Sociology: Family Systems, Crisis Intervention, & Case Management

This sociology report provides an in-depth analysis of family systems theory using genograms and ecomaps to illustrate relationships and connections. It discusses the importance of genograms for social workers and explores systems theory in different perspectives. The report also examines crisis intervention, defining 'crisis' and detailing the role of social workers in providing support and addressing underlying issues. Furthermore, it differentiates between structured and unstructured interviews in case management, outlines the responsibilities of a case manager, and addresses confidentiality issues. The report includes a case note and advocacy letter example, delves into anti-oppressive practice with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, and reflects on personal experiences of powerlessness and empowerment.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Section 1: Systems theory
Using your own family, prepare:
1. A genogram (3 generations)
Use system theory to briefly discuss the significant relationships and connection represented in
the diagram.
With the help of the above genogram, the current statuses of the family members as well as
the relationship of the members with each other have been discussed. This diagram not only
demonstrates the number of deceased, estranged as well as separated members of the family, it
also demonstrated the closest relationships. The cross mark demonstrate deceased members
where as the red straight line demonstrates separated members of the family (Nascimento et al.,
2014). When it comes to the green and red marks, it demonstrates the closest members as well as
the estranged members of the family.

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2. What is genogram and why is it important? What is it for social worker?
A genogram can be defined as a pictorial display of the family relationship as well as medical
history of an individual. The concept is more advanced than a traditional family tree since it
allows the users to visualize hereditary patters as well as physiological factors that punctuate
relationships. The mentioned tool is used for identifying repetitive patterns of behavior along
with recognizing hereditary tendencies. Genograms got popularized in clinical setting s initially.
Latter it also got involved in social work practices (Souza et al., 2016). It is highly crucial for
social workers since it helps the same to understand the key individuals as well as relationships
in the life of the client. It also enables the social workers to understand the relationship status as
well as closeness of each member with the family. It can also help them to see patterns within
those generational patterns well s relationships which are affecting the clients. This in turn
enables them to eradicate social issues to a great extent (DeMaria, Twist & Weeks, 2017).
3. An ecomap

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Use Systems Theory to briefly discuss the significant relationships and connections represented
in the diagram.
Section 1:
1. What is system theory? How can you use system theory in different perspective?
System theory focuses on recognizing these resources and strengths of the system to help with
whatever issues they are facing. System theory can be defined as an interdisciplinary study
associated with system. A System is referred to a cohesive conglomeration of interdependent as
well as interrelated parts that are either natural or made my human beings. System theory
includes a single organism, any organization or society as well as any electro-mechanical or
informational artifact.

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Social workers possess the ability to encounter several varied obstacles in their own line
of work. Each obstacle is found to represents a different kind of challenge. When it comes to
psychodynamic perspective, it explains how internal as well as external forces interact in order to
influence emotional development. Conflict theory, on the other hand explains how the power
structures as well a disparities affects the lives of people.
An ecomap can be defined as a diagram which is often used by the social workers for
demonstrating the social as well as personal relationships of an individual with the environment.
A cornerstone of social work professionals are found to be joining clients from both strength
based as well as client centred perspective. One of the major benefits of ecomap includes
provision of social worker with a clear view of what is important. This in turn, enables the social
worker to understand the most crucial issues that needs to be eradicated.
Section 2: Crisis Intervention
Provide a definition of ‘crisis’ and critically discuss the role of social workers in crisis
intervention.
The term crisis can be defined as a open path for change as well as nearness to a certain
risk. Considering the fact that crisis has the ability to overpower an individual which in turn
often result in suicide as well as murder, it is considered as peril. It is also defined as an open
door since it provokes an individual to look for help.
When it comes to interventions of crisis, it includes strategies that possess the potential to
offer transient as well as rapid ways of helping individuals who are encountering an occasion

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that generates physical, physiological, emotional issues. A crisis can take place at a variety of
scenarios in which an individual experience a sudden loss of capacity for utilizing compelling
critical thinking as well as adapting abilities. A good number of situations an be viewed as
emergency that includes sudden natural calamities, cataclysmic events, rape or any other kind of
criminal exploitation, physiological mal-adjustments, wrong medical ailment, sudden
misfortune , death of family members or friends as well as contemplation of murder or suicide.
When it comes to the role of social workers during the time of crisis, it includes
providing advice to the affected individual or individuals, taking part in relational practices,
providing clinical medications, working together with families, networks, associations as well as
gatherings. As per the AASW codes of Ethics (Workers, 2010), social worker are also entitled
to provide support as well as social activity for addressing both foundational issues as well as
individual challenges. Their role also includes development of social policies, organization,
consultancy, the boards as well as social improvement. Whenever unique scenarios arrives,
social workers are found to target both helping the crisis-struck individual while differentiating
the issues in framework that is responsible for creating an imbalance.
Section 3: Case management – Interpersonal skills
1. What is the difference between structured and unstructured interviews?
A structured interview can be defined as an interview where the questions are already shortlisted
and each step of the interview has been pre-planned by the interviewer. When it comes to
unstructured interview, it can be defined as the interview where no exact questionnaire is being
prepared and candidates are asked spontaneous questions. In an unstructured interview there

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prevails no similarity between the questions asked to the candidates that in turn make this
interview rare as well as unique.
2. What are the responsibilities of the interviewer or case manager at the initial contact?
 Gaining knowledge about the applicants as well as explaining them the complete
structure and process of the interview.
 The case manager provides the candidates with a brief information about the
organization, its purpose as well as the services that the organization provides to its target
consumers
 The case manager obtains the problem statement of the candidates
 He is also responsible for gathering as well as recording information
 Along with identifying the next steps in the process of case management while informing
the candidates about the needs for eligibility along with necessary clarification about
what can be provided by the agency for the candidates.
3. What are some issues in relation to confidentiality in case management?
There exist two potential issues that are associated with confidentiality. Firstly, large
institutions find it highly difficult to limit their access of information only to the authorized
employees, visitors and support employee as well as delivery individuals. Hence
confidentially is highly crucial to keep all the records and conversation secure.
When it comes to the second issue, it includes privileged communication which can be
defined as a legal concept a good number of communications between the professionals and
the clients cannot be used without the concept of the later. While state laws are responsible
for determining which professional communications are privileged, in majority of the states,
social workers are not included. However, therapists are included in the list. As a result of

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this, the helper may be complained to present any kinds of confidential documents in court
for the benefit of the client Several times, this can be a major challenge for both the case
manager for explaining the limitation to an applicant while trying to collect effective
information.
Section 4: Case management – Writing Skills
1. Write a case note based in an interview you completed with a client during a role play
Meeting with X
Date: 11/1/2019
Venue: Headspace
Visit purpose: Assessment interview
Family: X’s father had disowned him. The relationship between X and his father are estranged.
X possesses good relationship with his siblings, mother and relatives who live in their family
home.
Education: X attend Scholl occasionally
Anti Social behavior: 1. Drugs: X’s father had found drugs in his bedroom
2. Police had arrested him for stealing car and breaking the same.
Concerns: x had been suffering from cough and stayed at his friends place for 12 weeks.
However, his friend’s parents have given him the ultimatum of another 2 weeks to leave their
house.

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Write an advocacy letter for the client in the case study provided for your case management
essay.
Date: 10/01/2019
YWCA of Darwin-Casy House
¾ Albatross St. Winnellie NT 0820
To whom it may concern:
As a case manager, I am referring X to your program in order to get assistance for housing.
Yesterday, X had paid a visit to our office and he seemed to be worried about his potential
homelessness after a couple of weeks. He also stated that he had attended school occasionally
and had also tried to contact his parents. However, his parents have refused to maintain contact
with him. Currently, X lacks finantial resources and requires a supervised, supportive and
structured environment to gain back his earlier emotional stability.
I will be highly obliged if your assistance is obtained regarding the matter. Since without your
service, the mentioned individual will become homeless.
Sincerely,
Mary Sun

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Section 5: Anti Oppressive Practice (AOP): Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social
Work Perspectives
 What is your cultural identity? How does it inform your thinking about social work?
I am an Asian by origin. Our family had migrated to Australia 10 years ago. Since I was born in
an Asian country, my cultural identity is highly dependent on eastern culture.
I have both traditional as well as modern thought process. To me, social work practices involves
helping out people in distress in order to enhance social functioning as well as overall wellbeing
(Padgett, 2016).
 The policy of assimilation has impacted heavily on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities. Can you explain what assimilation is and how it has affected social work
practice?
The term assimilation can be defined as adopting the behavior of an individual. Assimilation
have imposed high impact on the practice of the social workers since the timings of the workers
changes their behavior as well as wages.
 How could you use Anti-Oppressive Practice to inform your approach to working with
First Australian nations?
I would like to use AOP for giving the employees more power compared to the boss or
whoever is at the top position. Along with this, I will use this technique for developing better
relation with the individuals as well as for removing gender inequality, racism and the practice of
unequal wages. Finally, I will empower individual so that they can voice their opinion.
Section 6: Empowerment

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 Think of an incident where you felt powerless and discuss how you would have liked
someone to help you within that situation.
My experience of feeling highly anxious as well as helpless was during the time when I was
unable get recruited even after going through a good number of interviews. This incident had
made me highly discouraged as well as emotionally since all my other friends were getting
recruited. Above all this, the constant whispering about my joblessness among my friends and
fake sympathy towards me made me more depressed. As a person, I prefer people to directly
converse with me and give their opinion or advice instead of speaking behind my back.
 Think of a time when you felt powerful. How did you draw upon this in a positive way?
One of the moments that made me feel highly powerful and motivate when I obtained one of
the best jobs in a highly popular organization. While the amount of payment was high, the perks
that came with the job were even higher. Inspire of having negative experience during my
joblessness, I decided to encourage my friend as well as relatives to perform better in their
professional life. Not only this, I also provided them with assistance whenever they needed it. I
always try to maintain my humble nature and have never showed off or never looked down upon
individuals.
 How would you define empowerment for social work practice?
The term empowerment can be defined as the capacity of an individual to gain control of their
conditions along with accomplishing their own objectives. Empowerment also includes the
capacity of an individual to process in the direction of helping themselves along with other
people to boost the nature of their lives (Lee, 2001). When it comes to wellbeing as well as social

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consideration, strengthening implies healthcare provides, careers as well as administration clients
who practices decision along with taking control of their lives.
Section 7: Strengths-based perspective
 Reflecting on your understanding of a strengths-based perspective, what do you
understand this perspective contributes to social work practice and in what ways do
social workers apply strengths approaches?
Strength based practice can be considered as a social practice theory that put emphasize on the
free will of the people along with dotes. When it comes to social work practice, the strength
based perception has developed as a option in contrast to the more typical pathology-situated
way to deal with helping consumers. Instead of concentrating on the issues and shortfalls of the
consumers, the quality point of view I focused on the capacities, assets and abilities of the
consumers.
 Please read this document and locate any aspects of this document that you think reflect
the strengths perspective.
The major points that reflect the perspective of strengths include contribution to the education as
well as professional development of others. My perspective of strength also includes providing
supervision to the students, employees and co workers keeping accordance to the ethical values
as well as responsibilities. One also needs to ensure that training and education needs to be
provided in a manner wich are consistent with ethical values and responsibilities along with
promoting and sharing social work research and knowledge.
Section 8: Post-structuralism