Which scenario best illustrates preventive social work activity?

Which scenario best illustrates preventive social work activity?

• A. Wait until a problem occurs and then intervene
• B. Engage in early outreach and risk reduction in a community
• C. Provide only individual therapy after a crisis
• D. Focus on policy change after a crisis

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is preventive social work—doing proactive work to stop problems before they start by engaging communities, reducing risk factors, and strengthening supports. The best choice shows early outreach and risk reduction in a community. This is proactive work that targets conditions that can lead to problems, connects people to resources before crises occur, and builds protective factors across the population. It embodies primary prevention and population-level impact, which are core to preventive practice in social work. Waiting until a problem occurs is reactive and misses opportunities to prevent harm. Providing only individual therapy after a crisis focuses on repairing damage after it happens, not on preventing it. Focusing on policy change after a crisis is also reactive to a specific event, whereas preventive policy work aims to establish protections and resources before problems arise.

The main idea being tested is preventive social work—doing proactive work to stop problems before they start by engaging communities, reducing risk factors, and strengthening supports.

The best choice shows early outreach and risk reduction in a community. This is proactive work that targets conditions that can lead to problems, connects people to resources before crises occur, and builds protective factors across the population. It embodies primary prevention and population-level impact, which are core to preventive practice in social work.

Waiting until a problem occurs is reactive and misses opportunities to prevent harm. Providing only individual therapy after a crisis focuses on repairing damage after it happens, not on preventing it. Focusing on policy change after a crisis is also reactive to a specific event, whereas preventive policy work aims to establish protections and resources before problems arise.