Selecting Target Problems and Goals

Purpose: To select the target problems and goals that will give directions of the social work intervention.

Discussion: A goal is a desired end toward which activity is directed. Thus, the goal of the social work intervention is the end or outcome sought by the client and his or her social worker. This goal should logically flow from prior data gathering and assessment that examined both the client’s strengths and resources and his or her problems and needs. The goal of intervention can take many forms: For example:

• Learn a skill or acquire needed knowledge (e.g., learn how to interview for a job, manage time, make decisions, resolve interpersonal conflict, manage stress, take care of a child etc.).
• Make an important decision (e.g., decide on a college major, whether to get a divorce, whether to relinquish custody of a child, whether to seek help for an emotional problem, etc.).
• Gather information needed to make a plan or make a decision.
• Assess a problem or concern (e.g., conduct a careful assessment of some concern in order to decide if it a serious problem needing attention, what is the nature of the problem is, etc.).
• Make a plan (e.g., formulate a plan of how to best to address some concern or problem)
• Change a behavior (e.g., increase a desirable behavior, decrease or eliminate a troublesome behavior).
• Alter attitudes about self or about some other person(s).
• Gather information about availability of certain types of services or programs
• Become linked to an enrolled program or service provided by some agency or professional
• Rebuild damaged relationship (e.g., reach out to and re-establish with estranged parent or child, improve husband-wife relationship, etc.).
• Change the way of life circumstances or life event that is perceived or interpreted (e.g., learn to assign new meaning to events and circumstances, view things from a different angle, develop new perspectives, etc.).
• Achieve a more satisfactory adjustment to an unchangeable condition or situation (e.g., a chronic illness or permanent disability or a death of a loved one).

Sometimes a social worker and a client can quickly agree on a goal. This is likely when the client’s need or problem is readily apparent to both the client and worker. However, in many cases, the social worker and client will see things differently and must struggle to reach agreement on the nature of the problem and on what can and should be done about it. Often, the worker and client must also devote considerable time to task of priority setting in order to decide which of the client’s many problems and concerns should become target problems for intervention. Until those decisions are made, they cannot formulate a feasible intervention plan.

1. Explain why you are suggesting a further exploration of the client’s situation. Briefly identify your concerns and the advantages of an additional session or two. For example: “I realize that you see no problems that deserve my attention, but what you have said about getting fired leads me to believe that you really try to get along at work but for some reason you and your supervisors often clash on how best to do the job. Because of that, I suggest we meet two times and talk more about your job experiences. If, after the second session, we cannot figure out what might be done to improve the situation, we will stop meeting.”

• Solicit the client’s thoughts and feedback of the proposal

For example: “What do you think about suggestion for meeting with me two times for a review and the stress your experiencing on the job?” (If client responds with no, say, for example, “Well I understand your reluctance and I will respect your decision, but let me give you one other reason why I think it is a good idea…”)

• Set up a plan for a future meeting. For example: “I am glad that you agreed to meet again. As I said, we will meet two times. If it proves useful, that will be great. But, if after the second session, it doesn’t seem useful, then we will not continue. How about meeting the next two Wednesday’s at 4pm?
• Identify two or three topics to discussed. For example” “When we meet next week, let’s start with a discussion of the jobs you have really liked and why. Second, I would like to discuss the type of supervision you expect to get on the job. Does what sound like a reasonable place to begin?”