In the helping relationship, the social worker must maintain a balance between flexibility and appropriate boundaries. One such boundary is the use of touch. In social work, touch has long been held as dangerous and taboo. It may be harmful to a client, and it is important to be aware of the client’s past history. For example, a child with a history of sexual abuse could interpret touch as a sexual advance. However, touch can be a positive action, particularly for certain cultures.

On top of these perception and ethics issues, you should also determine your personal perspective for how you might use touch in your work with clients. In this Assignment, you reflect on your own culture and the role of touch in the helping relationship.

To prepare, watch the video Southside Community Services: Mrs. Bargas, Episode 3.

Submit a 2- to 3-page paper in which you:

• Explain how you view the use of touch in your personal life (e.g., tend to hug all friends and family or only touch close friends and family).
• Explain how your perspective on touch was developed (e.g., via family culture or experiences with friends).
• Identify two reasons you might use touch with a client, and why.
• Explain how you view the initiation of and reaction to the use of touch in Southside Community Services: Mrs. Bargas, Episode 3.
• Explain how you will determine that this use of touch will be positive for the helping relationship.
  • What would tell you that the use of touch is not appropriate for the client?

1(B)Assignment: Paper – Definition and Application of Generalist Practice

How do social workers apply a strengths-based and person-in-environment perspective to different populations and social problems? First, social workers assess the identified client and the client’s environment, recognizing that the interaction between person and environment may be creating or contributing to the problem. Depending on the assessment, the target for change may be the person and/or the environment. Second, social workers assess client strengths and then utilize those strengths during the change process. A strengths-based perspective asserts that all individuals, families, groups, and communities have strengths.

As a BSW social worker, you may be placed in the role of case manager, and this week’s assignment will help you consider that role when working with a specific population.

The Assignment

Submit a 2- to 3-page paper in which you do the following:

• Define “generalist practice” using your own words, supporting the ideas and concepts of the definition with citations to the course readings.
• Briefly describe a population and/or problem you might work with as a social worker.
• Explain the role of a case manager with this population and/or problem.
• Explain how a case manager could apply the person-in-environment perspective with this population.
• Explain how a case manager could apply a strengths-based perspective with this population.
• Apply concepts and material from this week’s resources to your paper.
  • Support your application of this week’s resources using APA citations and a reference page
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