Lecture on Agents of Change and Social Work Study Group

Introduction

• Speaker: Megan Mitchell, Founder of Agents of Change
• Event: First annual Agents of Change Social Work Month study group
• Purpose: Celebrate social work and provide an overview of the Agents of Change platform and strategies for the social work exam.

Overview of Agents of Change Platform

• Audiovisual Program:
  • Utilizes various learning styles (visual, audio, hands-on collaboration)
  • Study groups held twice a month covering diverse topics like strategy, learning styles, ethics
  • Holistic approach: Incorporates other aspects like mental health, anxiety management
  • Community-driven with supportive members
• Dashboard and Course Structure:
  • Contains internet-based courses with a structured study plan
  • Topics include human development, assessment, interventions, ethics
  • Practice exams to help with timing and assessment
  • Suggested to go through content at least twice
• Content Availability:
  • Searchable dashboard for specific topics
  • Includes audio files for learning on-the-go
  • Access to past study groups with resources and audio files

Strategies for Social Work Exam

• Types of Questions:
  • Recall: Memorize facts, mostly for bachelor's level
  • Application: Apply knowledge in scenarios, more for master's and clinical levels
  • Reasoning: Higher-level thinking, mostly for clinical exams
• Exam Details:
  • 170 questions, 150 are scored
  • Scores vary, check ASWB website for details
• Test Strategies:
  • Read questions twice, consider all answers before choosing
  • Eliminate extreme answers (Answers that include ALL or ANY)
  • Avoid adding information not provided in questions
• Avoid making assumptions about information not given (teen moms not being able to care for baby or elderly not being able to care for themselves)

Social Work Helping Process

• Phases: Engagement, Assessment, Planning, Intervention, Evaluation, Termination
• Acronym: EAt PIE Today
• Purpose: Helps determine client's stage in the therapeutic process and appropriate actions

QUESTIONS When reading the question, determine if this is a First, Next, Should, Most, Best, Least likely -If you get a first or next question… order all of the answer choices

For FIRST or NEXT Questions, we can use the helping process to know where the client is… EAt PIE Today

Helping Process:: Engagement Assessment Planning Intervention Evaluation Termination

If you get a best question -Be able explain why your answer is better than the others

Five W's Strategy

• Who: Identify the client
• What: Presenting problem and questions
• Where: Setting of the scenario
• When: Timeline of the client's issues
• Why: Reason for social work intervention

Practice Questions and Analysis

• Structure: Utilization of 5 W's to break down questions
• Example Practice Question:
  • Focused on roles and boundaries in family therapy
  • Emphasized understanding client needs and appropriate interventions

WHO -Who is your client?

WHAT -What is the presenting problem? -What is the question asking? -What is the social worker’s role (case manager, clinician, community organizer)? -What does the social worker need to do?

WHEN -When did you meet the client? So think of that helping process. -When did symptoms occur? -And when did the presenting problem start?

WHERE -What setting are you in as the social worker? -Where is the client? -Is the client physically with you?

WHY -Why is the help of a social worker needed? -Why are these clues presented? -Is it a distractor? -Is it important?

Conclusion

• Resources and Follow-up:
  • Access to recordings, practice questions, and study materials
  • Encouragement to explore Agents of Change resources and social media
• Social Work Month Celebrations: Promotions and activities to engage the community