overview

The interventions with clients/client systems content outline comprises 24% of the Masters exam (approximately 36 questions).

competencies and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs)

IIIA. Intervention Processes and Techniques for Use Across Systems

• The principles and techniques of interviewing (e.g., supporting, clarifying, focusing, confronting, validating, feedback, reflecting, language differences, use of interpreters, redirecting) [Chapter: Communication Theories and Styles ]
• The phases of intervention and treatment
• Problem-solving models and approaches (e.g., brief, solution-focused methods or techniques)
• Methods to engage and motivate clients/client systems [Chapter: Assessment Methods and Techniques]
• Methods to engage and work with involuntary clients/client systems
• Methods to obtain and provide feedback
• The principles of active listening and observation [Chapter: Communication Theories and Styles]
• Verbal and nonverbal communication techniques [Chapter: Communication Theories and Styles]
• The concept of congruence in communication [Chapter: Communication Theories and Styles]
• 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 [Chapter: Crisis Intervention Theories and Intervention and Treatment Approaches]
• Methods and approaches to trauma-informed care [Chapter: Impact of Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care]
• Anger management techniques
• Stress management techniques
• 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) [Chapter: Theories of Group Development and Functioning]
• Family therapy models, interventions, and approaches [Chapter: Systems Theory and Family Theories]
• Couples interventions and treatment approaches [Chapter: Theories of Couples Development]
• The impact of out-of-home displacement (e.g., natural disaster, homelessness, immigration) on clients/client systems
• Permanency planning
• Mindfulness and complementary therapeutic approaches
• The components of case management
• Techniques used for follow-up
• The elements of a case presentation
• Methods to develop and evaluate measurable objectives for client/client system intervention, treatment, and/or service plans
• Techniques used to evaluate a client’s/client system’s progress
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies
• The indicators of client/client system readiness for termination
• Methods, techniques, and instruments used to evaluate social work practice
• Evidence-based practice [Chapter: Research, Evaluation, and Social Work Practice]
• Case recording for practice evaluation or supervision
• Consultation approaches (e.g., referrals to specialists)
• The process of interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary team collaboration
• The basic terminology of professions other than social work (e.g., legal, educational)
• The principles of case recording, documentation, and management of practice records

IIIB. Intervention Processes and Techniques for Use with Larger Systems

• Methods to establish program objectives and outcomes
• Methods to assess the availability of community resources
• Methods of service delivery
• Theories and methods of advocacy for policies, services, and resources to meet
clients’/client systems’ needs
• Methods to create, implement, and evaluate policies and procedures that minimize risk for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
• Concepts of social policy development and analysis
• Techniques to inform and influence organizational and social policy
• The principles and processes for developing formal documents (e.g., proposals,
letters, brochures, pamphlets, reports, evaluations)
• Methods to establish service networks or community resources
• Community organizing and social planning methods [Chapter: Theories of Social Change and Community Development]
• Methods of networking
• Techniques for mobilizing community participation [Chapter: Theories of Social Change and Community Development]
• Governance structures
• Theories of organizational development and structure
• The effects of policies, procedures, regulations, and legislation on social work practice
and service delivery
• Quality assurance, including program reviews and audits by external sources
• The impact of the political environment on policy-making
• Leadership and management techniques
• Fiscal management techniques
• Educational components, techniques, and methods of supervision
• Methods to identify learning needs and develop learning objectives for supervisees
• The effects of program evaluation findings on services
• Methods to evaluate agency programs (e.g., needs assessment, formative/summative
assessment, cost effectiveness, cost-benefit analysis, outcomes assessment)