A study of social workers' assessment of client strengths
Hwang, Sung-Chul
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Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/19134
Description
Title
A study of social workers' assessment of client strengths
Author(s)
Hwang, Sung-Chul
Issue Date
1991
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Cowger, Charles D.
Department of Study
Social Work
Discipline
Social Work
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Social Work
Language
eng
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which social work practitioners recognize and make use of client strengths in assessment and in developing a case plan. This study utilizing a survey method, asked social work practitioners to read a written case analogue and a prepared assessment of that case, and evaluate the importance of assessment statements that are indicators of strengths and deficits of the client and the client's situation. The sample of this study was randomly selected from the list of Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) in the state of Illinois. T-tests for dependent and independent sample, and Pearson Correlation were used for data analysis.
The findings of this study indicated that the respondents recognized both client strengths and deficits as important, and client strengths more important than client deficits in assessment. The findings also demonstrated the congruency between the assessment and case plans. Those respondents who considered personal deficits of the client important were more likely to emphasize a counseling-oriented case plan while those respondents who considered strengths of the client important had a tendency to emphasize a case plan focusing on self-sufficiency of the client. These findings provide evidence that social work practitioners recognize client strengths important in assessment and make use of those positive and functional aspects of the client in developing a case plan. The study findings support the notion that social work assessment formulations and instruments should include client strengths explicitly.
The relationship of worker-related factors to assessment of client strengths and deficits was also examined in this study. The type of agency in which the respondents were employed, theoretical base of practice of the respondents, and primary areas of social work practice or major job responsibility of the respondents were found to be significantly related to the assessment of client strengths and deficits. Implications of these findings for social work assessment are further discussed. Suggestions for future research are presented.
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