Integrating Family Assessment Into Social Work Practice

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Abstract
Despite the existence of a number of potentially useful instruments for assessing family functioning, most social workers rely on idiosyncratic indicators when assessing clients' families. This article demonstrates the applicability of a classification system for the Family Environment Scale (FES) that requires no computer skill or mathematical expertise. Data from a randomly selected sample of 58 client families were subjected to the classification system, which yielded five distinct groups and accounted for 83% of the sample. When combined with clinical observations, the descriptions of the groups can aid in planning interventions and organizing services.