SOWK 600 Engagement and Assessment

This course teaches engagement and assessment strategies for social work practice with individual clients. Engagement reflects the importance of human relationships, is trauma-informed, and respects client identities. Assessment in mental health practice is a collaborative process of defining presenting challenges, respecting client self-determination, and identifying client strengths to develop a mutually agreed-upon plan. Assessment includes knowledge of theoretical frameworks, psychopathology, and DSM diagnoses. This course helps students understand how bias, power, privilege, and personal values and experiences may affect their engagement and assessment with clients different from themselves.