MSW Comprehensive Exam:
Competency 1-9-Graded A
A social worker is meeting with her client for a first therapy session. What is the first
ethical responsibility she is obligated to meet in this session? Options: Protect the
client's best interests and wishes in goal setting.
Inform the client about the limits of confidentiality.
Determine the client's values so that these can be used to guide treatment.
Review the elements of privileged communication. - ANSWER-Inform the client about
the limits of confidentiality.
A social worker employed by a community-based organization finds her professional
decision-making to be influenced by elements other than concern about the client. What
ethical issue is this social worker facing? Options: Dual relationships.
Conflict of interest.
Incompetence.
Duty to warn. - ANSWER-Conflict of interest.
What core value of the social work profession is violated when a client is coerced into
consenting to treatment? Options: Service.
Commitment to clients.
Dignity and worth of a person.
Altruism. - ANSWER-Dignity and worth of a person.
During a counseling session at a mental health center, a social worker is told by their
client that the client intends to shoot a specific relative after leaving the session. What
professional duties are in conflict in this situation? Options:
Duty to warn per the Tarasoff decision and confidentiality.
Privileged communication and confidentiality.
Privileged communication and informed consent.
Confidentiality and dignity and worth of the person. - ANSWER-Duty to warn per the
Tarasoff decision and confidentiality.
A 16 year old has become a client of an outpatient clinical social worker after surviving a
sexual assault by the sibling of a classmate at her school. The client's parents have
signed a release of information allowing the social worker to communicate directly with
school staff. The social worker is contacted by one of the teachers who is concerned
that the client's school work has declined drastically. The teacher wants to know if
something has happened to the client. What should the social worker do in this
situation? - ANSWER-Talk to the client about whether they want any information
disclosed and the possible implications of disclosure.
, Adele, a social worker employed by a program serving at-risk youth at a local YMCA in
an urban community, lives in an apartment complex within walking distance of her work.
An avid reader, she frequently visits the local library and has joined a monthly reading
group. At her most recent visit, the group welcomed a new member who happens to be
the mother of one of the youths in her program. To determine how to respond to this
situation, what should Adele do first? - ANSWER-Assess the situation for risk of
potential harm or exploitation of the client.
During a counseling session, a client with a history of relationship problems shares a
text she received from one of your co-workers inviting her to a social event as their date.
Your co-worker is part of the treatment team that regularly reviews client cases
(including your client) and evaluates their progress. The client is seeking your advice
about whether to accept the date and attend the event. What should you do? -
ANSWER-Report the situation to your supervisor.
According to the Nuremberg Code, which provides the basis for Institutional Review
Boards' requirements for human subjects research, voluntary consent to participate in
research activities is an imperative. Which of the following statements does not meet
the criteria defining voluntary informed consent? - ANSWER-The participant must be
compensated either financially or by directly benefiting from the study.
Which of the following is NOT an underlying assumption of interest group theory? -
ANSWER-Opinion elites are key to the process of accessing policymakers. (Included:
Family policy is influenced by interest groups, Compromise, bargaining, formulation of
coalitions, negotiations and overlapping interests maintain group balance, Influence of a
particular group is largely determined by wealth, cohesion, and access to key
policymakers, size and power.)
How is Medicaid funded? - ANSWER-A blend of state and federal funds
What type of family policy seeks to alter the behaviors of individuals, families and
entities in a manner deemed proper or preferred by society? - ANSWER-Regulatory
Which of the following policies changed the structure of public assistance for poor
families by replacing guaranteed support with time-limited support? - ANSWER-
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act - Congress created
the TANF block grant through the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996, as part of a federal effort to "end welfare as we know it."
TANF replaced AFDC, which had provided cash assistance to families with children in
poverty since 1935.
Jerry Fletcher believes that there are a handful of critical people that control the policies
that dictate the actions of society. Which of the following best describes Jerry's position?
- ANSWER-Elite Power Theory.
Competency 1-9-Graded A
A social worker is meeting with her client for a first therapy session. What is the first
ethical responsibility she is obligated to meet in this session? Options: Protect the
client's best interests and wishes in goal setting.
Inform the client about the limits of confidentiality.
Determine the client's values so that these can be used to guide treatment.
Review the elements of privileged communication. - ANSWER-Inform the client about
the limits of confidentiality.
A social worker employed by a community-based organization finds her professional
decision-making to be influenced by elements other than concern about the client. What
ethical issue is this social worker facing? Options: Dual relationships.
Conflict of interest.
Incompetence.
Duty to warn. - ANSWER-Conflict of interest.
What core value of the social work profession is violated when a client is coerced into
consenting to treatment? Options: Service.
Commitment to clients.
Dignity and worth of a person.
Altruism. - ANSWER-Dignity and worth of a person.
During a counseling session at a mental health center, a social worker is told by their
client that the client intends to shoot a specific relative after leaving the session. What
professional duties are in conflict in this situation? Options:
Duty to warn per the Tarasoff decision and confidentiality.
Privileged communication and confidentiality.
Privileged communication and informed consent.
Confidentiality and dignity and worth of the person. - ANSWER-Duty to warn per the
Tarasoff decision and confidentiality.
A 16 year old has become a client of an outpatient clinical social worker after surviving a
sexual assault by the sibling of a classmate at her school. The client's parents have
signed a release of information allowing the social worker to communicate directly with
school staff. The social worker is contacted by one of the teachers who is concerned
that the client's school work has declined drastically. The teacher wants to know if
something has happened to the client. What should the social worker do in this
situation? - ANSWER-Talk to the client about whether they want any information
disclosed and the possible implications of disclosure.
, Adele, a social worker employed by a program serving at-risk youth at a local YMCA in
an urban community, lives in an apartment complex within walking distance of her work.
An avid reader, she frequently visits the local library and has joined a monthly reading
group. At her most recent visit, the group welcomed a new member who happens to be
the mother of one of the youths in her program. To determine how to respond to this
situation, what should Adele do first? - ANSWER-Assess the situation for risk of
potential harm or exploitation of the client.
During a counseling session, a client with a history of relationship problems shares a
text she received from one of your co-workers inviting her to a social event as their date.
Your co-worker is part of the treatment team that regularly reviews client cases
(including your client) and evaluates their progress. The client is seeking your advice
about whether to accept the date and attend the event. What should you do? -
ANSWER-Report the situation to your supervisor.
According to the Nuremberg Code, which provides the basis for Institutional Review
Boards' requirements for human subjects research, voluntary consent to participate in
research activities is an imperative. Which of the following statements does not meet
the criteria defining voluntary informed consent? - ANSWER-The participant must be
compensated either financially or by directly benefiting from the study.
Which of the following is NOT an underlying assumption of interest group theory? -
ANSWER-Opinion elites are key to the process of accessing policymakers. (Included:
Family policy is influenced by interest groups, Compromise, bargaining, formulation of
coalitions, negotiations and overlapping interests maintain group balance, Influence of a
particular group is largely determined by wealth, cohesion, and access to key
policymakers, size and power.)
How is Medicaid funded? - ANSWER-A blend of state and federal funds
What type of family policy seeks to alter the behaviors of individuals, families and
entities in a manner deemed proper or preferred by society? - ANSWER-Regulatory
Which of the following policies changed the structure of public assistance for poor
families by replacing guaranteed support with time-limited support? - ANSWER-
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act - Congress created
the TANF block grant through the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996, as part of a federal effort to "end welfare as we know it."
TANF replaced AFDC, which had provided cash assistance to families with children in
poverty since 1935.
Jerry Fletcher believes that there are a handful of critical people that control the policies
that dictate the actions of society. Which of the following best describes Jerry's position?
- ANSWER-Elite Power Theory.
