1. Biopsychosocial Assessments: Part I
By: Kaity Stone, LMSW, MA
Program Manager
Women and Children’s Program
Presbyterian Night Shelter
Open with a case example

2. Case Example
Ms. Smith is a 35 year old Hispanic female. She was picked up by the Fort Worth police for loitering and dropped off at a local shelter. She was found by herself, panhandling for money on the side of the road. Her only possession is a small backpack. She has no children with her.
Allow for audience to read case example. Ask audience: Where do you start? Open floor for discussion on where you would start with this client. Does client need a translator? Transition into the need for biopsychosocial assessments.

3. Biopsychosocial Assessments
Part I: Why?
The Need
The Use
Good vs. Poor Assessments
The Person and the Social Environment
Part II: How?
Techniques
Theories
Use of Self
Using the Tier II

4. The Need
Basis for the social worker’s interaction with the client (Hepworth, et al., 2006)
Form picture of the client and their difficulties
Identify needs
Determine immediate needs vs. long term needs
Provide appropriate referrals and resources
Set goals
Give examples, use Ms. Smith

5. The Use Gather information about many different systems
Past and present biological, psychological, and cognitive functioning
Determine if agency and individual worker is best fit for client and their needs
Eligible for program admission

6. The Social Worker
Most basic function is to “link clients with essential resources and services (Hepworth, et al., 2006)”
Awareness of the “use of self”
Worker has an impact on how the client behaves
Be careful not to make premature judgment about client (Goldstein, 1999)

7. Good vs. Poor Assessments
A Good Assessment Should…
Help the social worker form an opinion about how best to help the client (Lesser & Pope, 2007)
Meeting the client where they are at
Dangers of Poor Assessment
Overlooking relevant information
Misdirected service and referrals
Potentially harmful to client
What is the client’s perceived need? Social worker’s option about client’s need? Difference between client’s perceived need

8. Identifying Level of Need: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943)
Physiological Needs: food, water, air, and sleep.
Security Needs: shelter, employment, safe environment
Social Needs: friendship, family relationships, involvement in the community
Esteem Needs: self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition
Self-actualizing Needs: personal growth, desire to fulfill self-potential
General systems theory: individual, family, employee, member of society,

9. Areas Addressed in a Biopsychosocial Assessment
Broken down into two sections (Goldstein, 1999):
The Person
The Social Environment
Use guide selectively
Form a comprehensive evaluation
Ask for examples of each section

10. The Person Genetic predispositions Physical health Substance use
Coping mechanisms
Developmental stages
Gender and sexual orientation
Ethnic and cultural background
Sense of meaning

11. The Social Environment
Physical surroundings
Family
Social Network
Cultural context

12. Biopsychosocial Assessment: Review
The Need
The Use
The Social Worker
Good vs. Poor Assessments
Levels of Need
The Person and the Social Environment

13. Case Example
Ms. Smith is a 35 year old Hispanic female. She was picked up by the Fort Worth police for loitering and dropped off at a local shelter. She was found by herself, panhandling for money on the side of the road. The only thing in her possession is a small backpack. She has no children with her.
Allow for audience to read case example. Ask audience: Where do you start? Open floor for discussion on where you would start with this client. Does client need a translator? Transition into the need for biopsychosocial assessments.

14. Next Time: How to conduct a Biopsychosocial Assessment
Techniques, styles, and examples
Theories
Use of self
Completing the Tier II
Continue to discuss Ms. Smith

15. References
Goldstein, E.G. (1999). Short-term treatment and social work practice: An integrative practice. New York: The Free Press.
Hepworth, D.H., et al. (2006). Direct social work practice: Theories and skills. (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education.
Lesser, J. G, & Pope, D.S. (2007). Human behavior and the social environment: Theory and practice. Boston: Pearson.