SOCIAL WORK SOCIAL WORK ETHICS
AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
ASSESSMENT SCRIPT 2026
◉ Culture & Human Development
Answer: most cultures begin schooling at ages 5 or 6; race,
socioeconomic status, & ethnicity greatly shape a way a child
develops their sense of self (in comparison with the dominant
majority) & language acquisition (how many languages are they
learning & are they conducive to the language used at school/larger
context); foster youth more likely to experience homelessness &
have much less privilege & exploration at adolescence & emerging
adulthood; context & cultural also influences resilience
◉ Object Relations Theory
Answer: the psychodynamic theory that views the desire for
relationships as the key motivating force in human behavior;
explores the process whereby people come to experience
themselves as separate and independent from others, while at the
same time needing profound attachment to others
◉ Systems Theory
Answer: Factors at each level (micro, mezzo, macro) & how they
interact with one another to shape the lived experience; from which
,risk & protective factors derive; when conducting an assessment
(bio-psycho-social-spiritual)
Micro - IQ, age, gender, income, health, language, spirituality,
recreation, emotion, cognition, self-esteem
Mezzo - local economy & resource, coworkers, work, family, church,
neighborhood
Macro - government, discrimination & oppression, history, services
& resources, cultural values, community, economics, politics
◉ Feminist Theory
Answer: a theoretical approach that looks at gender inequities in
society and the way that gender structures the social world;
emphasizes how social, political, & economic structures should be
considered based on the effects of oppression & domination, power
& powerlessness; intersectionality
◉ strengths-based approach
Answer: an approach to interventions that focuses on the positive
attributes of the client and the client's environment; client knows
best about problem/issue & has the strengths within themselves to
be built upon; advocating and mobilizing resources for individuals,
families, or communities; empowerment (helping create influence to
increase strengths towards improving own circumstances)
◉ Person-in-Environment
,Answer: A practice-guiding principle in social work that highlights
the importance of understanding an individual and individual
behavior in light of the environmental contexts in which that person
lives and acts.
Biological level - diet, health, sexual functioning, medication and
substance use, family health & genetic history
Psychological level - self-esteem, coping skills, mental health (past &
present); personality traits, family history of mental illness, spiritual
development, cognitive & emotional development
Social level - work stability; engagement with social activities &
recreation; relationships with family, friends, and co-workers
Behavior may be understood by understanding its context, as it
relates to other settings, and as these settings related to one
another; attending to the complexities of the environment as we
would the individual; engaging the progressive forces in people and
situational assets, and effecting the removal or environmental
obstacles to growth and adaptive functioning
◉ psychodynamic theory
Answer: Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts,
motives, and unconscious forces
◉ Common Issues in a School SW Setting
, Answer: (1) social interpersonal or family problems (2)
aggression/disruptive behavior/bullying (3) behavior problems
associated with neurological disorders like ADHD (4) adjustment
issues (5) anxiety, stress, school phobia (6) depression and grief
reactions
◉ NASW Stance on School SW
Answer: School social workers seek to ensure equitable education
opportunities; ensure that all students are mentally, physically, and
emotionally present in the classroom; promote the respect and
dignity for all students
◉ Purpose of Social and Emotional Learning
Answer: Common elements of programs to implement (1) learning
environments are safe, caring, well-managed, and participatory (2)
social and emotional competency instruction in self-awareness,
social awareness, self-management, relationship skills, &
responsible decision-making
◉ Structural
Family Theory
Answer: Salvador Minuchin; goal = shift the family hierarchy to
influence change (need effective authority & hierarchy); families
need clear boundaries, power, & alignment; families need stable
relationship alliances and communication skills; families organize
themselves in relation to the problem they are experiencing;
AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
ASSESSMENT SCRIPT 2026
◉ Culture & Human Development
Answer: most cultures begin schooling at ages 5 or 6; race,
socioeconomic status, & ethnicity greatly shape a way a child
develops their sense of self (in comparison with the dominant
majority) & language acquisition (how many languages are they
learning & are they conducive to the language used at school/larger
context); foster youth more likely to experience homelessness &
have much less privilege & exploration at adolescence & emerging
adulthood; context & cultural also influences resilience
◉ Object Relations Theory
Answer: the psychodynamic theory that views the desire for
relationships as the key motivating force in human behavior;
explores the process whereby people come to experience
themselves as separate and independent from others, while at the
same time needing profound attachment to others
◉ Systems Theory
Answer: Factors at each level (micro, mezzo, macro) & how they
interact with one another to shape the lived experience; from which
,risk & protective factors derive; when conducting an assessment
(bio-psycho-social-spiritual)
Micro - IQ, age, gender, income, health, language, spirituality,
recreation, emotion, cognition, self-esteem
Mezzo - local economy & resource, coworkers, work, family, church,
neighborhood
Macro - government, discrimination & oppression, history, services
& resources, cultural values, community, economics, politics
◉ Feminist Theory
Answer: a theoretical approach that looks at gender inequities in
society and the way that gender structures the social world;
emphasizes how social, political, & economic structures should be
considered based on the effects of oppression & domination, power
& powerlessness; intersectionality
◉ strengths-based approach
Answer: an approach to interventions that focuses on the positive
attributes of the client and the client's environment; client knows
best about problem/issue & has the strengths within themselves to
be built upon; advocating and mobilizing resources for individuals,
families, or communities; empowerment (helping create influence to
increase strengths towards improving own circumstances)
◉ Person-in-Environment
,Answer: A practice-guiding principle in social work that highlights
the importance of understanding an individual and individual
behavior in light of the environmental contexts in which that person
lives and acts.
Biological level - diet, health, sexual functioning, medication and
substance use, family health & genetic history
Psychological level - self-esteem, coping skills, mental health (past &
present); personality traits, family history of mental illness, spiritual
development, cognitive & emotional development
Social level - work stability; engagement with social activities &
recreation; relationships with family, friends, and co-workers
Behavior may be understood by understanding its context, as it
relates to other settings, and as these settings related to one
another; attending to the complexities of the environment as we
would the individual; engaging the progressive forces in people and
situational assets, and effecting the removal or environmental
obstacles to growth and adaptive functioning
◉ psychodynamic theory
Answer: Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts,
motives, and unconscious forces
◉ Common Issues in a School SW Setting
, Answer: (1) social interpersonal or family problems (2)
aggression/disruptive behavior/bullying (3) behavior problems
associated with neurological disorders like ADHD (4) adjustment
issues (5) anxiety, stress, school phobia (6) depression and grief
reactions
◉ NASW Stance on School SW
Answer: School social workers seek to ensure equitable education
opportunities; ensure that all students are mentally, physically, and
emotionally present in the classroom; promote the respect and
dignity for all students
◉ Purpose of Social and Emotional Learning
Answer: Common elements of programs to implement (1) learning
environments are safe, caring, well-managed, and participatory (2)
social and emotional competency instruction in self-awareness,
social awareness, self-management, relationship skills, &
responsible decision-making
◉ Structural
Family Theory
Answer: Salvador Minuchin; goal = shift the family hierarchy to
influence change (need effective authority & hierarchy); families
need clear boundaries, power, & alignment; families need stable
relationship alliances and communication skills; families organize
themselves in relation to the problem they are experiencing;
