Assessment is a structured approach to gathering and analyzing information about the client system and their story. How is the assessment process different when the client system is an individual or family versus a community made up of individuals and families?

Assessment involves gathering the needed information in order to determine appropriate intervention. Thorough assessment allows social workers to identify the problems that need to be addressed. Complex social problems often mean that both the micro and macro level factors contribute to social work cases.

In this Discussion, you compare differences in the assessment stage at different practice levels.

By Day 3

Post:

• Describe the assessment process as related to individuals and families.
• Briefly identify the types of information it is important to gather.
• Compare how assessment is similar and dissimilar at the macro level.
• Explain how you would gather the needed information at the macro level.
• Identify a situation where a client system (micro or macro) may be reluctant to engage in the assessment process.