A 22-year-old man wants to move away to become more independent. What should the social worker do first?

A 22-year-old man wants to move away to become more independent. What should the social worker do first?

• A. Give him information about available apartments
• B. Help him see the ways in which he is still dependent on his family
• C. Suggest that the worker talk with his family to prepare them for this move
• D. Explore his intentions and his plans more specifically

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is starting with the client’s own goals and readiness. For someone seeking to move toward independence, the worker should first explore the person’s intentions in concrete terms: What does he want to achieve, by when, and what steps has he considered? What supports does he think he’ll need, and what barriers does he anticipate? This helps determine if the move is voluntary, how realistic the plan is, and what specific help is appropriate next. It also honors the client’s autonomy, guiding a collaborative plan rather than making assumptions or delivering information or family involvement prematurely. Offering apartment options is useful, but it can be premature if the client hasn’t clarified goals and a concrete plan. Helping him see dependency on family presupposes a shift in his goals and could undermine his autonomy if not aligned with his own aims. Talking with the family should come after understanding the client’s goals and securing his consent; it’s appropriate later to coordinate supports, not as the first step.

The key idea here is starting with the client’s own goals and readiness. For someone seeking to move toward independence, the worker should first explore the person’s intentions in concrete terms: What does he want to achieve, by when, and what steps has he considered? What supports does he think he’ll need, and what barriers does he anticipate? This helps determine if the move is voluntary, how realistic the plan is, and what specific help is appropriate next. It also honors the client’s autonomy, guiding a collaborative plan rather than making assumptions or delivering information or family involvement prematurely.

Offering apartment options is useful, but it can be premature if the client hasn’t clarified goals and a concrete plan. Helping him see dependency on family presupposes a shift in his goals and could undermine his autonomy if not aligned with his own aims. Talking with the family should come after understanding the client’s goals and securing his consent; it’s appropriate later to coordinate supports, not as the first step.