Project: Bio-Psycho-Social Assessment

Assessing a client’s biological, psychological, and social history is a holistic approach that is an essential aspect of social work practice. Since one area often affects the other two, it is important to get as accurate an assessment as possible when working with a client. Social workers use the bio-psycho-social tool to communicate specific information, and possible conclusions, about a client to other professionals. It is, at once, a summary of current issues and problems; a listing of past factors that may be relevant to the current situation; and a description of potential issues that may have an effect on the client in the future. In addition to describing the client’s challenges and problems, the assessment identifies strengths and assets that are available to provide support. For this Project you create a bio-psycho-social assessment.

By Day 7

Submit a 6- to 9-page paper that focuses on an adolescent from one of the case studies presented in this course. For this Project, complete a bio-psycho-social assessment and provide an analysis of the assessment. This Project is divided into two parts:

Part A: Bio-Psycho-Social Assessment: The assessment should be written in professional language and include sections on each of the following:

Presenting issue (including referral source)

Demographic information

Current living situation

Birth and developmental history

School and social relationships

Family members and relationships

Health and medical issues (including psychological and psychiatric functioning, substance abuse)

Spiritual development

Social, community, and recreational activities

Client strengths, capacities, and resources

Part B: Analysis of Assessment. Address each of the following:

Explain the challenges faced by the client(s)—for example, drug addiction, lack of basic needs, victim of abuse, new school environment, etc.

Analyze how the social environment affects the client.

Identify which human behavior or social theories may guide your practice with this individual and explain how these theories inform your assessment.

Explain how you would use this assessment to develop mutually agreed-upon goals to be met in order to address the presenting issue and challenges face by the client.

Explain how you would use the identified strengths of the client(s) in a treatment plan.

Explain how you would use evidence-based practice when working with this client and recommend specific intervention strategies (skills, knowledge, etc.) to address the presenting issue.

Analyze the ethical issues present in the case. Explain how will you address them.

Describe the issues will you need to address around cultural competence.