SOCW 4353 Integrative Field Seminar Biopsychosocial Paper Gu

Socw 4353 Integrative Field Seminarbiopsychosocial Paper Guidelinesdue

For this assignment, you will watch a movie of your choice and perform a biopsychosocial assessment on one significant character from the movie. The movie and character must have prior approval from the instructor. Use the outline below to help guide the format of your data collection. The format of the outline is to be used in writing this paper. Use the headings listed below in your paper.

The biopsychosocial assessment and intervention plan are to be written as though they will be presented to a court or interdisciplinary team. That is, they are to be written in a professional format, rather than as a course paper. This format will be discussed in class. The completed assignment will be 5-7 pages typed, double-spaced with no grammatical or spelling errors. Title Page: Please include your name, date, movie title, and selected character’s name.

Paper For Above instruction

Title Page

Jane Doe

November 1, 2019

Movie Title: “The Pursuit of Happiness”

Character: Chris Gardner

I. Identifying Information

Demographic Information: Chris Gardner is a 35-year-old African American male. He is currently unemployed but actively seeking work. He resides in a small apartment in San Francisco with his young son. He is divorced and has a complex relationship with his ex-wife. His living environment is modest; the neighborhood is urban with limited resources nearby.

Referral Information: The assessment was initiated by a social worker after observing Chris’s struggles during community outreach. The referral source was the outreach program coordinator.

Data Sources: Data was collected through interviews with Chris’s friends, social workers involved in his case, and observations during home visits. Additionally, employment records and social service documentation were reviewed.

II. Presenting Problem

Chris seeks assistance due to persistent homelessness and unemployment, which threaten his ability to care for his son. He reports feelings of frustration, hopelessness, and anxiety, especially concerning his financial stability. He mentions that he has been attempting to secure a stable job but faces barriers such as lack of resources and transportation.

Other individuals involved include his ex-wife, who is concerned about his stability, and his son, who is affected by their housing instability. They view the problem as critical, with Chris’s ex-wife emphasizing the importance of stability for their son’s well-being.

Historically, Chris experienced similar periods of hardship following his divorce and financial setbacks. Previously, he coped through community support and perseverance, but this current situation appears more severe and prolonged.

III. Background History

Developmental History: Chris grew up in an impoverished neighborhood, facing early instability. His childhood was marked by frequent moves and limited access to extracurricular activities.

Family Background: His family consisted of a single mother who struggled with employment. His support system is limited, with strained family relations. Communication patterns were often confrontational, affecting his ability to seek help or express vulnerabilities.

Relationship History: Chris has a complex history of intimate relationships, including a recent breakup due to his ongoing struggles.

Education and Vocational Training: He completed high school but lacked further vocational training, which limits his employment prospects.

Employment History: His work history includes manual labor jobs, which he often left due to physical strain and low pay.

Military History: None reported.

Substance Use: Occasional alcohol use; no evidence of substance abuse reported.

Medical History: Generally healthy but reports occasional migraines and sleep disturbances.

Mental Health History: No prior psychiatric treatment; current stress contributes to anxiety, with some depressive symptoms.

Nodal Events: Recent divorce, loss of employment, and eviction have significantly impacted his psychological state.

Cultural Background: African American, primary language English, with strong cultural ties to community and faith.

Religion: Active member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which provides social support.

IV. Assessment

The core issue from the client’s perspective is his inability to secure stable housing and employment, causing stress and anxiety. From the worker’s perspective, the interrelatedness of social, economic, and psychological factors complicates the case.

Chris’s functioning is compromised—he struggles with self-esteem, resourcefulness, and resilience under sustained stress. Factors contributing to his difficulties include limited education, systemic socioeconomic barriers, and recent traumatic events like divorce and eviction.

Strengths include his resilience, motivation to improve, and social ties through church and community. He demonstrates resourcefulness but needs support to mobilize these resources effectively.

The client shows motivation for intervention, evident in his continued job search and engagement with services. His potential to benefit is high given his motivation and support networks.

V. Recommendations/Proposed Intervention

Goals:

1. Short-term: Secure temporary housing through community resources within 30 days.
2. Long-term: Obtain stable employment and permanent housing within 6 months.

Actions: Engage in job training programs; connect with housing assistance agencies; provide counseling for emotional support and resilience building.

Obstacles and Approach: Resistance to institutional help may be addressed through motivational interviewing and building rapport. Systemic barriers will be navigated via collaboration with community agencies and advocacy.

Overall, the plan aims to stabilize Chris’s immediate living situation while addressing underlying issues contributing to his ongoing hardships.

References

• George, M. J., & Bennett, B. (2018). Biopsychosocial assessment in social work practice. Journal of Social Work, 12(3), 245-256.
• Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196(4286), 129-136.
• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.
• Saleebey, D. (2013). The strengths perspective in social work practice (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
• Rosenberg, M. (2019). Cultural competence in biopsychosocial assessment. Social Work Today, 19(4), 22-27.
• Fawcet, A. (2019). Community resources and intervention strategies. Clinical Social Work Journal, 47(2), 150-162.
• Johnson, K. M., & Green, J. (2017). Addressing systemic barriers in social work. Social Service Review, 91(2), 213-234.
• National Institute of Mental Health (2020). Mental health and social determinants. NIH Publication.
• Turner, F. J. (2014). Social work treatment: Interpersonal approach (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Walsh, F. (2016). Strengths-based counseling: A positive approach to social work. Journal of Counseling & Development, 94(2), 165-172.