C-SSWS cheat sheet

Core social work values: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.

Informed consent requires capacity, disclosure of purpose/risks/benefits/alternatives, voluntariness, and documentation; consent may be withdrawn at any time.

Mandated reporting duties are triggered by reasonable suspicion, not proof; report to the designated agency and document the report, date, time, and recipient.

Duty to warn/protect (Tarasoff-type) arises when a client poses a serious identifiable threat to a specific person; steps include warning, notifying police, and arranging hospitalization.

Boundary crossings are minor, often unavoidable deviations; boundary violations are harmful and exploit the professional relationship.

Ethical decision-making sequence: identify the dilemma, consult the Code of Ethics and law, consult supervisors/peers, evaluate options, act, and document.

Confidentiality limits: imminent danger, suspected abuse/neglect, court order, and valid written authorization from client or guardian.

When ethical and legal duties conflict, seek legal consultation and document the reasoning; law generally sets the floor, ethics may require more.

Erikson's stages pair a psychosocial crisis with a virtue: trust/mistrust (hope), autonomy/shame (will), initiative/guilt (purpose), industry/inferiority (competence), identity/role confusion (fidelity), intimacy/isolation (love), generativity/stagnation (care), integrity/despair (wisdom).

Piaget's stages: sensorimotor (0-2, object permanence), preoperational (2-7, egocentrism, symbolic play), concrete operational (7-11, conservation), formal operational (11+, abstraction).

Kohlberg's moral stages progress preconventional (punishment/self-interest), conventional (social approval/law and order), postconventional (social contract/universal principles).

Bronfenbrenner's ecological model orders influence as microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem (time).

Attachment patterns (Ainsworth): secure, anxious-ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized; caregiving consistency predicts pattern.

Acculturation strategies (Berry): integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization, based on maintaining heritage culture and adopting host culture.

Cultural humility differs from cultural competence: it emphasizes lifelong self-critique, redress of power imbalances, and institutional accountability.

Intersectionality holds that overlapping identities (race, gender, class, disability) produce compounded advantage or disadvantage not captured by single categories.

Biopsychosocial assessment covers presenting problem, history, medical status, mental status, substance use, family, strengths, and risk factors.

Strengths-based assessment records client capacities, supports, and prior successes alongside deficits, because strengths drive the service plan.

SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound; each goal maps to measurable objectives.

The mental status examination components: appearance, behavior, speech, mood/affect, thought process/content, cognition, insight, and judgment.

Risk assessment weighs ideation, plan, intent, means, prior attempts, protective factors, and substance use; document each element.

Case coordination uses multidisciplinary teams, release-of-information forms, and clearly assigned roles to avoid duplication and gaps.

Cultural formulation (DSM-5) addresses cultural identity, explanations of illness, stressors/supports, clinician-client relationship, and overall assessment.

Service plans require client participation, review intervals, and revision triggers such as new risk, changed functioning, or unmet objectives.

Psychodynamic: unconscious conflict and defense mechanisms; transference is client projection onto worker, countertransference is worker reaction to client.

Cognitive behavioral: thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact; interventions include cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and exposure.

Motivational interviewing uses open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries (OARS) and targets change talk while avoiding argument.

Stages of change (Prochaska): precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse; interventions match stage.

Task-centered practice: identify target problems, set explicit tasks with deadlines, and review completion each session.

Solution-focused techniques include the miracle question, scaling questions, exception questions, and compliments.

Group stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning; group norms and cohesion shape member participation.

Family systems concepts: boundaries, triangulation, homeostasis, and differentiation of self guide assessment and intervention.

Crisis is a temporary state of disequilibrium in which usual coping fails; intervention aims to restore equilibrium and functioning first.

Suicide risk factors: prior attempt, plan with lethal means, hopelessness, isolation, substance use, recent loss, and access to firearms.

Safety planning components: warning signs, coping strategies, social contacts, professional contacts, means restriction, and reasons for living.

Trauma-informed principles: safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural humility.

Trauma responses include hyperarousal, intrusion, avoidance, and negative cognition/mood; screen rather than assume disclosure.

De-escalation uses calm tone, reduced stimulation, personal space, simple statements, and offering choices; avoid arguing with delusions.

Grief and disaster phases: impact, recoil, and recovery; interventions differ by phase and early intervention is supportive, not exploratory.

Mandatory crisis documentation includes risk level, means assessment, actions taken, consultations, and follow-up plan with time frames.

TANF provides time-limited cash assistance with work requirements; eligibility and benefit levels vary by state.

SNAP eligibility uses gross and net income tests and household size; benefits are issued through EBT.

SSI serves aged, blind, or disabled people with limited income and resources; SSDI requires a work history and insured status.

Medicare covers people 65+ and some disabled people; Medicaid is income-based and jointly funded by state and federal governments.

Section 8 housing choice vouchers subsidize rent in the private market; public housing is federally assisted rental stock.

IDEA guarantees free appropriate public education, individualized education programs, and least restrictive environment for eligible students.

ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment, public services, and accommodations, and requires reasonable accommodation.

Policy analysis framework: problem definition, goals, alternatives, stakeholders, costs/benefits, and implementation feasibility.

Case advocacy acts for an individual client; cause advocacy targets policy or systems affecting groups.

Community organizing models: locality development, social planning, and social action; social action is used when power is concentrated and conflict is likely.

Needs assessment methods include key informant interviews, surveys, focus groups, and secondary data review.

Coalition building requires shared goals, defined roles, communication norms, and conflict resolution mechanisms.

Power analysis maps decision-makers, their interests, allies, and leverage points before a campaign.

Lobbying versus advocacy: lobbying seeks to influence specific legislation; advocacy is broader and may include education and litigation.

Participatory approaches place affected community members in leadership of planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Social justice practice examines structural causes of inequity such as policies, resource distribution, and institutional bias.

Progress notes record date, interventions, client response, progress toward goals, risk status, and plan; avoid opinion without observed evidence.

SOAP format: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan; DAP replaces subjective/objective with Data.

A valid release of information names the client, the recipient, the specific information, purpose, expiration, and signature.

Corrections to records use dated addenda; never alter or remove original entries.

HIPAA permits disclosure for treatment, payment, and operations; psychotherapy notes require separate authorization.

Minimum necessary standard limits disclosure to the information needed for the stated purpose.

Subpoena versus court order: a subpoena compels appearance; a court order may compel disclosure; seek supervision and legal advice before releasing.

Records retention follows state law and agency policy; minors' records are typically retained until the age of majority plus the statutory period.

Supervision functions: administrative, educational, and supportive; each session should address casework and professional growth.

Supervisor competence includes knowing the supervisee's scope, licensure requirements, and ethical obligations.

Burnout components (Maslach): emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment.

Vicarious trauma is a cumulative shift in beliefs from exposure to clients' trauma; compassion fatigue is the associated emotional and physical depletion.

Self-care plan elements: sleep, exercise, social connection, boundaries, professional consultation, and regular supervision.

Continuing education requirements are set by state licensing boards; track hours and categories to avoid renewal lapses.

Reflective supervision uses observation, inquiry, and reflection rather than directive advice, and models parallel process.

Impaired practice indicators include missed appointments, boundary problems, and substance use; response includes consultation and possible referral to an assistance program.

Core social work values: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.

Informed consent requires capacity, disclosure of purpose, risks, benefits, alternatives, voluntariness, and documentation.

Mandated reporting is triggered by reasonable suspicion, not proof; report and document date, time, and recipient.

Duty to warn or protect arises when a client poses a serious threat to an identifiable person; warn, notify police, arrange hospitalization.

Boundary crossings are minor and often unavoidable; boundary violations exploit or harm the client.

Confidentiality limits: imminent danger, suspected abuse or neglect, court order, and valid written authorization.

Ethical decision-making: define the dilemma, consult the Code and law, consult supervisors, evaluate options, act, and document.

When ethics and law conflict, obtain legal consultation and document the reasoning; law sets a floor, ethics may demand more.