Contributions to an Interdisciplinary Team
Social workers bring certain values, knowledge and skills to the interdisciplinary assessment. The social worker:
- contributes knowledge related to family dynamics, family functioning and attitude toward their child
- provides additional information so members of the interdisciplinary team have a broader understanding of the total child and are in a better position to make a more accurate diagnosis (Asperger's syndrome or autism for example)
- provides information regarding the family's ability to interpret and understand the team evaluation and recommendations
- provides information about the family's capacity and degree of opportunity for carrying out tasks that might be recommended
- provides information about cultural, religious, and social factors that influence a family’s child rearing practices
- provides information regarding the family's understanding of and use of community resources and services
- is in a position to influence the interdisciplinary team toward change when the team's recommendations make unnecessary demands on the client.
Center on Human Development and Disability,
Clinical Training Unit, University of Washington,
Box 357920, Seattle, WA 98195-7920 lend@uw.edu