Discuss how psychological disorders can impact the well being of a client and the importance of a forensic social worker to explore disorders
Dennis is a 59-year-old, divorced African American male diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. He was admitted to the inpatient unit after being found wandering the streets, believing he was a disciple of Jesus. He experienced his first psychotic break at age 19 when he was a student at Brown University and spent several months in the hospital.
Dennis was first incarcerated at age 16 for “petty theft” after “breaking and entering” a local high school with a group of friends one night. Since then, Dennis has had several hospitalizations for delusional and grandiose thinking and has continued to smoke marijuana daily.
Dennis has been misusing drugs and alcohol since his first incarceration at age 16. His driver’s license has been revoked for “driving while impaired.” Before admission to your agency’s outpatient program, his behaviors were becoming increasingly out of control and he was homeless. He was verbally abusive toward his girlfriend who was also homeless and, when under the influence of drugs and alcohol, had pushed her down a set of stairs, from which she survived without injury.
Dennis has not eaten in three days; he says he is fasting to cleanse his spirit. Both his brother and sister are with him for the appointment. When meeting with you, Dennis tries to debate the validity of various psychoanalytic references made to him, about him, by the social worker. He turns to his brother and says, “There is no need for me to be here. I have seen too many therapists and none have been able to help me. Why don’t you all just leave me to the streets?”
1. Reviewing Chapter 6, 12, and 13, discuss how psychological disorders can impact the well being of a client and the importance of a forensic social worker to explore disorders, prior to providing an assessment.
2. Review the Reading and research the theory, Critical Race Theory. Discuss how this theory may be applied to address the needs of the client in the case study. Be detailed.
3. As a forensic social worker, discuss two NASW Code of Ethics Standards (not the Core Values), to best support the family of the client in the Case Study. Be detailed.
4. Reflect on Justice News found at https://www.justice.gov Next, select one news story and share how forensic social work practice can be applied to address the issue presented. Share your own personal insight as a scholar.l
Requirements: 1-2 pages
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