I. Model for a Case Presentation or Assessment (use these heading in your paper )
Identifying Information – Try to capture the person/family/community in a sort of verbal snapshot. Make a mental picture of your client in words. Short. California(USA)
II. Presenting Problem – Why have they come for help? In what capacity (your role) have they decided to come to you? Also short, within 2-¬3 sentences.
III. Current Situation – Describe the situation the client(s) find themselves in, something about their living situation, work, immediate problems, etc. Identify problems that may interfere or need to be considered as you work with the client(s) to try to develop a plan or approach to the difficulty. Usually this fits within a simple paragraph.
IV. History – Identify salient features of the client(s) personal/family/community/cultural history. Illnesses, education, work history, family structure, mobility, cultural traditions, religious beliefs and level of observance etc are some of the issues that should be considered here. This will be one of the longest sections of your assessment, sometimes several pages.
V. Assessment – Considering all the information you’ve collected, what are some of the outstanding features of this situation? Identify issues that will need attention as you make recommendations and a plan. Be sure to identify strengths and liabilities. Is there any other information you may need?
VI. Recommendations -¬‐ Draw up a set of recommendations for how you or someone else might work with this situation. This will likely be a list of tasks.
VII. Plan -¬‐ Sometimes the recommendations and plan are combined. The plan will be a more detailed version of the recommendations with information (Who? What? Where? When? How? Why?)
VIII. Follow up – Here you check back at regular intervals to make sure things are going smoothly, modifying the plan as needed. It is also good to do some follow up at intervals after you have stopped active work. The practice on follow up varies wildly from agency to agency. Liability issues may affect decisions about follow up as well.
Anderson & Carter, (2003). Diversity Perspective for Social Work Practice. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon
