: Case Study Guidelines
Each student will receive a different brief case study. You will write a paper that includes the following
topics and then summarized into a case plan. The first part of the paper should include the following elements:
1. Title Page: Your name, the date, paper assignment, and the name of the scenario.
2. Introduction: Include a sentence or two to briefly give the name of the individual or family you are working with and identify the presenting problem(s) the individual or family is experiencing.
3. Questions for client: Develop a list of questions that you need to ask the client or other people in the scenario to better understand what is going on. Write these questions as you would actually ask them of the client(s).
4. Research questions: Write several questions for your own research. What do you need to know in order to be competent to help in this situation as a social worker. Write these questions out. This is the F part of the Evidence Based Process = Formulate a Question . At least one of these questions should be about the most effective intervention strategy for dealing with the problem(s) in the case scenario.
5. Discuss ethical issues you might need/want to consider and how you will address those issues. Refer to the ethical principles from the NASW code of ethics we talked about in the earlier part of the semester (and in chapter 4 of the textbook). Delineate which standard(s) or core principles are the most important ones to think about. For example, the issue at hand might be a conflict between the standard of self-determination from the NASW code section 1.02 and the standard of confidentiality (section 1.07). Give examples of how this could play out in the cast study.
The second part of your paper is a case plan which summarizes what information you have gathered and your proposed treatment intervention approach. To do this you will need to research the questions from the above section 3. This is the L as in Locate the best evidence .
Your case plan should include the following:
1. Assessment of strengths and barriers.
2. At least TWO Goals and with each goal a clearly defined and measurable objective. Remember a goal is the future desired state, i.e. John will have a healthy and positive relationship with his partner based on open and clear communication . Objectives are shorter term and measurable (SMART). Don’t just state what you will do, which is neither a goal or objective.
3. For each objective, write a brief treatment plan, including specific intervention modalities and support for your decision(s). This is the A part of the EBP = Assess the quality of the evidence . Include and integrate your research in your paper (i.e. what you found on in answering part 3 above), accurately documented in APA style (i.e. using in-text citations and a reference list at the end). Describe the interventions, why you think they are the best option, and how effective they have been shown to be based on prior research.
4. Examine the interventions you have chosen as the ‘best options’ for this client and write a paragraph or two on your assessment of whether this intervention is really a viable option for you as a BSW level social worker to do yourself.
5. Finally, identify at least two agencies or individuals in your local community (i.e. 50 mile radius of where you live or your hometown) and report where you could refer the client to receive the interventions you talked about.
Save your write up in Microsoft Word format and upload to the ASULearn site.
