ASWB Bachelors MCQ 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A social worker discovers that a colleague is having a romantic relationship with a current client. What is the MOST appropriate action?
- Talk privately with the colleague and urge them to end the relationship
- Ignore the situation as it involves a colleague's private life
- Report the situation to a supervisor or ethics board (Correct answer)
- Warn the client to end the relationship
Correct answer: Report the situation to a supervisor or ethics board
Dual relationships that involve romantic contact with current clients are serious ethical violations that must be reported through appropriate channels.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes 'cultural humility' as distinguished from 'cultural competence'?
- Mastering knowledge about specific cultural groups
- An ongoing process of self-reflection and learning about power dynamics (Correct answer)
- Completing training in multicultural social work practice
- Adapting evidence-based interventions for diverse populations
Correct answer: An ongoing process of self-reflection and learning about power dynamics
Cultural humility emphasizes lifelong self-reflection, recognizing power imbalances, and remaining open to learning rather than achieving static competence.
Question 3: A social worker is using task-centered practice with a client experiencing housing instability. Which of the following BEST reflects this approach?
- Exploring childhood attachment patterns to understand current stress
- Collaboratively identifying specific tasks to achieve concrete short-term goals (Correct answer)
- Providing long-term supportive therapy to build resilience
- Advocating with the housing authority on the client's behalf without client input
Correct answer: Collaboratively identifying specific tasks to achieve concrete short-term goals
Task-centered practice is a structured, time-limited approach focused on collaboratively developing specific tasks to address concrete problems.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of secondary trauma in social work?
- A social worker experiences burnout from high caseloads
- A social worker develops trauma symptoms after repeatedly hearing clients' traumatic stories (Correct answer)
- A social worker is assaulted by a client during a home visit
- A social worker struggles with work-life balance due to overtime hours
Correct answer: A social worker develops trauma symptoms after repeatedly hearing clients' traumatic stories
Secondary traumatic stress (secondary trauma) results from indirect exposure to clients' traumatic experiences rather than direct personal trauma.
Question 5: Under HIPAA, which of the following disclosures of protected health information does NOT require client authorization?
- Sharing records with a client's employer upon request
- Disclosing information to a client's attorney for civil litigation
- Reporting to public health authorities for disease surveillance (Correct answer)
- Releasing records to a client's insurance company for non-treatment purposes
Correct answer: Reporting to public health authorities for disease surveillance
HIPAA permits disclosure to public health authorities for activities like disease surveillance without client authorization under the public interest exception.
Question 6: A social worker is planning to terminate services with a client who has met treatment goals. What is the MOST important aspect of planned termination?
- Ending sessions abruptly to avoid dependency
- Reviewing progress, processing the client's feelings, and planning for the future (Correct answer)
- Referring the client to another provider immediately
- Conducting a final formal assessment using standardized tools
Correct answer: Reviewing progress, processing the client's feelings, and planning for the future
Planned termination should include a review of progress, acknowledgment of the therapeutic relationship, processing of emotions, and a relapse prevention or maintenance plan.
Question 7: A 15-year-old client discloses to a school social worker that they are sexually active with a consenting 16-year-old peer. There is no evidence of coercion or abuse. What should the social worker do FIRST?
- Report the situation to child protective services as statutory rape
- Inform the client's parents immediately without the client's consent
- Explore the client's understanding of healthy relationships and safe sex (Correct answer)
- Notify law enforcement per mandatory reporting laws
Correct answer: Explore the client's understanding of healthy relationships and safe sex
Consensual sexual activity between similarly-aged teens is generally not reportable abuse; the social worker should focus on education, safety, and the client's well-being.
ASWB Bachelors MCQ 5
A social worker discovers that a colleague is having a romantic relationship with a current client.
What is the MOST appropriate action?