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I. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, DIVERSITY, AND BEHAVIOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT 24%

IA. HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • Theories of human development throughout the lifespan (e.g., physical, social, emotional, cognitive, behavioral)
  • The indicators of normal and abnormal physical, cognitive, emotional, and sexual development throughout the lifespan
  • Theories of sexual development throughout the lifespan
  • Theories of spiritual development throughout the lifespan
  • Theories of racial, ethnic, and cultural development throughout the lifespan
  • The effects of physical, mental, and cognitive disabilities throughout the lifespan
  • The interplay of biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors
  • Basic human needs
  • The principles of attachment and bonding
  • The effect of aging on biopsychosocial functioning
  • Gerontology
  • Personality theories
  • Factors influencing self-image (e.g., culture, race, religion/spirituality, age, disability, trauma)
  • Body image and its impact (e.g., identity, self-esteem, relationships, habits)
  • Parenting skills and capacities
  • Basic principles of human genetics
  • The family life cycle
  • Models of family life education in social work practice
  • The impact of aging parents on adult children
  • Systems and ecological perspectives and theories
  • Strengths-based and resilience theories
  • The dynamics and effects of loss, separation, and grief

IB. HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • Person-in-Environment (PIE) theory
  • Family dynamics and functioning and the effects on individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
  • The dynamics of interpersonal relationships
  • Indicators and dynamics of abuse and neglect throughout the lifespan
  • The effects of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse on individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
  • The characteristics of perpetrators of abuse, neglect, and exploitation
  • The effects of life events, stressors, and crises on individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
  • The impact of stress, trauma, and violence
  • Crisis intervention theories
  • The effect of poverty on individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
  • The impact of the environment (e.g., social, physical, cultural, political, economic) on individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
  • Social and economic justice
  • Theories of social change and community development
  • The impact of social institutions on society
  • The impact of globalization on clients/client systems (e.g., interrelatedness of systems, international integration, technology, environmental or financial crises, epidemics)
  • Criminal justice systems
  • The impact of out-of-home placement (e.g., hospitalization, foster care, residential care, criminal justice system) on clients/client systems
  • Theories of couples development
  • The impact of physical and mental illness on family dynamics
  • Co-occurring disorders and conditions
  • The impact of caregiving on families
  • Psychological defense mechanisms and their effects on behavior and relationships
  • Addiction theories and concepts
  • The effects of addiction and substance abuse on individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
  • The indicators of addiction and substance abuse
  • Role theories
  • Feminist theory
  • Theories of group development and functioning
  • Communication theories and styles
  • Theories of conflict

IC. DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • The effect of disability on biopsychosocial functioning throughout the lifespan
  • The effect of culture, race, and ethnicity on behaviors, attitudes, and identity
  • The effects of discrimination and stereotypes on behaviors, attitudes, and identity
  • The influence of sexual orientation on behaviors, attitudes, and identity
  • The impact of transgender and transitioning process on behaviors, attitudes, identity, and relationships
  • Systemic (institutionalized) discrimination (e.g., racism, sexism, ageism)
  • The principles of culturally competent social work practice
  • Sexual orientation concepts
  • Gender and gender identity concepts

II. ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT PLANNING 30%

IIA. BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL HISTORY AND COLLATERAL DATA

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • The components of a biopsychosocial assessment
  • Techniques and instruments used to assess clients/client systems
  • The types of information available from other sources (e.g., agency, employment, medical, psychological, legal, or school records)
  • Methods to obtain sensitive information (e.g., substance abuse, sexual abuse)
  • The principles of active listening and observation
  • The indicators of sexual dysfunction
  • Symptoms of neurologic and organic disorders

IIB. ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • The factors and processes used in problem formulation
  • Methods of involving clients/client systems in problem identification (e.g., gathering collateral information)
  • The components and function of the mental status examination
  • Methods to incorporate the results of psychological and educational tests into assessment
  • The indicators of psychosocial stress
  • The indicators, dynamics, and impact of exploitation across the lifespan (e.g., financial, immigration status, sexual trafficking)
  • The indicators of traumatic stress and violence
  • Methods used to assess trauma
  • Risk assessment methods
  • The indicators and risk factors of the client’s/client system’s danger to self and others
  • Methods to assess the client’s/client system’s strengths, resources, and challenges (e.g., individual, family, group, organization, community)
  • The indicators of motivation, resistance, and readiness to change
  • Methods to assess motivation, resistance, and readiness to change
  • Methods to assess the client’s/client system’s communication skills
  • Methods to assess the client’s/client system’s coping abilities
  • The indicators of the client’s/client system’s strengths and challenges
  • Methods to assess ego strengths
  • The use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association
  • The indicators of mental and emotional illness throughout the lifespan
  • Biopsychosocial factors related to mental health
  • Biopsychosocial responses to illness and disability
  • Common psychotropic and non-psychotropic prescriptions and over-the-counter medications and their side effects
  • The indicators of somatization
  • The indicators of feigning illness
  • Basic medical terminology
  • The indicators of behavioral dysfunction
  • Placement options based on assessed level of care
  • Methods to assess organizational functioning (e.g., agency assessments)
  • Data collection and analysis methods

IIC. TREATMENT PLANNING

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • Methods to involve clients/client systems in intervention planning
  • Cultural considerations in the creation of an intervention plan
  • The criteria used in the selection of intervention/treatment modalities (e.g., client/client system abilities, culture, life stage)
  • The components of intervention, treatment, and service plans
  • Theories of trauma-informed care
  • Methods and approaches to trauma-informed care
  • The impact of immigration, refugee, or undocumented status on service delivery
  • Methods to develop, review, and implement crisis plans
  • Discharge, aftercare, and follow-up planning
  • Techniques used to evaluate a client’s/client system’s progress
  • Methods, techniques, and instruments used to evaluate social work practice
  • The principles and features of objective and subjective data
  • Basic and applied research design and methods
  • Methods to assess reliability and validity in social work research

III. PSYCHOTHERAPY, CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS, AND CASE MANAGEMENT 27%

IIIA. THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • The components of the social worker-client/client system relationship
  • The principles and techniques for building and maintaining a helping relationship
  • The dynamics of power and transparency in the social worker-client/client system relationship
  • The social worker’s role in the problem-solving process
  • Methods to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the social worker and client/client system in the intervention process
  • The concept of acceptance and empathy in the social worker-client/client system relationship
  • The dynamics of diversity in the social worker-client/client system relationship
  • The effect of the client’s developmental level on the social worker-client relationship
  • The impact of domestic, intimate partner, and other violence on the helping relationship
  • Verbal and nonverbal communication techniques
  • The concept of congruence in communication
  • Methods to obtain and provide feedback

IIIB. THE INTERVENTION PROCESS

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • The principles and techniques of interviewing (e.g., supporting, clarifying, focusing, confronting, validating, feedback, reflecting, language differences, use of interpreters, redirecting)
  • The phases of intervention and treatment
  • Problem-solving models and approaches (e.g., brief, solution-focused methods or techniques)
  • The client’s/client system’s role in the problem-solving process
  • Methods to engage and motivate clients/client systems
  • Methods to engage and work with involuntary clients/client systems
  • Limit setting techniques
  • The technique of role play
  • Role modeling techniques
  • Techniques for harm reduction for self and others
  • Methods to teach coping and other self-care skills to clients/client systems
  • Client/client system self-monitoring techniques
  • Methods of conflict resolution
  • Crisis intervention and treatment approaches
  • Anger management techniques
  • Stress management techniques
  • The impact of out-of-home displacement (e.g., natural disaster, homelessness, immigration) on clients/client systems
  • Methods to create, implement, and evaluate policies and procedures that minimize risk for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
  • Psychotherapies
  • Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches
  • Cognitive and behavioral interventions
  • Strengths-based and empowerment strategies and interventions
  • Client/client system contracting and goal-setting techniques
  • Partializing techniques
  • Assertiveness training
  • Task-centered approaches
  • Psychoeducation methods (e.g., acknowledging, supporting, normalizing)
  • Group work techniques and approaches (e.g., developing and managing group processes and cohesion)
  • Family therapy models, interventions, and approaches
  • Couples interventions and treatment approaches
  • Permanency planning
  • Mindfulness and complementary therapeutic approaches
  • Techniques used for follow-up
  • Time management approaches
  • Community organizing and social planning methods
  • Methods to develop and evaluate measurable objectives for client/client system intervention, treatment, and/or service plans
  • Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies
  • The indicators of client/client system readiness for termination

IIIC. SERVICE DELIVERY AND MANAGEMENT OF CASES

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • The effects of policies, procedures, regulations, and legislation on social work practice and service delivery
  • The impact of the political environment on policy-making
  • Theories and methods of advocacy for policies, services, and resources to meet clients’/client systems’ needs
  • Methods of service delivery
  • The components of case management
  • The principles of case recording, documentation, and management of practice records
  • Methods to establish service networks or community resources
  • Employee recruitment, training, retention, performance appraisal, evaluation and discipline
  • Case recording for practice evaluation or supervision
  • Methods to evaluate agency programs (e.g., needs assessment, formative/summative assessment, cost effectiveness, cost-benefit analysis, outcomes assessment)
  • The effects of program evaluation findings on services
  • Quality assurance, including program reviews and audits by external sources

IIID. CONSULTATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • Leadership and management techniques
  • Models of supervision and consultation (e.g., individual, peer, group)
  • Educational components, techniques, and methods of supervision
  • The supervisee’s role in supervision (e.g., identifying learning needs, self-assessment, prioritizing, etc.)
  • Methods to identify learning needs and develop learning objectives for supervisees
  • The elements of client/client system reports
  • The elements of a case presentation
  • The principles and processes for developing formal documents (e.g., proposals, letters, brochures, pamphlets, reports, evaluations)
  • Consultation approaches (e.g. referrals to specialists)
  • Methods of networking
  • The process of interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary team collaboration
  • The basic terminology of professions other than social work (e.g., legal, educational)
  • Techniques to inform and influence organizational and social policy
  • Methods to assess the availability of community resources
  • Techniques for mobilizing community participation
  • Methods to establish program objectives and outcomes
  • Governance structures
  • The relationship between formal and informal power structures in the decision-making process
  • Accreditation and/or licensing requirements

IV. PROFESSIONAL VALUES AND ETHICS 19%

IVA. PROFESSIONAL VALUES AND ETHICAL ISSUES

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • Legal and/or ethical issues related to the practice of social work, including responsibility to clients/client systems, colleagues, the profession, and society
  • Techniques to identify and resolve ethical dilemmas
  • The client’s/client system’s right to refuse services (e.g., medication, medical treatment, counseling, placement, etc.)
  • Professional boundaries in the social worker-client/client system relationship (e.g., power differences, conflicts of interest, etc.)
  • Ethical issues related to dual relationships
  • Self-disclosure principles and applications
  • The principles and processes of obtaining informed consent
  • Legal and/or ethical issues regarding documentation
  • Legal and/or ethical issues regarding termination
  • Legal and/or ethical issues related to death and dying
  • Research ethics (e.g., institutional review boards, use of human subjects, informed consent)
  • Ethical issues in supervision and management
  • Methods to create, implement, and evaluate policies and procedures for social worker safety

IVB. CONFIDENTIALITY

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • The use of client/client system records
  • Legal and/or ethical issues regarding confidentiality, including electronic information security
  • Legal and/or ethical issues regarding mandatory reporting (e.g., abuse, threat of harm, impaired professionals, etc.)

IVC. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SELF

This section of the exam may include questions on the following topics:

  • Professional values and principles (e.g., competence, social justice, integrity, and dignity and worth of the person)
  • Professional objectivity in the social worker-client/client system relationship
  • Techniques for protecting and enhancing client/client system self-determination
  • Client/client system competence and self-determination (e.g., financial decisions, treatment decisions, emancipation, age of consent, permanency planning)
  • The influence of the social worker’s own values and beliefs on the social worker- client/client system relationship
  • The influence of the social worker’s own values and beliefs on interdisciplinary collaboration
  • The impact of transference and countertransference in the social worker-client/client system relationship
  • The impact of transference and countertransference within supervisory relationships
  • The components of a safe and positive work environment
  • Social worker self-care principles and techniques
  • Burnout, secondary trauma, and compassion fatigue
  • Evidence-based practice
  • Professional development activities to improve practice and maintain current professional knowledge (e.g., in-service training, licensing requirements, reviews of literature, workshops)

Copyright 2021 Independent Study, Inc. All rights reserved.

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