Often in Human Services, it is helpful to obtain background information on your clients. This is often done via a psychosocial assessment. However, there are various approaches in obtaining this information.

One common approach when working with families is referred to as the Strengths, Needs, and Cultural Assessment. This is a great way to find out information about the individual, and his or her family and their culture in an individualized and strengths-based way.

Refer to the "Guidelines for Strengths, Needs, and Culture Discovery." You may also search online for other government agencies' assessments. A good example is Butler County Strengths, Needs, Cultural Discovery Domain Interview through Ohio state government (www.fcf.ohio.gov).

Imagine your supervisor has asked you to perform a strengths, needs, and cultural assessment to gauge your abilities to conduct this type of information gathering. Your supervisor has given you the option of completing a strengths, needs and cultural assessment on a family member or friend. Your supervisor has emphasized that you change the name of the individual you use as the basis of the assessment to protect their privacy.

Use the University of Phoenix Material: Adapted Counseling Strengths, Needs, and Cultural Assessment to record the results of your assessment. Be sure to address your areas of strength and needs.

Use the results of the assessment to develop a treatment plan to address your needs. The treatment plan must include a SMART goal and each goal must have an accompanying objective and intervention.

Format your assessment and plan consistent with appropriate course-level APA guidelines.