Assignment: Using a Genogram in Social Work Practice

As you likely know from your own life, human relationships are complex. As such, social workers may find it difficult to keep these important interactions in mind when addressing an individual client’s needs. Several tools have been developed to assist in understanding and assessing relationships in the context of social work. One is an ecomap, which shows connections between the client or family and the social environment. Another is a genogram, which records the members of a family and their relationships, in much the same way as a family tree. Because it shows multiple generations, a genogram is useful in identifying, among other things, intergenerational trauma. Once a social worker creates a genogram for a client, they may refer to it when analyzing the client’s unique situation.

For this Assignment, you develop a genogram of your own family or a family with which you are familiar. You then reflect on that experience and apply your learning to social work practice.

To Prepare:

• Review      the Learning Resources on genograms and how to create them.
• Access      the Social Work Case Studies media. Navigate to the Hernandez family, and      explore the example genogram.
• Using      a free genogram software or freehand, develop a genogram of your own      family or a family with which you are familiar.  

By Day 12/25/2021

Submit 3 or 4-page paper that includes the following:

• A      completed genogram of your own family or a family with which you are      familiar (as a pasted screenshot, PDF, or image)
• A      reflection on what you learned by completing the genogram
• An      explanation of how a genogram would be useful in social work practice
• An      example from the genogram you created or the Hernandez Family genogram to      illustrate the application of this tool in social work

Use the Learning Resources to support your Assignment. Make sure to provide APA citations and a reference list.  

Submit a 3- to 4-page paper that includes the following:

A completed genogram of your own family or a family with which you are familiar (as a pasted screenshot, PDF, or image)

18.9 (27%) – 21 (30%)

Genogram meets expectations and exceeds by showing essential family history and relationships across generations through the use of genogram symbols.

A reflection on what you learned by completing the genogram 

12.6 (18%) – 14 (20%)

Response meets expectations and deepens reflection through insightful connection to the Learning Resources.

An explanation of how a genogram would be useful in social work practice
An example from the genogram you created or the Hernandez Family genogram to illustrate the application of this tool in social work

22.05 (31.5%) – 24.5 (35%)

Response meets expectations and exceeds by expanding upon the explanation through details and examples from the Learning Resources, peer-reviewed research, or other relevant sources. Two or more scholarly resources are used to support the response.

Writing

9.45 (13.5%) – 10.5 (15%)

Paper meets length requirements, meets expectations, is generally error free (two or fewer), and further exceeds by showcasing an exemplary scholarly voice to develop its message or communicate ideas.
 

Paper appropriately paraphrases sources, using one or less quotes. Presents polished APA Style. Citations, reference list, and paper formatting are generally error free (two or fewer).
 

Tone and presentation of ideas are free from bias and objective, unless otherwise directed in the prompt.

Required Readings

Zastrow, C. H., Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hessenauer, S. L. (2019). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.

• Chapter 12, “Sociological Aspects of Young      and Middle Adulthood” (pp. 536–603)

Auerbach, M. P. (2021). Cultural theories of poverty. In Salem Press encyclopedia. Salem Press.

Auerbach, M. P. (2021). Social theories of poverty. In Salem Press encyclopedia. Salem Press.

Miller, B., & Bowen, E. (2020). “I know where the rest of my life is going”: Attitudinal and behavioral dimensions of resilience for homeless emerging adults. Journal of Social Service Research, 46(4), 553–570. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2019.1607647

Pope, N. D., & Lee, J. (2015). A picture is worth a thousand words. The New Social Worker. https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/practice/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-genograms-social-work-practice/

Genogram Software

Wondershare EdrawMax. (n.d.). Online genogram maker. https://www.edrawmax.com/genogram/genogram-maker/

GenoPro. (n.d.). GenoPro 2020. https://genopro.com/

Required Media

Walden University, LLC. (2021). Social work case studies [Interactive media]. Walden University Blackboard. https://class.waldenu.edu