ASWB Bachelor's Exam

A 40-year old client has been unemployed since he started having seizures about a year ago. His wife works and the family has been getting by on her income. When asked by the social worker why he has come in, the client says he wants help figuring out how to get a job. With which of the following should the social worker consult FIRST?

A medical specialist: a medical consultation would be the most important first because the client's seizures are probably related to a medical condition. The physician (probably a neurologist) would have the expertise needed to offer an evaluation of any work-related problems that may result from the client's condition and could help you and the client understand the client's work-related limitations and how to best deal with these in the job search (including how to best advocate for the client's rights if the seizures constitute a disability). The neurologist may also be able to provide or recommend medical treatments to minimize the effects of seizures on the client's ability to work

Which of the following is a way to implement trauma-informed care practice within a service agency?

All of the above: each of the answer choices above represent ways to infuse the service delivery environment with trauma-informed practice. Answer choice A, enhancing the privacy of the office will improve clients sense of safety in the physical space. Additional staff training (B) will better equip staff to understand the context of clients experiences of trauma. And engaging clients in choosing discussion topics for group therapy sessions design programming, helps to build a collaborative and empowering therapeutic environment - that values clients contributions to the community.

Which of the following diagnoses cannot be given to an individual who is under the age of 18 years?

Antisocial personality disorder: antisocial personality disorder is one of the few diagnoses which, by definition, cannot be given to a person who is younger than age 18. A minor who displays characteristic signs of antisocial personality disorder would receive a diagnosis of conduct disorder: an individual under age 18 may receive a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder if the maladaptive traits appear to be pervasive and persistent (have been present for at least one year), are unlikely to be limited to a particular developmental stage, and are not the result of another mental disorder.

Initiative versus Guilt

Around age 3 and continuing to age 6, children assert themselves more frequently. They begin to plan activities, make up games, and initiate activities with others. If given this opportunity, children develop a sense of initiative, and feel secure in their ability to lead others and make decisions. Conversely, if this tendency is squelched, either through criticism or control, children develop a sense of guilt. They may feel like nuisances to others and will therefore remain followers, lacking self-initiative.

Ego Integrity versus Despair

As individuals grow older and become senior citizens, they tend to slow down and explore life as retired people. It is during this time that they contemplate accomplishments and are able to develop a sense of integrity if they are satisfied with the progression of their lives. If they see their lives as being unproductive and failing to accomplish life goals, they become dissatisfied with life and develop despair, often leading to depression and hopelessness.

Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt

Between the ages of 1 and 3, children begin to assert their independence by walking away from their mother, picking which toy to play with, and making choices about what they like to wear, to eat, and so on. If children in this stage are encouraged and supported in their increased independence, they become more confident and secure in their own ability to survive in the world. If children are criticized, overly controlled, or not given the opportunity to assert themselves, they begin to feel inadequate in their ability to survive, and may then become overly dependent upon others while lacking self esteem and feeling a sense of shame or doubt in their own abilities.

The client is a 70-year old man who has been experiencing cognitive symptoms. The onset of his symptoms was abrupt and his condition has followed a stepwise, fluctuating course. It is determined that the man has vascular neurocognitive disorder. Vascular Neurocognitive Disorder is caused by which of the following?

Cerebrovascular disease: vascular neurocognitive disorder is diagnosed when the criteria for major or mild neurocognitive disorder are met, the clinical features are consistent with a vascular etiology (stroke), and there is evidence of cerebrovascular disease from the individual's history, a physical examination, and/or neuroimaging that is considered sufficient to account for the symptoms

The MMPI-2 can be used to measure which of the following?

Characteristic behavior: the MMPI-2 is one of the most widely used self-report inventories for the assessment of personality. Its clinical and validity scales provide information about an examinee's characteristics traits and behaviors, including symptoms, major needs, perceptions of the environment, reactions to stress, self-concept, sexual identification, emotional control, interpersonal relationships, and psychological resources

A client is taking medication to control the symptoms of a mental disorder. Because of the potential side-effects of a serious blood disorder, she is required to have a blood test every week. The client is MOST likely taking which of the following medications?

Clozaril - the atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic clozapine (clozaril) was introduced in the United States in 1990. In clinical trials, this medication was found to be more effective than conventional (first-generation) antipsychotic medications in individuals with treatment resistant schizophrenia (schizophrenia that had not responded to other drugs) and the risk of tardive dyskinesia was lower. However, because of the potential side-effect of a serious blood disorder - agranulocytosis (loss of the white blood cells that fight infection) - individuals who are on clozapine must have a blood test every one or two weeks

A client reports experiencing fatigue and excessive nervousness. She says she has a history of periodic depression but has never felt so nervous or anxious before. She was treated for depression two years ago and says that her mood has improved since then. Now, she's just a "nervous wreck" and feels like she can never calm down. What should the social worker do FIRST in assessing this client?

Collect a medical history, including a review of medications, and refer the client for a physical exam

In the first interview, a client reports feeling unhappy and discouraged about his future, not eating well and having difficulty falling asleep at night. He has stopped contacting friends and often misses work when he feels too upset to get out of bed. The social worker suspects that the client may be self destructive. Given that this is the first interview, how should the social worker proceed with her assessment?

Conduct a structured inquiry to collect information as a basis for determining an appropriate plan to protect the client from hurting himself: whenever you suspect that a client is at risk for suicide, you should address this immediately through the use of direct questions - "Have you ever thought about hurting yourself?" "Do you plan to hurt yourself?" When a client responds in the affirmative to these questions, the next step is to determine the level of risk for an imminent suicide attempt by asking additional questions to find out more about his suicide plan and whether he has proceeded in thinking about killing himself. The steps you then take to protect the client should be consistent with the level of risk currently posed by the client. The risk to life is highest when a client has both a lethal suicide plan and the means available to carry it out.

An individual undergoing cocaine withdrawal is MOST likely to experience which of the following?

Depression: when a chronic user stops using cocaine (or another stimulant) or begins to use less of it, she may drop into a deep depression. According to the DSM, a cocaine (stimulant) withdrawal syndrome is associated with the following symptoms, which results in clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning ; dysphoric mood and two or more of the following physiological changes - fatigue; vivid, unpleasant dreams; insomnia or hypersomnia; retardation or agitation. Those changes develop within a few hours to several days after the person stops or reduces heavy, prolonged cocaine use

A client has been in therapy since the break up of his marriage several months ago. He arrives for a session looking disheveled. After a few minutes, he tells the social worker that he can't eat or sleep. as he speaks, his voice quivers and he appears to be in significant emotional distress. In terms of assessing these changes in the client's functioning, what should the social worker do first?

Determine threat to life by asking direct questions: this client appears to be in acute crisis. The first things you should do is conduct a suicide assessment, including asking the client directly whether he has thought about harming himself.

Identity versus Role Confusion

During adolescence, the transition from childhood to adulthood is most important. Children are becoming more independent, and begin to look at the future in terms of career, relationships, families, housing, and so on. During this period, they explore possibilities and begin to form their own identities based upon the outcome of their explorations. This sense of who they are can be hindered, which results in a sense of confusion ("I don't know what I want to be when I grow up") about themselves and their role in the world.

Generativity versus Stagnation

During middle adulthood, individuals establish careers, settle down within relationships, begin families, and develop a sense of being a part of the bigger picture. They give back to society through raising children, being productive at work, and becoming involved in community activities and organizations. By failing to achieve these objectives, individuals become stagnant and feel unproductive.

Industry versus Inferiority

From age 6 to puberty, children begin to develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments. They initiate projects, see them through to completion, and feel good about what they have achieved. If children are encouraged and reinforced for their initiative, they begin to feel industrious and feel confident in their ability to achieve goals. If this initiative is not encouraged but instead restricted, children begin to feel inferior, doubting their abilities and failing to reach their potential.

Trust versus Mistrust

From birth to 1 year of age, children begin to learn the ability to trust others based upon the consistency of their caregiver(s). If trust develops successfully, the child gains confidence and security in the world around him or her and is able to feel secure even when threatened. Unsuccessful completion of this stage can result in an inability to trust, and therefore a sense of fear about the inconsistent world. It may result in anxiety, heightened insecurities, and feelings of mistrust in the world around them.

A social worker determines that a client, age 36, is in the midst of a major depressive episode, and the client's history suggests that he has had other such episodes in the past. The social worker refers the client to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation, and the psychiatrist prescribes an SSRI for the client. In terms of side-effects from this class of medication, the client is MOST likely to experience which of the following?

Gastrointestinal problems, insomnia, sexual dysfunction: side effects associated with the SSRIs (Prozac, Floxyfral, Paxil, Zoloft) include gastrointestinal problems (e.g., appetite loss, nausea, constipation, diarrhea); frequent urination; insomnia; anxiety; headache; dizziness; tremor; and sexual dysfunction. Compared to tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), SSRIs are safer in overdose; less cardiotoxic; less likely to result in cognitive impairment; and have a more rapid onset

The client is a 41-year old married man who reports feeling tired a lot of the time and having tremendous difficulty concentrating at his job. He no longer enjoys his work and finds that he is easily annoyed by his family and friends. He adds that he thinks he's depressed but doesn't know what to do to "pick himself up." In an effort to understand the client's needs, the social worker assessed him for suicidal risk; gathers information about his health history, medication use, and health and lifestyle behaviors; and performs a mental status exam to assess his psychological status. What should the social worker do next?

Gather information on the client's cultural background, social relations, and environmental connections: the question describes two of the three components of a comprehensive biopsychosocial-cultural assessment-"bio" and "psycho"

Which of the following is true about human trafficking?

Human trafficking is not the same as human smuggling - trafficking is based on exploitation and does not require movement across borders - smuggling involves moving a person - although human smuggling is very different from human trafficking, human smuggling can turn into trafficking if the smuggler uses force, fraud, or coercion to hold people against their will for the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation - sex trafficking exists, but is not the only type of human trafficking - both involve exploitation of people - human trafficking victims can be any race, gender, or nationality, and may come from any socioeconomic group - human trafficking exists in every country, including the United States

As described in the DSM-5, the characteristic symptoms of substance use disorder can be categorized in terms of which of the following?

Impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological criteria

Intimacy versus Isolation

In young adulthood, individuals begin to share themselves more intimately with others and explore relationships leading toward longer term commitments with others outside the family. Successful completion can lead to comfortable relationships and a sense of commitment, safety, and care within a relationship. Avoiding intimacy and fearing commitment and relationship can lead to isolation, loneliness, and sometimes depression.

If left untreated, diabetes mellitus can result in which of the following symptoms?

Increased appetite with weight loss, apathy, confusion mental dullness: the pancreas releases insulin, which is involved in the uptake and use of glucose and amino acids, and hypoinsulinism produces diabetes mellitus (excessive blood glucose). Untreated diabetes mellitus may result in increased appetite with weight loss, apathy, confusion, mental dullness, polyuria, polydipsia, and increased susceptibility to infection

What is the time-frame for achieving steady state on a benzodiazepine?

One day to 21 days; when benzodiazepine is taken daily, the anount of time it takes to achieve "steady state" ranges from one day to about three weeks

A client reports being very angry at a noisy neighbor and wanting revenge. The client is known to have a short temper and has been physically aggressive in the past. What should the social worker do during this interview to address the client's potential for violent behavior?

Pose questions to determine the client's intentions: you have several clues suggesting that this client could pose a danger to his neighbor. Therefore, you should ask direct questions to clarify his intent (what does he mean by "revenge?", does he have a specific plan of revenge?)

The client is a 40-year old woman who has recently moved from a shelter for battered women to her own apartment in a new city. The client left her husband of 10 years three months ago; he physically abused her for many years, and she is just beginning the process of recovery. While assessing this client, the social worker observes symptoms that are consistent with battered woman syndrome. The features of battered woman syndrome are similar to the diagnostic criteria for which of the following mental disorders?

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; the features of battered woman syndrome are similar to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Lenore Walker (1994) has stated that battered woman syndrome is characterized by a constellation of abuse-related anxiety, arousal, and avoidance symptoms that are similar to those caused by other traumatic experiences

Social workers should refer clients to other professional in all of the following instances except when ....

Professionals believe that other modalities of treatment may be more effective to resolve clients' issues - social workers should refer clients to other professionals when the other professionals' specialized knowledge or expertise is needed to serve clients fully; when social workers believe that they are not being effective, and when social workers believe reasonable progress with clients is being made, but that additional service is required - the belief by other professionals that their services may be more effective is not proper justification for a referral

A client, age 79, has come in alone for treatment. He is exhibiting some signs of depression. To clarify the nature of the problem in this case, the social worker should FIRST:

Refer the client to a neurologist for testing

A client reports that her elderly father has seemed rather confused lately. A physician recently evaluated the man, all neuropsychiatric tests for a neurocognitive disorder have been negative. The physician found no major medical problems. The client says that she has decided to move her father (whose wife died 10 years ago) to an independent living facility. What is the social worker's best course of action?

Seek permission from the client to conduct an in-home assessment of her father; you (the test taker) don't know where the father is living (does he live alone?), and the question suggests that, so far, you have met with only the daughter; in other words, you haven't had an opportunity to observe or evaluate the client's father.

A client shows a social worker a list of reasons why she should and should not leave her abusive husband. She says that she is preparing the list to see if the benefits are greater than the risks. The client is basing her decision on which of the following theories?

Social exchange: social exchange theory is based on the idea of totaling potential benefits and losses to determine behavior. A client will leave a gathering relationship when the alternative is seen as better than the current situation (rewards outweigh costs)

A 25-year old client who recently immigrated to the United States from Nicaragua (and speaks English well) has been convinced by his mother to seek counseling for frequent alcohol use. During the first interview, the client acknowledges that he drinks almost daily but doesn't identify any other problems. What should the social worker do FIRST?

Take a substance use history: usually the first step when assessing a suspected substance use disorder is taking an alcohol and drug history and this is true regardless of the client's cultural background. Having this information will help you determine suitable treatment recommendations, including the appropriate initial level of care. And taking the substance use history in this case could also help you determine whether or not the client's alcohol use is related in any way to acculturation problems.

Role complementarity occurs when

Two individuals act in expected manner - role complementarity happens when there is a coordination of roles in a dyad or group (individuals act as expected by others) - role discomplementarity occurs when an individual acts differently than what is anticipated or is though to be acceptable - unclear expectations lead to role ambiguity and dysfunctional relationships or behavior - thus, social workers aim to ensure that clients are aware of required actions and demands

A social worker needs to contact a client who has not shown up for services in many weeks - he calls the number provided, only to get a household answering machine - the social worker leaves a simple message including his name, his agency name, and his contact information - the social worker's actions were

Unethical because members of the household are now aware of the client's affiliation with the agency - social workers should take precautions to ensure and maintain confidentiality of information transmitted to other parties through the use of email, fax machines, telephones, and telephone answering machines, and other electronic or computer technology - in this case vignette, the social worker's actions were unethical because all household members and others who listen to the message will be aware of confidential information - that is, the client's affiliation with the agency

A 40-year old man is referred for case management services. Six months ago, the client was fired from a construction job he had held for many years due to poor performance and frequent absences that started shortly after he was injured at work. He has been unable to find new work and is in danger of losing his apartment. The client appears distracted during the interview and answers many of the social worker's questions by saying "I'm not sure," or "I don't remember." Given all of this information, what should the social worker explore first?

Whether the client has had access to medical care; as this client's case manager, you will want to identify all of his unmet needs and what barriers he has encountered in getting and using needed resources and services. However, the question suggests the possibility that the client has an organically based problem, perhaps due to the injury he suffered at work. You should find out immediately what medical care the client received after the injury and arrange for him to undergo current medical (including neurological) evaluations

When a client is receiving services involuntarily, a social worker must provide all of the following as part of the informed consent procedure EXCEPT . .

a copy of the court order - 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 - a copy of the court order is not required - however, a social worker should help the client obtain and understand the information in the court order if requested

What is the MOST significant difference between a formative and summative evaluation?

a formative evaluation examines processes while a summative evaluation is focused on outcomes - a formative evaluation examines the processes that are occurring in an attempt to determine which are promoting and/or inhibiting successful outcomes - information gathered from a formative evaluation can help alter program provisions to increase efficiency and/or effectiveness - a summative evaluation is focused on determining a program's effectiveness or outcomes - a summative evaluation provides valuable data at a program/s completion to determine whether it should be continued, modified, or eliminated

Acculturation is achieved by . .

a give and take approach in which minority and majority cultural groups both change to facilitate interactions and a achievement of common goals - acculturation is a reciprocal process where both minority and majority cultural groups change in order to facilitate interaction and achieve common goals - members of a minority cultural group in a pluralistic society should never have to abandon their customs, tradition, or beliefs in order to conform - there is a responsibility by a majority cultural group to alter their dominant ways in order to ensure that those in the minority can be full participants, even with differences in practices or attitudes - not acknowledging cultural differences leads to a lack of sensitivity and awareness and a failure to develop healthy cultural identities

Symbolization is when . .

a mental image is unconsciously represented by an object or another thought

Reaction formation is . .

acting in a manner opposite of one's unconscious belief

Delirium tremens are associated with withdrawal from . .

alcohol - delirium tremens is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal with symptoms including hallucinations, rapid respiration, temperature abnormalities, and body tremors

A teenage client states that she is having trouble getting along at home. She is always fighting with her parents, despite doing well in school and having a group of good friends. She ends by saying, "I am not sure how much more I can stand." In order to best address the situation, the social worker should . .

arrange for her and her parents to be seen together to discuss the issues - social work practice uses multiple modalities, including individual, family, and group therapy, to assist clients in resolving problems - a critical factor in deciding which is best is identifying the root cause of the problem - in this case vignette, the client is having problems in the family unit - thus, arranging for her and her parents to come together to discuss the issues is best-treating her individually or normalizing the situation will not assist with resolving the family problems - the client response in quotation marks is typical of someone in this situation and there is no indication in the case vignette of suicide risk or dangerousness toward others, making a mental health screening unnecessary

A social worker using a strengths approach during assessment would . .

ask the client to identify area of concern - a strengths approach views the client as the "expert" in his or her life circumstances

A young man comes to see a social worker because he feels "lost" and would like the social worker to help with his problems. In order to best assist the client, the social worker should . .

ask the client what he would like to see changed in his life - social workers focus on assisting clients to identify problems and areas of strength, as well as in increasing problem-solving strategies - it is essential that throughout the problem-solving process, social workers view clients as experts in their lives - clients should be asked about what they would like to see changed in their lives and clients' definitions of problems should be accepted - the social worker in this case vignette should not provide suggestions because the ideas must be generated from the client - there is no indication that the client is depressed - although praising the client for coming to see the social worker is appropriate it does not "assist the client" directly

During a first meeting with a client, which of the following will be least effective in reducing resistance . .

asking the client for assurance in cooperating with agency policies - resistance is often reduced by acknowledging the courage that it takes to seek help - often a client is unclear about what to expect as part of services provision so explaining the parameters alleviates fear and anxiety - a client should also not be afraid to speak openly about his or her needs, so confidentiality policies should be reviewed - asking a client to commit to cooperating may appear abrupt or threatening during a first meeting and is the least effective technique in garnering a willingness to work together

Concrete operations stage ends . .

at about age 11 - in the concrete operations stage, cause and effect relationships are understood and there is the beginning of abstract thought, but the level of abstraction is not as fully developed as it is in the formal operations stage

Preoperational stage occurs . .

between ages 2 and 7

Which of the following is true about the interplay of biological, psychological, social, and spiritual functioning of clients throughout their life course?

changes in physical abilities will likely impact on psychological, social, and spiritual functioning that will need to be addressed in order to assist clients effectively - human development is the product of the interplay of biological, psychological, social, and spiritual functioning - systems theory indicates that a change to anyone area of a client's life will influence all others - social workers must be aware of the relationships that exist between the life domains in order to provide effective services and meet a client's needs

Roles of social workers when making observations are . .

complete participant (living the experience as a participant), participant as observer (interacting with those who are participating), observer as participant (limited relationship with others participating - primarily observer), or complete observer (removed from activity - observer only) - observation is a method used in scientific inquiry or other social work activities to collect data

A social worker notices that a client who has been very depressed in past weeks after being hospitalized for a suicide attempt appears to be much happier. The social worker should FIRST :

conduct a suicide risk assessment - a client who has been depressed and suddenly appears happier may be at higher risk of committing suicide if the change in affect is attributable to a decision to act - a client is also at greater risk after being started on antidepressants because he or she may now have the energy to implement a suicide plan - the question asks for the FIRST action that a social worker should take, which is the completion of a risk assessment to address safety concerns

A client who always said that she loves her job now reports that she is quitting because she "can't stand it anymore." A social worker replies with "This is surprising because you have always said that you were happy there." The statement by the social worker is a(n) . .

confrontation - confrontation is calling attention to something - in this case vignette, the social worker is pointing out to the client that her actions are not consistent with her prior statements

A client reports that he is having problems with neurological functioning and is being seen by his physician for additional testing. Which of the following is NOT a physical neurological symptom?

confusion and delirium - confusion and delirium are changes in consciousness or mental signs of problems in neurological functioning

A client stated that she feels like hurting herself, but will not act on her urges so the social worker "should not worry." To most appropriately address the client's needs, the social worker should FIRST . .

determine the client's suicide risk and protective factors - in this case vignette, the social worker has not said or done anything to address the client's reports about hurting herself - it is essential that the social worker FIRST conduct a suicide risk assessment to determine if the self-report of the client - that she will not act - is supported - this assessment is based on identifying the risk and protective factors present - if there does not appear to be an imminent risk, the social worker can engage in other actions to address the client's underlying concerns while continuing to monitor her suicidality.

A social worker who believes that a colleague's impairment interferes with practice effectiveness, and that this colleague has not taken adequate steps to address this impairment, should take action through appropriate channels. This includes all of the following except . .

determining the reasons for the impairment and providing supportive services as needed - the NASW Code of Ethics states that social workers who believe that a social work colleague's impairment interferes with practice effectiveness and that the colleague has not taken adequate steps to address the impairment should take action through appropriate channels established by employers, agencies, National Association of Social Workers, licensing and regulatory bodies, and other professional organizations - the social worker should not provide services to the impaired colleague directly

A client who is going through a bitter divorce tells a social worker that she "does not know how this will ever turn out well." The social worker, who is divorced, remembers when she also felt that way. Toappropriately assist the client, the social worker should . .

discuss with the client how she envisions the client's life after the divorce without disclosing her own past - although some social workers believe that disclosure of personal information about a narrow range of topics is appropriate, disclosure about other topics is much riskier and some topics are clearly inappropriate - the latter includes social workers' marital or relationship difficulties - the social worker should address the client's concern without disclosing her emotional struggles during her own divorce - the social worker should seek supervision or consultation to address her emotional reaction, but should not refer the client to another agency because the termination would be disruptive to treatment

A school social worker learns that a 10-year old student has just been placed in foster care because physical abuse by her parents has been substantiated. The social worker has had many referrals for this student in recent weeks concerning incidents of bullying other children. This student's behavior is MOST likely a result of . .

displacement - displacement is shifting thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors to a less threatening target - in this case vignette, the student cannot strike back at her abusive parents, so she is displaying displaced aggression toward the other children

During a group session, a client states that he "is tired of being here" and does not know if he wants to continue. In this situation, it is BEST for the social worker to . .

encourage the client to discuss his feelings further with the other members of the group - when working with groups, a social worker should use the group as the major helping agent and not make decisions for the group - a social worker should only intervene when interactions or the communication pattern within a group is becoming fragmented or dysfunctional in some way - thus, it is BEST for the social worker encourage the client to discuss his feelings with the other members of group

A client is having trouble at her job as her boss is asking her to do tasks that she does not feel qualified to do. The client has been afraid to say anything to her boss as she is worried about being fired. The BEST way for a social worker to help this client is to . .

engage in role playing with her to enhance her assertiveness skills - role playing is a good way to assess and enhance clients' communication skills - engaging in an active learning technique such as role playing will allow the client to practice asserting herself in a "safe" environment before doing so with her boss - this response choice is also best because it aims to enhance a skill that will be beneficial to the client not only in this situation, but in others in her life - the problem is not that the client is not qualified or does not feel qualified, but instead that she is reluctant to engage in a needed conversation with her supervisor

Which of the following is the best definition of environmental justice?

environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies - the concept of environmental justice began as a movement in the 1980s due to the realization that a disproportionate number of polluting industries, power plants, and low-income or minority communities - the movement was established to ensure fair distribution of environmental burdens among all people regardless of their background - it is based in the belief that a person's health should not suffer because of the environment where he or she lives and works

.Which of the following is not true related to social worker self-disclosure to a client?

even when handled judiciously and skillfully, self-disclosure cannot enhance the therapeutic alliance - social workers must be mindful of the ethical implications of self-disclosure - self-disclosure can be an indicator of boundary issues that may lead to dual relationships - there are no clear guidelines regarding when social workers' self disclosure to clients is appropriate, making self-disclosure in social work complex - most practice situations can be addressed with little or no social worker self-disclosure - however, when used skillfully and judiciously, self disclosure can strengthen the therapeutic alliance and facilitate client trust

Which perspective of bonding is based on the belief that humans come into the world preprogrammed to from attachments because they help them survive by providing security and safety?

evolutionary - John Bowlby suggested that children come into the world preprogrammed to form attachments with other because these attachments will help them to survive - this perspective views bonding within an evolutionary context in which a caregiver provides security and safety for a child - an alternative perspective views bonding as a learned behavior that results from classical conditioning - it posits that a child develops an attachment over time with whoever feels and cares for him or her because these actions reinforce contact with the caregiver

Which of the following is not true about family functioning?

families struggle against homeostasis in order to be healthy - families strive for a sense of balance or homeostasis - when not found, rules, or interactions may need to be adjusted in order to achieve or restore this balance - equilibrium allows families to cope with the challenges that they encounter with the resources available within the family unit.

A 13 year old client is staying home alone after school and is responsible for organizing her time. She is looking forward to high school next year and is selecting her classes so she can be a good candidate for college acceptance. This client is MOST likely in which of the following stages of cognitive development?

formal operation - the formal operations stage of cognitive development is the last one according to Piaget - this stage, which begins at about age 11, is characterized by planning for the future, think hypothetically, and assuming adult roles

Needle exchange programs for intravenous drug users are based on which of the following models of treatment?

harm reduction - harm reduction model refers to any program, policy, or intervention that seeks to reduce or minimize the adverse health and social consequences associated with substance use without requiring a client to discontinue use - needle exchange programs ensure that intravenous drug users have access to clean needles and syringes in order to reduce the passage of diseases caused by sharing "works" - these programs may be available in concert with inventions aimed at motivating clients to stop using intravenous drugs, but this is not the focus of needle exchange programs

Which of the following actions is MOST critical when using an empowerment approach with a client?

helping a client learn skills that can be used to solve future problems - empowerment aims to ensure a sense of control over well-being and to instill hope that change is possible

A school social worker has been informed that a student has been involved in an accident which has caused permanent physical disability. In order to BEST meet this student's needs, the social worker should be sure to assess the . .

impacts on the student's psychological and/or social functioning - the social worker must recognize the impact of illness or disability on all aspects of well being, not just the physical restrictions - systems theory is based on the concept that when one thing changes in a system, other aspects are affected - the student has experienced a change in physical functioning - this will likely impact on psychological and social well-being as the biopsychosocial functioning of an individual is interrelated - performance in these domains will affect the spiritual and cultural aspects of one's life as well

Sensorimotor stage occurs . .

in the first 2 years of life

An 11-year old student is performing well below her academic potential as she lacks confidence in her abilities and is fearful to take on assigned tasks. She is MOST likely experiencing a crisis in which of the following stages of psychosocial development?

industry versus inferiority - according to Erikson, industry versus inferiority takes place from age 6 to puberty - during this stage, children should initiate and complete projects, taking pride in their accomplishments - if they are not encouraged to do so or restricted in any way, children will feel inferior and lack confidence in their abilities

A social worker who is leaving employment to work at another agency must do which of the following related to termination with clients?

inform clients of appropriate options for the continuation of services - according to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers who are leaving an employment setting should inform clients of appropriate options for the continuation of services and of the benefits and risks of the options

When a client develops a strong sense of his or her cultural, racial, ethnic identity, and is comfortable socializing with those with diverse identities, a client is in which stage of his or her development?

internalization and commitment - the classic model of cultural, racial, and ethnic identity development refers to identity statuses rather than stages, because "stages" implies a linear progression of steps that may not occur for all - in internalization and commitment, the final status in the model, a client has developed a secure sense of identity and is comfortable socializing both within and outside the group he or she identifies with - identity development begins with a pre-encounter in which a client may not be consciously aware of his or her culture, race, or ethnicity, and how it affects his or her life - in encounter, a client has an interaction that provokes thought about the role of culture, racial, and ethnic identification - after an encounter, there may be period of immersion - emersion, followed by searching for information about cultural, racial, and ethnic differences and learning through interaction with others

Which of the following is TRUE about physical contact of a client by a social worker?

it is not allowed if there is a possibility of psychological harm to a client or it is sexual in nature - setting clear, appropriate, and sensitive boundaries that govern physical contact are essential for professional practice - social workers should not engage in physical contact with clients when there is a possibility of psychological harm to a client as a results of the contact (such as cradling or caressing clients) - physical contact or other activities of a sexual nature with clients are clearly not allowable for social workers

Which of the following is NOT true about age of majority?

it is the same for every activity in every state - the age of majority is when a client is recognized by law to be an adult, capable of managing his or her own affairs and responsible for any legal obligations created by his or her actions - a person who has reached the age of majority is bound by any contracts, deeds, or legal relationships such as marriages, which he or she undertakes - parental obligations typically end when a child reaches the age of majority - in most states the age of majority is 18, but it may vary depending upon the nature of the activity in which the person is engaged - in a state, the age of majority for driving may be 16 while that for drinking alcoholic beverages is 21 - thus, it is not the same for every activity in every state

A client reports that her husband has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and she will be the primary caregiver for him. What will be MOST helpful for the social worker to do in assisting the client?

listen to the client's feelings about her husband's behavioral and personality changes - although connecting with other caregivers and identifying family member who may assist may be helpful, the social worker can be of MOST assistance by listening to the client's feelings about changes seen in her husband - caregiving comes with a multitude of psychosocial stressors due to the transitioning of roles and accompanying expectations - the client may feel worried, angry, resentful, guilty, tired, sad, anxious, and/or frustrated - these feelings are compounded when assistance is not appreciated by those being cared for - the social worker can provide help by listening, as well as assisting - if requested by the client to sort out these feelings, find their roots and reframe them into empowerment, opportunity, and choice

Which of the following is true about child sexual abuse?

most children who are sexually victimized do not perpetrate against others - while past sexual victimization can increase the likelihood of sexually aggressive behavior, most children who were sexually victimized never perpetrate against others

A client reports that she has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Which of the following systems within the body are MOST affected by this medical condition?

muscular/skeletal - fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, diffuse tenderness, and a number of other symptoms - although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritis - related condition, it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles, or other tissues - like arthritis, fibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person's ability to carry on daily activities - it is considered a rheumatic condition, a medical condition that impairs the joints and/or soft tissues - most of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women - the causes of fibromyalgia are unknown - many people associate the development of fibromyalgia with physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic events or repetitive injuries - others link it to an illness for others, fibromyalgia seems to occur spontaneously

Which of the following accurately defines "people first language?"

naming the person before a diagnosis, disability, or condition so as not to define him or her by this trait - the use of "people first language" began in the disability self-advocacy community, but is now used universally - it is the belief that a person is not his or her disability; by referring to those with varying physical and cognitive abilities as "the disabled," society is dehumanizing them - thus, sentence structure should be used that names the person first and the condition second in order to avoid perceived and subconscious dehumanization when discussing people with diagnoses, disabilities, or conditions - person first language would call for the use of "people with disabilities" rather than "disabled people" or "the disabled"

A social worker uses a puppet when playing with a 6-month old infant. The social worker quickly hides the puppet behind her back. The infant begins to cry. This behavior is MOST likely a result of the child not yet developing which of the following?

object permanence - object permanence is the ability to realize that an object exists even if it is not seen, felt, or heard - it develops at about 8-12 months of age, within the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development, according to Piaget

When a social worker is making observations in a setting in which he or she has minimal involvement or interaction with those being studied, the social worker is assuming which of the following roles?

observer as participant - observations is a method used in scientific inquiry or other social work activities to collect data

An emancipated minor can do all of the following EXCEPT . .

obtain a driver's license at a younger age than typically required - an emancipated minor can enter into a contract, sue others, make health care decisions, and so on - however, the emancipated minor still has to follow other laws and, thus, cannot get a driver's license or drink alcohol prior to the legal age to do so

A social worker is collecting information on dynamic risk factors when completing an assessment on a perpetrator of abuse. Which of the following characteristics will NOT be asked about in the interview?

past history of violent behavior - dynamic risk factors can be improved by interventions such as change in living situation, treatment of psychiatric symptoms, abstaining from drug and alcohol use, access to weapons, and so on - static risk factors cannot be altered (such as past offenses, history of violence, age) and thus, should not be the target of interventions

An 8-year old child who was physically abused several years ago before being removed from his home is in need of services to address anger issues. Based on the cognitive development of the child, the BEST modality to meet the child's needs is . .

play therapy - an 8 year old child may not have the cognitive and expressive verbal communication skills to adequately describe his or her feelings or thoughts - thus, play therapy that uses pictures, toys, puppets, dolls, and other objects is BEST used to assist in addressing the concerns in all steps of the problem solving process

A client who acts in a manner opposite of his or her unconscious beliefs is MOST likely using which of the following defense mechanisms?

reaction formation - reaction formation is adopting attitudes, beliefs, and/or feelings contrary to what is actually believed unconsciously - it also may be acting differently than what would be expected given a client's unconscious views; for example, a client treats someone that he or she dislikes in an overly friendly manner -

When assessing the functioning of a community, which of the following is MOST important?

recognizing the assets that exist and can be leveraged - when conducting community assessments, it is essential for social workers to identify strengths or positive features (assets) of a community that can be leveraged to develop solutions to problems - strengths can include organizations, people, partnerships, facilities, funding, policies, regulations, and/or culture - although recognizing challenges or problems is also part of a community assessment, there is not an assumption that problems have to be addressed - community members must be the ones to determine if change has to occur and whether outside resources are desired and exist that can be helpful, as well as which strategies may work, based on past experience and other factors

Tranference can BEST be defined as the . .

redirection of a client's feelings toward a social worker - tranference refers to redirection of a client's feelings to a social worker - transference is often manifested as an erotic attraction toward a social worker, but can be seen in many other forms such as rage, hatred, mistrust, parentification, extreme dependence, or even placing a social worker in an esteemed status - countertransference is redirection of a social worker's feelings toward a client

What type of power is obtained by associating with others who have power?

referent - referent power is gained through charisma or associating with others who have power - coercive power is obtained through control of punishment - legitimate power comes from having legitimate authority - reward power is obtained through control of rewards

Substitution

replacing an unattainable goal, emotion, or object with a more realistic or acceptable one

A social worker and her supervisor are meeting when a teenager comes into the office and wants "to talk." The teenager reports that she is "being tortured" at home and is the victim of emotional and physical abuse. The supervisor tells the social worker that this child made similar allegations several years ago and they were not substantiated by the child protection agency. The supervisor tells the social worker to "monitor" the situation and keep the supervisor informed if any subsequent allegations are made by the teenager. The social worker should . .

report the allegations to the child protection agency immediately, informing both the teenager and the supervisor of the need to do so - social workers are mandated reporters - despite the supervisor's recommendation to "monitor" the situation instead of reporting, the social worker still must make a report based on the teenager's claims - it would not be appropriate to delay reporting to collect more information from the parents or see if subsequent allegations are made - in addition, the social worker should be forthcoming with her supervisor and the teenager about her actions and should not anonymously report after hours

Which of the following is NOT an essential part of obtaining a client's informed consent?

requiring that all consent forms are stored in the client's file - prior to receiving services, clients must be informed of certain provisions and consent to them - these elements are often explicitly stated on a form which a client signs and dates - however, the requirement and storage of the form in a client's file is not a critical element to obtaining informed consent - informed consent includes, but is not limited to, explaining the services available, payment expected and consequences for nonpayment of services, confidentiality, and the procedures for revoking informed consent at any time.

A community has a number of problems including rampant drug addiction, high crime rates, and poor school achievement - in order to assist, a social worker should FIRST . .

speak with community residents to assist them to prioritize their concerns - community organizing is based on the collective power of its residents to tackle problems of shared concern - there are several issues facing this community and it is critical that the social worker FIRST determine which of these problems, or other areas of concern are most critical for residents - social workers should not be making decisions about the focus of the intervention - as in micro practice, the social worker must immediately find out why the client has sought assistance in this case vignette, the client is the community and the social worker must work with residents to prioritize concerns as part of the initial engagement process.

A client tells a social worker that he feels "alone" and does not think that anyone else is having the same problems that he is experiencing. In order to assist the client, it is BEST that the social worker . .

state that many people have encountered similar difficulties and that the social worker is there to help - the social worker should intervene to let the client know that he is not alone as the social worker is available to assist - the client may feel isolated or alone because he has never met anyone with similar problems - it is important to acknowledge that each client's situation is unique, but a social worker must also instill hope by making it clear that others have made changes or overcome similar challenges

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation act created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Which of the following was NOT one of the reconstructed elements of this program?

states could set their own benefit levels - states were allowed to set their own benefit requirements under the Aid of Families with Dependent Children program, TANF's predecessor, which was created in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act

A client arrives for the first interview while in the midst of a manic episode. The client says that she has decided to get a divorce and asks the social worker to assist her. What should the social worker do FIRST?

summarize the clients wishes and arrange for her to undergo a psychiatric medication evaluation

A social worker meets with a family whose 21- year old daughter with significant developmental disabilities is leaving her educational entitlement and has been found unemployable at this time due to medical concerns. She has never had a job and financial assistance is needed to pay for her living expenses. She has no income or assets. Her parents are working and receive no public benefits. The daughter will MOST likely be eligible for which of the following?

supplemental security income - supplemental security is a benefit to low income people who are 65 or older; to adults who are disabled or blind - the program is only for people who have very limited income and assets - it is for individuals who have not worked or not worked enough to qualify for Social Security Disability

All of the following are appropriate social work roles during the development of an individualized education plan (IEP) except . .

testing the child to determine developmental lags or delays - testing is the role of the learning specialist or psychologist, not the social worker - as part of Individualized Education Plan development, the social worker will complete the family history and make observations about the child's relationships with other students and general participation in school - parent/family participation is essential to the IEP process, and the social worker will help solicit this participation and ensure that parents/family members understand the process and outcomes

A social worker needs to perform a suicide evaluation of a client who reports feeling depressed and having thoughts about death. What should the social worker assess FIRST?

the client's plan for committing suicide: suicide risk evaluations include both direct and indirect assessments. In direct assessments, you question the client directly, emphasizing specific factors that have been linked to an elevated, more imminent suicide risk: you explore whether the client has the means to enact the plan; and if the client has a plan and the means, whether the client's plan relatively lethal - evaluating psychological, historical, situational, and demographical factors associated with a risk for suicide are indirect means of assessment. An indirect assessment is also important, but the risk factors investigated during a direct assessment are highly specific indicators that enable you to more accurately and more rapidly determine the current level of risk

Which of the following is NOT a reason to seek collateral information related to client problems?

there could be payment and other service problems that should be known before formally accepting the client into services - the use of collateral sources and information is not "a fishing expedition" to see what can be caught - social workers can use collateral sources as informants, with clients' consent, to gather vital information from other professionals or agencies that may have treated clients in the past - family members and friends may provide important information about the length of severity of issues or problems - the use of collateral information is also used when the credibility and validity of information obtained from a client or other are questionable

Undoing

trying to erase a thought or feeling by doing something that is based on the opposite thought or feeling

A diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder requires the presence of delusions and hallucinations for at least _____ without symptoms of a depressive or manic episode?

two weeks: as its name suggests, schizoaffective disorder is characterized by concurrent psychotic and mood symptoms. However, the diagnosis, the individual must have experienced a period of at least two weeks without prominent mood symptoms

A client gets into a fight with his wife and buys her flowers and a ring several days later. These gifts are an example of . .

undoing - undoing is performing an act to "undo" a previous unacceptable act - in this case vignette, the client buys his wife flowers and a ring to try to eradicate the fight that they previously had

Splitting

viewing people or things as all good or all bad

Projective identification is . .

what is commonly referred to as a "self-fulfilling prophecy" because it occurs when a person begins to identify with the impulses being projected on him or her and the person subsequently acts in a manner consistent with this projection