MSW690 Social Work Capstone Worksheet: Ciatta Kollie D

Msw690 Social Work Capstone Worksheet Name : Ciatta Kollie Date : 8/10/2022f

This worksheet is designed to help you think through the problem you seek to address in your Capstone. You are encouraged to complete it with your MSW field supervisor or task supervisor. Please answer all of the questions below. The final step will be to develop your problem statement and research question.

Paper For Above instruction

Agency Information

In the space below, please answer the following questions: Where is your agency located? Please note the city and state, as well as if your agency is located in a metropolitan, suburban, exurban, or rural area. Who is the target population served by your agency? What services does the agency currently provide? What services has the agency considered adding?

The agency I am placed in is in Minnesota, a walk-in counseling agency open to all individuals regardless of challenges. Currently, the agency assists with personal issues such as addiction, suicidal ideation, life transitions like loss of loved ones, and relationship problems. The agency is considering adding follow-up services for individuals seeking help.

Target Population(s)

Describe the demographics of clients served—age, racial background, ethnicity, occupation, income, etc. How well do client demographics reflect the community? What barriers do community members face when accessing services (e.g., transportation, insurance, hours, availability)?

The agency serves individuals without insurance or unable to afford counseling, including clients from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, ages, and genders. It also supports homeless individuals, couples, and families with pressing issues. Client demographics closely mirror Minnesota’s population. Main barriers include lack of transportation, mainly affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged clients, despite free services and adequate staff.

Client and Agency Statement of Need

Describe a recent client—include age, race/ethnicity, income, education, and relevant demographics. Summarize their needs, situation, strengths, and challenges.

Recent client: an African American man, 48 years old, from the working class, with low English proficiency and limited education. He presented with depression, struggling with work pressure and family issues. He reported difficulty sleeping and poor appetite, indicating a need for counseling services.

Systems Assessment

Using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, identify two to three examples for each system that may impact the client. Select one or two systems exerting the greatest influence and explain why.

The macrosystem, including ethnicity and cultural beliefs about mental health, significantly impacts the client, as stigma and cultural misconceptions may hinder treatment. Poverty and educational limitations also affect access to resources. The chronosystem reflects the immigrant experience, with challenges such as language barriers and employment difficulties, compounded by historical social injustices faced by African Americans, like discrimination and racial disparities.

Formulating the Proposal Topic

Based on the information above, complete the following statement:

Problem Statement: Fear of stigmatization affects over 1,000 African Americans with depression who need counseling services in Minnesota.

Then, formulate the research question:

Research Question: How effective is cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing depression episodes among African American clients in a Minnesota walk-in counseling agency?

References

• Alegria, M., Falgasâ€Bague, I., & Fong, H. F. (2020). Engagement of ethnic minorities in mental health care. World Psychiatry, 19(1), 35.
• Chang, C. D. (2019). Social determinants of health and health disparities among immigrants and their children. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 49(1), 23-30.
• Cook, B. L., Hou, S. S. Y., Lee-Tauler, S. Y., Progovac, A. M., Samson, F., & Sanchez, M. J. (2019). A review of mental health and mental health care disparities research. Medical Care Research and Review, 76(6), 616–639.
• Crawford, M. (2020). Ecological Systems theory: Exploring the development of the theoretical framework as conceived by Bronfenbrenner. Journal of Public Health Issues and Practice, 4(2), 170.
• Woodland, S., Kahler, M., Blue Star, J., & Fielding, B. (2021). Borrowing Bronfenbrenner: An argument for increasing the intersection of diverse theoretical and applied models. Child Care in Practice, 27(1), 1-15.