NY ASWB LMSW Exam Prep – New York licensure study guide and practice
questions
A 13-year-old male is referred to the social worker by a teacher. The student struggles with
personal hygiene, getting to school on time, rarely turns in homework, and is constantly falling
asleep. What should the social worker assess for FIRST?
A. Child abuse
B. Child neglect
C. Substance abuse
D. Level of motivation - correct answer ✔✔B. Child neglect
RATIONALE: Signs of child neglect may include: Consistently poor hygiene, poor sleep habits,
lack of appropriate clothing for weather or season, frequently unsupervised, left alone or
allowed to play in unsafe situations, and lack of needed medical or dental care. The stated signs
indicate an assessment for neglect is needed.
The classic features of depression include all of the following except?
A. Significant weight loss or weight gain
B. Fatigue or loss of energy reported on most days
C. Longer periods of deep sleep with inability to regain energy when waking
D. Loss of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable - correct answer ✔✔C. Longer
periods of deep sleep with inability to regain energy when waking
RATIONALE: Longer periods of deep sleep with the inability to regain energy MAY be a symptom
of depression. However, it is not a classic feature because some people may experience sleep
disturbances that cause hypersomnia (excessive tiredness) OR insomnia (difficulty sleeping). The
other answer choices are "classic" depression symptoms included in DSM 5 diagnostic criteria.
,A new social worker at a Head Start program has been assigned to work with an African
American woman and her two young children. The social worker is a white female from a rural
town who has never worked with an African American client. The social worker feels unsure of
her abilities to connect and provide services to this client. In order to build cultural competence,
the social worker should FIRST?
A. Explore her own self-identity and how her beliefs may affect the therapeutic relationship
B. Obtain literature on best practices for working with diverse clients
Identify cultural norms that may help her connect with the client
D. Ask the social work supervisor to co-treat the family - correct answer ✔✔A. Explore her own
self-identity and how her beliefs may affect the therapeutic relationship
RATIONALE: Cultural competence is the ability to comprehend, interact, and communicate with
individuals regardless of their cultural background. Cultural competency starts with an
awareness of one's own cultural views. The social worker needs to explore her self-identity to
determine where areas of need may lie.
You are volunteering to work on a crisis hotline. You receive an anonymous call and the caller
discloses his wife has made threatening comments and he is worried she may have a plan to
commit suicide. As you are taking down the information you realize that this man's wife is your
client. Ethically speaking, what is the best course of action?
A. Hang up. Taking the call would be a conflict of interest
B. Suggest ways the caller can help protect the safety of his wife
C. Tell the caller you are his wife's therapist and ask to speak to the wife directly
D. Continue the call and collect information about the wife so you can bring it up in your next
therapy session. - correct answer ✔✔B. Suggest ways the caller can help protect the safety of
his wife
RATIONALE: Answers C and D would violate the ethical principle of confidentiality. Answer A is
not appropriate as we would never hang up on a client in crisis. B is the most appropriate
answer as it provides safety planning support for the client
, Which of the following is the MOST important benefit of community participation in social work
practice?
A. It puts the decision-making power partly or fully with the community members
B. It shows politicians that individuals want to get involved and need change in their
communities
C. It informs community members about the work that needs to be done to create change
D. It helps manage workload to be divided up amongst community members - correct answer
✔✔A. It puts the decision-making power partly or fully with the community members
RATIONALE: When community members are involved in the decisions of their community, they
will be empowered to make lasting changes. When working in communities it is essential that
social workers work WITH community members and respect their involvement in the decision-
making process.
A family who has just immigrated to the United States from Mexico comes to the hospital for
medical care for their son. He repeatedly has stomach pains and headaches and they are
worried something more serious may be going on. In the intake with the parents, the social
worker determines that they have previously tried taking the son to a local spiritual healer but
he still continues to get sick. What would be the BEST course of action for the social worker to
take?
A. Report the family to CPS for medical neglect
B. Explain to the family that it is not acceptable in the US to go to spiritual healers
C. Acknowledge the family's concerns and explain to them what will happen next at their visit
D. Refer the family to a support group for children with medical needs - correct answer ✔✔C.
Acknowledge the family's concerns and explain to them what will happen next at their visit
RATIONALE: It is important to respect the client's cultural background. Acknowledging their
concern and explaining what will happen next is the BEST response. There is no indication that
medical neglect is occurring. Answer B is inappropriate and places personal assumptions on the
client. Referring the client to a support group is not needed at this time.
questions
A 13-year-old male is referred to the social worker by a teacher. The student struggles with
personal hygiene, getting to school on time, rarely turns in homework, and is constantly falling
asleep. What should the social worker assess for FIRST?
A. Child abuse
B. Child neglect
C. Substance abuse
D. Level of motivation - correct answer ✔✔B. Child neglect
RATIONALE: Signs of child neglect may include: Consistently poor hygiene, poor sleep habits,
lack of appropriate clothing for weather or season, frequently unsupervised, left alone or
allowed to play in unsafe situations, and lack of needed medical or dental care. The stated signs
indicate an assessment for neglect is needed.
The classic features of depression include all of the following except?
A. Significant weight loss or weight gain
B. Fatigue or loss of energy reported on most days
C. Longer periods of deep sleep with inability to regain energy when waking
D. Loss of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable - correct answer ✔✔C. Longer
periods of deep sleep with inability to regain energy when waking
RATIONALE: Longer periods of deep sleep with the inability to regain energy MAY be a symptom
of depression. However, it is not a classic feature because some people may experience sleep
disturbances that cause hypersomnia (excessive tiredness) OR insomnia (difficulty sleeping). The
other answer choices are "classic" depression symptoms included in DSM 5 diagnostic criteria.
,A new social worker at a Head Start program has been assigned to work with an African
American woman and her two young children. The social worker is a white female from a rural
town who has never worked with an African American client. The social worker feels unsure of
her abilities to connect and provide services to this client. In order to build cultural competence,
the social worker should FIRST?
A. Explore her own self-identity and how her beliefs may affect the therapeutic relationship
B. Obtain literature on best practices for working with diverse clients
Identify cultural norms that may help her connect with the client
D. Ask the social work supervisor to co-treat the family - correct answer ✔✔A. Explore her own
self-identity and how her beliefs may affect the therapeutic relationship
RATIONALE: Cultural competence is the ability to comprehend, interact, and communicate with
individuals regardless of their cultural background. Cultural competency starts with an
awareness of one's own cultural views. The social worker needs to explore her self-identity to
determine where areas of need may lie.
You are volunteering to work on a crisis hotline. You receive an anonymous call and the caller
discloses his wife has made threatening comments and he is worried she may have a plan to
commit suicide. As you are taking down the information you realize that this man's wife is your
client. Ethically speaking, what is the best course of action?
A. Hang up. Taking the call would be a conflict of interest
B. Suggest ways the caller can help protect the safety of his wife
C. Tell the caller you are his wife's therapist and ask to speak to the wife directly
D. Continue the call and collect information about the wife so you can bring it up in your next
therapy session. - correct answer ✔✔B. Suggest ways the caller can help protect the safety of
his wife
RATIONALE: Answers C and D would violate the ethical principle of confidentiality. Answer A is
not appropriate as we would never hang up on a client in crisis. B is the most appropriate
answer as it provides safety planning support for the client
, Which of the following is the MOST important benefit of community participation in social work
practice?
A. It puts the decision-making power partly or fully with the community members
B. It shows politicians that individuals want to get involved and need change in their
communities
C. It informs community members about the work that needs to be done to create change
D. It helps manage workload to be divided up amongst community members - correct answer
✔✔A. It puts the decision-making power partly or fully with the community members
RATIONALE: When community members are involved in the decisions of their community, they
will be empowered to make lasting changes. When working in communities it is essential that
social workers work WITH community members and respect their involvement in the decision-
making process.
A family who has just immigrated to the United States from Mexico comes to the hospital for
medical care for their son. He repeatedly has stomach pains and headaches and they are
worried something more serious may be going on. In the intake with the parents, the social
worker determines that they have previously tried taking the son to a local spiritual healer but
he still continues to get sick. What would be the BEST course of action for the social worker to
take?
A. Report the family to CPS for medical neglect
B. Explain to the family that it is not acceptable in the US to go to spiritual healers
C. Acknowledge the family's concerns and explain to them what will happen next at their visit
D. Refer the family to a support group for children with medical needs - correct answer ✔✔C.
Acknowledge the family's concerns and explain to them what will happen next at their visit
RATIONALE: It is important to respect the client's cultural background. Acknowledging their
concern and explaining what will happen next is the BEST response. There is no indication that
medical neglect is occurring. Answer B is inappropriate and places personal assumptions on the
client. Referring the client to a support group is not needed at this time.
