Week 3: Intervention With Families
Families are complicated systems that continually evolve. The structure of the family system can change due to circumstances that occur within the family or in a social environment. When a family is exposed to a traumatic event, whether it is a spouse returning home from war or a tragedy within the community, each family member is affected. The more members in the family system, the more factors the clinical social worker has to take into account. Finding an intervention that meets the needs of the individual members and the family as a whole can be challenging. No one intervention will fit all families. It is crucial that the intervention is appropriate for that particular family and that it addresses their specific issues.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze evidence-based interventions for families
- Identify behaviors related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Analyze PTSD interventions for families
- Analyze group process skills
Learning Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings
Holosko, M. J., Dulmus, C. N., & Sowers, K. M. (2013). Social work practice with individuals and families: Evidence-informed assessments and interventions. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Chapter 10, “Intervention With Families” (pp. 265–294)
Required Media
Laureate Education. (Producer). (2013c). Levy (Episode 1) [Video file]. In Sessions. Baltimore, MD: Producer. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 minutes.
Accessible player –Downloads–Download Video w/CCDownload AudioDownload Transcript
Discussion: Trauma and Loss
With seemingly never-ending violence, natural disasters, and soldiers returning home from wars growing numbers of people are suffering long lasting mental health crises. It is imperative for clinical social workers to implement effective interventions that address trauma and loss within families.
For this Discussion, view the “Levy” video.
By Day 3
Post a description of the how the trauma related behaviors evident in the Levy video affect family interactions and the family system. Identify the problems in this case and explain whether these problems would best be addressed through individual treatment, family treatment, or a combination of both. Review the literature and recommend an evidence-based family intervention that might help Jake and Sheri and their sons. Describe how the intervention is implemented and its underlying theory. Explain how this intervention might help the Levy family and ameliorate the presenting problems. Finally, describe why you chose this intervention. Use this week’s resources or the literature to support your conclusions.
By Day 5
Respond to a colleague’s intervention choice that differs from yours. Contrast the underlying theories of the two interventions. Explain whether you agree or disagree with your colleague’s identification of the problem and recommendation to address the problem through individual and/or family treatment.
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria
To access your rubric:
Week 3 Discussion Rubric
Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5
To participate in this Discussion:
Week 3 Discussion
Assignment 1: Group Wiki Project Summary
Many types of groups can facilitate a successful social work practice. Peer groups, for example, can be very valuable to clinical social workers. In clinical practice, it is helpful to participate in a group with colleagues, to discuss a case or just to seek professional and emotional support. Understanding the roles, communication methods, and goals when working with your colleagues is important for the functioning of the group.
For this project, you will work with colleagues to submit a one-page timeline of your group’s plan to develop a Wiki on a family issue.
Each member of the group will submit a one-page timeline of the group’s plan for developing the Wiki on a family intervention. Include the following:
- Brief description of the family
- Roles/assignments for the group members
- Communication methods
- Timeline of each part being completed, including weekly objectives and goals
By Day 7
Submit your Assignment.
Submission and Grading Information
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
- Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK3Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
- Click the Week 3 Assignment 1 Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
- Click the Week 3 Assignment 1 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
- Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK3Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
- If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
- Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.
Grading Criteria
To access your rubric:
Week 3 Assignment 1 Rubric
Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity
To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 3 Assignment 1 draft and review the originality report.
Submit Your Assignment by Day 7
To submit your Assignment:
Week 3 Assignment 1
Assignment 2: Assessing Group Process 1
Reflection and self-awareness are important exercises when practicing as a clinical social worker. Journaling is not only useful for clients, but it is a useful exercise for social workers in clinical practice. Understanding one’s own comfort levels is part of practicing as a competent social worker.
Reflect on your experience so far in starting the Group Wiki Project. Describe how your group initiated contact and your level of comfort in working on a project with a group online. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of completing this project as a group.
Group Process Assignments should integrate course concepts related to group process. Assignments should demonstrate critical thought when applying course material to your group experience. Support ideas in your Assignment with APA citations from this week’s required resources.
