Demonstrate your use of the preparatory reviewing skill by examining this telephone intake report. List the
information contained in the report that you, as the social worker, would want to remember for a first meeting with
Mrs. Cannon:TELEPHONE
INTAKE REPORT
January 12, 10:13 A.M. Mrs. Nancy Cannon telephoned from her place of work (the Capital Insurance
Company—phone 234-6213). She sounded concerned. She said that on the previous Saturday night, her
14-year-old daughter Amy had come home after her 9:00 P.M. curfew, smelling of alcohol. She says that
she “grounded” her daughter but now wants to talk with a social worker about the situation. Mrs. Cannon
requested a personal appointment with the social worker, indicating that she wanted to sort things out with
someone before she dealt further with her daughter.
Mrs. C. reported that this was the first such incident. She said, “I’ve never had any trouble
whatsoever from Amy. She’s been a wonderful child.” She stated that she had not sought professional help
before and that this was her first contact with any social service or mental health agency. She indicated that
her husband, Amy’s father, had recently filed for divorce and had left the home approximately six weeks
ago. Mrs. C. wondered whether that might be connected with Amy’s misbehavior over the weekend.
Disposition: An appointment was scheduled with an agency social worker for tomorrow at 12:00 noon.
Mrs. C. requested a lunch-hour appointment, if at all possible, to reduce the amount of time away from her
job.
What will be an ideal response?
ANS: Students' answers will vary. Preparatory reviewing involves examining and considering information available
to you and your agency before an initial contact with clients or other constituents (Kadushin, 1983). When an
individual, family, group, organization, or community has previously received service from your agency, review the
relevant case records. When a telephone contact or an intake interview has preceded the first meeting, examine notes
concerning the nature and substance of that interaction. For first meetings with other people, such as an agency
director, a client's medical doctor, or a new supervisee, thoughtfully review relevant materials concerning the
general purpose of the meeting and any topics likely to emerge. When meeting with a family system or subsystem, a
group, an organization, or a community, preparatory reviewing becomes, if anything, even more important as you
ponder various intra- and intersystem factors and dynamics.
Preparatory reviewing helps you grasp significant facts and circumstances before meetings. This reduces
the need for applicants, clients, or other people to repeat information they have previously provided. It allows for
more efficient use of time and helps people feel that what they say is valued and remembere
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A. True B. False
In general, task groups differ from individual change in that they tend to be more ______.
a. open-ended in regard to goals b. formal in regard to structure and procedures c. capable of achieving social justice outcomes d. focused on worker actions
The domestic violence shelter where you work was originally designed to provide
safe shelter for women and children facing threats of physical violence. Over time, admission criteria have expanded to include threats of emotional abuse, so staff expertise to address emotional problems is not required. This is an example of: a. subjectivity. b. effectiveness. c. an unintentional consequence. d. efficiency.
A social worker in a victim assistance program seeks to have a juvenile client paint and repair a fence on the property of a park he vandalized, as well as author a written apology to park district staff. This illustrates the perspective of ______.
A. reciprocal justice B. monetary justice C. restorative justice D. retributive justice