may be superficially compliant with treatment to try and gain approval but may struggle to make lasting change.
D. The client may be superficially compliant with treatment to try and gain approval but may struggle to make lasting change.
Clients with dependent personality disorder typically need approval and reassurance, so they often try to appear cooperative to please the social worker.
People with dependent personality disorder often want to please their providers, so they may appear cooperative and compliant on the surface. They are likely to seek frequent reassurance and may be in danger of becoming dependent on the social worker to meet their need for approval and attention. When developing a therapeutic relationship, it is important to set healthy boundaries and keep in mind that the client may feel a strong desire to gain positive reinforcement.
A 55-year-old male has been meeting with a social worker to address his alcohol dependence. Over the past few weeks he has cut down on his drinking. He arrives at his scheduled appointment sweating. He states he has been vomiting and he has a noticeable tremor in his hands. How should the social worker respond?
A. Call 911, even if the client refuses to consent, as the client is likely detoxing and may experience seizures or possibly death.
B. Talk to the client about the possible dangers of alcohol withdrawal and allow the client to make his own decision about whether or not to seek medical help.
C. Encourage the client to decrease his alcohol intake more slowly as he is less likely to suffer such serious withdrawal symptoms.
D. Encourage the client to withstand the uncomfortable symptoms for a few days as they will likely pass after the painful process of detox.
B. Talk to the client about the possible dangers of alcohol withdrawal and allow the client to make his own decision about whether or not to seek medical help.
Unless there’s a medical emergency, the proper course is to explain the possible risks to the client and discuss whether or not he wants to seek medical treatment.
When people decrease or stop using substances, they will experience withdrawal symptoms if they were dependent on those substances. Withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, but unless there’s an obvious medical emergency, it is up to the client to determine if he wants to seek medical attention.
A 16-year-old client is seeking services from an outpatient social worker after becoming the victim of a sexual assault. The client’s mother has signed a general release of information that allows the social worker to talk to the school. The social worker receives a call from the client’s math teacher who states the client’s grades have declined and she wants to know if there is something “going on” with the client lately. How should the social worker respond?
A. Contact a supervisor before disclosing any information.
B. Talk to the client about whether or not she would want any information disclosed and the possible implications of disclosing information.
C. Tell the math teacher that the client was sexually assaulted.
D. Contact the client’s mother to determine how much information she is comfortable with the teacher knowing.
B. Talk to the client about whether or not she would want any information disclosed and the possible implications of disclosing information.
It is appropriate to discuss with the client whether or not she wants her teacher to be made aware of the assault, and she should be warned of the possible implications.
Adolescents have a right to confidentiality. Unless the adolescent poses a risk to self or others, the information the client discloses should be protected. Even when there is a release of information in place, disclosure should be on a need-to-know basis, and the client should participate in any discussion about whether or not to disclose the information.
A social worker is meeting with a 50-year-old African-American male who acknowledges he has some suicidal ideation. He was previously diagnosed with major depression and was recently discharged from an inpatient hospitalization. He reports that following his hospitalization he has more energy and feels better. He lives at home with his wife and his adult children have moved out of the home. He works in construction and states that he works about 60 hours per week. What suicide risk factors should the social worker pay close attention to?
A. His improvement during his hospitalization may actually give him the energy to complete suicide.
B. The long hours that he works put him at a higher risk of suicide.
C. Having adult children who have moved out of the home puts him at a higher risk.
D. The client is African-American and therefore, statistically, a higher suicide risk.
A. His improvement during his hospitalization may actually give him the energy to complete suicide.
Social workers need to know what sorts of factors may place clients at a higher risk for suicide. This client is at particular risk due to his depression and the improvements he experienced during his hospitalization. When people are feeling better, they sometimes find the energy to plan and follow through with suicide.
A social worker is working on values clarification with a client who has a dependence on alcohol. The social worker is also assisting the client in recognizing the consequences and the impact his behaviors have on others. The social worker uses a readiness ruler to help assess the client’s readiness to change. These methods are most likely to be effective when the client is in which stage of the Transtheoretical Model?
A. Action
B. Precontemplation
C. Preparation
D. Maintenance
