Social workers often identify client problems that suggest the need for a new or more focused service. Rather than bemoaning the lack of resources, many social workers consider creating new services in the future. They might next imagine what an appropriate service or program would look like. This week, you generate a needs assessment plan for a program that meets an unmet need of your choice.
To prepare for this Discussion, review the examples of needs assessments presented in both of the readings. Consider the elements of a needs assessment plan that you must include in your own plan.
· Post a needs assessment plan for a potential program of your choice that meets a currently unmet need. Describe the unmet need and how current information supports your position that a needs assessment is warranted.
· Identify the sources of information that you might use when conducting a needs assessment, including potential informants. 
· Explain who among these potential informants would be valuable resources and why. Identify steps for obtaining credible, unbiased information.
References (use 2 or more)
Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do. (2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.
· (For review) Chapter 6, “Needs Assessment” (pp. 107–142)
· Chapter 7, “Crafting Goals and Objectives” (pp. 144–164)
Document: Tutty, L. M., & Rothery, M. A. (2010). Needs assessments. In B. Thyer (Ed.), The handbook of social work research methods (2nd ed.,pp. 149–162). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (PDF)
Discussion 2: Remaining Compassionate and Professional
As a social worker, you interact with individuals who are at various stages of change in their lives. This may become frustrating for you when clients are struggling to achieve their goals. Thus, it is important for you to develop strategies to process your experiences so that you can maintain your compassion and professionalism. As you consider the strategies you have developed to address these issues, also consider how you might help other social workers to develop such strategies. Perhaps you consulted with your supervisors when you had difficulty processing your emotions in particular situations. As you consider assuming a supervisory role, how might you apply your learning from those experiences to helping those whom you supervise?
For this Discussion, review the Levy case study in this week’s video. Consider how you, as a social worker, might address the challenge of remaining engaged with a client while not letting your emotions affect the interaction. Also, consider how you, as a supervisor, might discuss this topic with a social worker whom you supervise.
· Post a strategy that you, as the social work supervisor in the Levy case study video, might use to debrief the social worker after the session described in the video.
References (use 3 or more)
Kadushin, G., Berger, C., Gilbert, C., & de St. Aubin, M. (2009). Models and methods in hospital social work supervision. Clinical Supervisor, 28(2), 180–199.
McTighe, J. (2011). Teaching the use of self through the process of clinical supervision. Clinical Social Work Journal, 39(3), 301–307.
National Association of Social Workers. (2013). Best practice standards in social work supervision. Association of Social Work Boards. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/naswstandards/supervisionstandards2013.pdf
Laureate Education (Producer). (2014c). Sessions: Levy (Episode 5 of 42) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

For this assignment, you will compose two short critical essays explaining and evaluating arguments by other authors. This assignment allows you to analyze an issue from a variety of perspectives and assess arguments for or against the issue. By focusing your attention on how the original authors use evidence and reasoning to construct and support their positions, you can recognize the value of critical thinking in public discourse.
Read the two articles “Shooting in the Dark”, and “Focusing on the How of Violence” and write two separate analytical summaries.
This assignment has two parts.
Part 1—First Article
Write an analytical summary of the article focusing on the article’s main claims. Include the following:

• Provide a brief summary of the argument presented in the article.
• Identify and discuss three ways the author uses evidence to support assertions.
• Analyze how the author signals this usage through elements such as word choices, transitions, or logical connections.

Part 2—Second Article
Write an analytical summary of the article focusing on the article’s main claims. Include the following:

• Provide a brief summary of the argument presented in the article.
• Identify any value-based assertions in the article and how the author supports these value-based conclusions with evidence.
• Discuss how this evidence does or does not demonstrate relevance, consistency, transparency, and speculation.
• Analyze how the author signals the use of these elements through language. For example, word choices, transitions, or logical connections.

Write a 1,000–1,200 word paper in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources

Discussion—Multifaceted Assessment: Anne Marie’s Case

Many exceptionalities in children have a high comorbidity, which can make identification and intervention challenging for professionals. This is why, aside from legal and ethical requirements, multifaceted assessment is essential.
Review the following scenario:

Anne Marie is a thirteen-year-old girl who has always struggled socially and behaviorally. Although she has a few friends, she often argues with them, as well as with adults. Despite these challenges, she has always been successful academically, and so a formal evaluation was never conducted. However, Anne Marie’s parents are concerned that her behavior has become more pronounced this year and that she is spending even more time alone. Her parents are not sure if her problems are due to typical development (that is, puberty), a developmental disability such as an autism spectrum disorder, or an emotional disturbance.

Using the module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research multifaceted assessment.
Incorporate what you learned in your readings and respond to the following:

• Explain why it might be important to distinguish between typical development, developmental disability, and emotional disturbance for Anne Marie.
• Evaluate the roles each of the following would play in addressing Anne Marie’s challenges:
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
  • Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
• Identify any other information that might be important when assessing Anne Marie’s difficulties and designing an intervention for her. Discuss why this information would be important and how would you go about obtaining that information?

Write your initial response in 300–500 words.

Assignment 2: Discussion—Reflection

In this course, you have learned about the range of exceptionalities in children from low-incidence disabilities to gifted and talented, and also twice-exceptional children.
Given the realities of budget cutbacks, financial challenges, and legal requirements of schools, the focus tends to be on evaluating and providing interventions for students on the disability end of the exceptionalities continuum, rather than on those considered gifted and talented.
Using the module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research gifted and talented students. Then, reflect on what you have learned throughout this course.
Based on your research, respond to the following:
Part I

• What arguments can you make for focusing time and resources on children with disabilities, rather than on those considered gifted and talented?
• What arguments can be made for focusing on those considered gifted and talented?
• Given what you have learned about the continuum of exceptionalities, what recommendations would you make? Provide reasons to support your answer.

Remember to consider ethical and legal arguments.
Part II

• Explain why the term exceptionalities includes a continuum from those with low-incidence disabilities to gifted and talented. What do all of these children have in common?
• Describe something new that you learned, including how it might have changed your viewpoint on children with exceptionalities (such as, how research differs from what you thought was true or how an opinion or perspective was challenged).
• Discuss something you learned in this course that you would like to continue learning more about. How might you apply this knowledge in your career goals?

Write your initial response in 300–500 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

 
Assignment 1: Planning a Needs Assessment II
One of the many reasons social workers conduct needs assessment is to provide support for new programs. Social workers have many methods available to collect necessary data for a needs assessment.
Social workers can use existing data from a wide range of sources, including local and national reports by government and nonprofit agencies, as well as computerized mapping resources. Social workers can gather new data through interviews and surveys with individuals and focus groups. This data can provide the evidence that supports the need for the program.
To prepare for this Assignment, review the needs assessment plans that you and your classmates generated for this week’s Discussion. Also, review the logic models that you created in Week 7 and any literature on needs of caregivers that you used to generate them.
Consider the following to stimulate your thinking:
· Getting information about the needs of the target population:

• Who would informants be?
• What is your purpose for        interacting with them?
• What questions would you ask?
• What method would you use        (interview, focus group, questionnaire)?

· Finding potential clients:

• Who would informants be?
• What is your purpose for        interacting with them?
• What questions would you ask?
• What method would you use?

· Interacting with the target population:

• Who would informants be?
• What is your purpose for        interacting with them?
• What questions would you ask?
• What method would you use?

Submit a 2-page paper outlining a hypothetical needs assessment related to the support group program for caregivers. Include the following:
· The resources needed to operate this service
· The program activities
· The desired outcomes
· A plan for gathering information about the population served
· Justifications for your plans and decisions
· A one-paragraph conclusion describing how you might conduct a follow-up to the needs assessment at the implementation stage of the program evaluation
References (use 2 or more)
Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do. (2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.
· (For review) Chapter 6, “Needs Assessment” (pp. 107–142)
· Chapter 7, “Crafting Goals and Objectives” (pp. 144–164)
Document: Tutty, L. M., & Rothery, M. A. (2010). Needs assessments. In B. Thyer (Ed.), The handbook of social work research methods (2nd ed.,pp. 149–162). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (PDF)
Assignment:
Journal: Supervising Others
Take a minute and think about the supervisors you have had in the workplace. What were characteristics of effective supervisors? As you reflect on these experiences, consider how supervision affected your ability to complete the tasks associated with your job. Also, think about how leadership styles can influence the relationship between social workers and their supervisors.
For this Assignment, review the Petrakis case study in this week’s video and note how supervisory and leadership skills are portrayed.
Assignment (4–5 paragraphs)
Complete the following Journal entry:
· Identify attributes of leadership styles and approaches that facilitate quality supervision.
· Evaluate the supervisory and leadership skills demonstrated in the Petrakis case study by identifying which supervisory and leadership skills the supervisor demonstrated.