The Social Work Settings and Helping Process (DIASS)

• What are the two main types of communities discussed in social work settings?

  Rural and Urban Communities
• What are the characteristics of rural communities in social work settings?

  • Lack of formal resources
  • Work in public service addressing a range of problems
  • Set aside existing differences
  • Seek additional opportunities for development
  • Advocate for best practices
  • Maintain a professional appearance
  • Balance professional and personal lives
• What are the characteristics of urban communities in social work settings?

  • Metropolitan areas with increased population density
  • Decrease in general size
  • Increased access to social services
  • Considerable opportunities in public and private sectors
  • Outside supervision
  • Increased communication
  • Understanding cultural variations
• What are the two main types of practice in social work?

  • Direct Practice
  • Indirect Practice
• What is direct practice in social work?


  Working directly with the client as a case worker
• What is indirect practice in social work?

  • Facilitating change through programs and policies
  • Working behind the scenes
  • Helping prevent problems from developing
  • Collaborating with agencies
  • Providing concrete assistance
  • Implementing sociopsychological interventions
• What are the direct helping methods in social work?

  1. Social Case Work
  2. Social Group Work
  3. Community Organization
• What is social case work?


  Dealing with individual problems where the individual cannot cope due to reasons beyond their control
• What are the key components of social case work?


  Information about the client’s environment, finding causes, preparing treatment plans, and professional relationships
• What is the goal of social group work?

  To improve relationships and social functioning through group experiences
• What is community organization in social work?

  A systematic attempt to improve relationships and solve community problems
• What are the auxiliary methods in social work?

  1. Social Welfare Administration
  2. Social Work Research
  3. Social Action
• What is the purpose of social welfare administration?

  To organize and administer social work services
• What does social work research involve?

  A systematic investigation to find facts, test hypotheses, and discover causal relationships
• What is the goal of social action in social work?

  To bring about desirable changes for social progress
• What are the steps in the social work process?

  1. Assessment
  2. Diagnosis
  3. Treatment Plan
  4. Evaluation
• What is the purpose of assessment in social work?

  To summarize relevant information and create concise statements
• What does diagnosis involve in social work?

  Conducting a diagnostic statement or brief overview of the client's most relevant problem
• What is included in a treatment plan in social work?

  Goals of treatment, agreement between worker and client, and focus on the client’s strengths
• What are the components of evaluation in social work?


  • History
  • Baseline
  • Outside Verification
  • Psychological Tests
  • Statistical Tests
  • Ask the client
  • Ask other professionals
  • Ask people in the client’s life
  • Life changes
• What does the history component of evaluation assess?

  How long the problems lasted before the client sought help
• What is the purpose of baseline in evaluation?

  To establish a baseline reading of the client's problem during the first meeting
• How does outside verification contribute to evaluation?

  It factors out the tendency of clients to misrepresent their situation, making evaluation more valid and reliable
• What role do psychological tests play in evaluation?

  They help assess the client's situation when multiple professionals are involved
• What do statistical tests determine in evaluation?

  Whether the change was due to social work or chance occurrences
• What is the purpose of asking the client during evaluation?

  To use satisfaction instruments to gauge the client's perspective
• Why is it important to ask other professionals during evaluation?

  To gather additional insights about the client's situation
• What is the significance of asking people in the client’s life during evaluation?

  To gain a broader perspective on the client's situation
• What does the life changes component of evaluation assess?

  Changes in the client's life that may impact their situation