LMSW Practice Test

When a social worker is dealing with a family in crisis, what is the first aim of the intervention?

1. Get the family to acknowledge their specific issues

2. Help the family understand their dynamics

3. Resolve the family's immediate crisis

4. Refer the family to community resources

The correct answer is: Get the family to acknowledge their specific issues

The primary aim of intervention when a social worker is dealing with a family in crisis is to resolve the family's immediate crisis. In crisis situations, families often face acute stress and may be in a state of turmoil. The first step in these cases is to stabilize the situation, ensuring the safety and well-being of all family members. This might involve addressing urgent needs such as safety from harm, accessing emergency resources, or providing immediate emotional support. While acknowledging specific issues, understanding family dynamics, and referring to community resources are important components of effective intervention, they typically come after the immediate crisis has been addressed. Once the immediate needs of the family are tended to, the social worker can then help the family explore underlying issues and dynamics, which may contribute to their crisis. Following that, a referral to community resources can aid in long-term support and resilience-building.