Assignment Guideline

Types of Child Maltreatment

Assignment is a case study/research paper.  Students will choose the movie Precious, and apply theories and concepts from SOWK 678, previous social work classes, or research to apply to the main character in the chosen film.  The paper should be 12-14 pages long not including title and references pages.  This is a very comprehensive research paper, and is difficult to condense into 12-14 pages, below is a guide that helps estimate how much each section should include to allow for the necessary research and information.

1.Types of Child Maltreatment (approximately 1 page): Should include the following parts:

a. Identify types of child maltreatment observed in the film.

b. Give definitions or scholarly information on each type of maltreatment observed in the film.

c. Give examples of each type of maltreatment from the film.

2.Theoretical analysis (approximately 2-3 pages): Pick 1-3 theories (actual theories, not just scholarly information) and include the following:

a. Thorough description of the theory, then apply the theory to the character. Should be equal focus on the description of the theory and application to character.

b. The fewer theories chosen, the more detailed it needs to be.

c. Make sure to cite the information!

3. Impacts of Abuse (approximately 2-3 pages): Should include the following:

a. General impacts of abuse learned throughout the course.

b. Use significant research and critical thought.  Impacts should all link together rather than being a list.  Lists tell me that you can research, not that you actually understand how and why symptoms of abuse occur.

c. Identify impacts observed in the character from the film.  

d. General impacts should account for 2/3 of this section, observed impacts of the character should account for 1/3.

4. Culture/SES/Ethics (approximately 1-2 paragraphs each):

a. Explain how culture/SES/ethics apply to the character.

b. Use and cite sources for all information.  Fontes is a good source for culture and SES, NASW is a good resource for ethics.

5. Family Dynamics (approximately half page):

Should include research-based information to describe the family dynamics (roles and systems) observed in the film.  Your text has good information, feel free to find additional or alternative sources as well.

6. Engagement Strategy (approximately half page):

You will need to develop a specific, evidence based strategy for engagement. You will need sources to support your strategy, and should include actual techniques that you will use. Your goal in the engagement strategy is to:

a. Build rapport

b. Motivate them to come back again and build skills/make change

c. Be willing to relive and discuss traumatic memories and histories.

7. Treatment Plan (approximately 2-3 pages): Describes how you would treat both the acute symptoms of child abuse and heal the traumatic memories associated with child abuse.

a. Should include evidence-based therapeutic model(s), describe the model and theory (use research and remember to cite your research!!).

b. Give an outline or explanation on the steps that the model(s) uses, how it treats child abuse.

c. Should identify any holes you believe the model(s) has, and what additional models or activities you would add to compensate.

d. Describe how you would use this model(s) with the character, and why you believe it is a good fit for the character’s symptoms and needs.

8. Case Management (approximately half page, maybe less): This is the only section that does not need research

a. Identify character basic needs that are missing, and what referrals you would need to make.  

b. Hint: They ALL have at least one area in their life that would need assistance or improvement.  Some characters need much more than others.

c. You do not need actual agencies that you would refer to, but the type of agency.  Example is if the character needs housing, you could simply make a referral to a “housing agency”, you do not need a specific resource such as “Creekside Housing Authority” (save yourself the research on local resources! Just go general).

9. Diagnosis (approximately half page): This part is REQUIRED despite what the prompt says.  

a. Include the diagnosis(es), make sure it is an actual diagnosis found in the DSM V.

b. Give a clinical formulation to explain why the characters symptoms match criteria (you do not need to list all criteria, just explain how and why they match).

c. Explain any rule-outs or differential diagnoses that you believe may be present (i.e. any diagnoses that you think they may have but are not sure, would need more assessment).

d. You may use additional research if you want, but you are not required to use any other research other than the DSM.

e. If you do not have access to the DSM, you may use psychcentral.com