A Report with Sample Case Study on the

FUNCTIONAL APPROACH OF SOCIAL WORK

By Johynne Amilyn G. Nasa
3-BSSW
Ateneo de Davao University, SY 2010-2011

Human growth expresses purpose and constitutes a process

- Ruth Smalley, 1970

To be functional is to accomplish or do a particular purpose for which a person or a thing

is specially fitted.
In social work profession, function is the purpose or end product of an agency,
organization, etc. e.g the function of a government agency may be to ameliorate the
living conditions of distressed Filipinos (de Guzman, 1993)
It was first develop in the 1930s by the faculty members of the University of
Pennsylvania School of Social work, principally by Jessie Taft, Virginia Robinson and Ruth
Smalley, and is based from the philosophy of Otto Rank, a German psychoanalyst and
student of Sigmund Freud.
In casework, Functional Approach refers to the delivery of the service as the focus of
intervention. According to Smalley, it is a method for engaging the client through the
relationship that is essentially one-to-one, in the use of social service toward his own and
the general social welfare.
The concept of the use of agency function as basic in social work helping was
introduced by Taft which resulted into the Pennsylvania School being known today as the
functional school.
The Functional Approach has particularly applicability to the Philippines due to the
existence of countless social agencies providing services to very varied client needs
(Mendoza, 2008
This helping process has a psychological base and a therapeutic approach derived from
Freuds Psychoanalytic Theory (Diagnostic Approach).
However, there are three (3) characteristics of Functional Approach that makes it
different from that of the Diagnostic Social Work:
1. It works from a psychology of growth
The social worker engages the client in a helping process which releases the
latters own power of choice and growth.
It sees the human being as capable of modifying both himself and his
environment in accordance with his own purposes and within the limits of
his own capacity and his own environment.
2. The purpose of the agency guides the social workers over- all purpose
It gives focus, direction and content to the workers practice.
The workers goal is to realize the purpose of her agency in the interest of
the client, the agency and the society.
3. Social work is viewed as a helping process through which an agencys service is
made available.
The social work method is directed in having to do with the initiating,
sustaining and terminating of a process in human relationships.
The client and the worker will agree on what the former can do with the
service that is being made available
Five (5) Principles that guides the Functional Approach:
1. Understanding of the phenomenon served (diagnosis)
2. Workers conscious use of the time phases in the process (beginning, middles and
endings)
3. Use of agency function
4. Conscious use of structure (time, place, agency policy, and procedure)
5. Use of relationship
Important Notes:
 While majority of social workers espoused the Freudian Theory, a small group
adapted the approach of Otto Rank led by Jessie Taft and the faculty of the School
of Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania. This group came to be called as
the Rankians orfunctionalists.
(Functional) Caseworkers help people learn to live in the present and make the
best of themselves with the resources that are currently available.
(Functional) Caseworkers never speculate on the type of change anticipated or
desired of setting goals is considered a prerogative of the client.
By recognizing the limitation inherent in the situation, only the client can
determine what the future can and should be.
The technique of settings the time limits is a hallmark of the Functional Approach.
This approach can be applied both with individuals and with group.
Republic of the Philippines

Department of Social Welfare and Development

REGIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER FOR YOUTH
Bago Oshiro, Tugbok District, Davao City
SOCIAL CASE STUDY REPORT
I. Identifying Data
Name: a.k.a Larry
Age: 17 years old
Birthday: January 10, 1993
Civil Status: Single
City Address: Brgy. 21-C, Piapi Boulevard, Davao City
Religion: Roman Catholic
Educational Attainment: 1H

II. Family Composition

Name of Relationshi sex age Educational occupation
members p to client attainment
Cesar Sr. Father Male 48 3H Furnature
maker
Susan Mother Female 38 4H Housekeeper
Nerissa Sister Female 22 4H Housekeeper
Cesar Jr brother male 19 1H Furniture maker

III. Presenting Problem

The client was recently turned over to DSWD-RRCY for temporary
custodial care and rehabilitation by the personnel of Ma-a City Jail. He is now 17
going 18, yet after two years, his case is still in trial.

IV. History of the Case

On the 24th of January 2008, Larry and his brother, Cesar Jr., were on
their way to visit their mother. They were about to ride a jeepney
somewhere along Matina when a certain boy came closer and without any
provocation from Larry, attempted to stab him. Upon noticing the
commotion, Cesar Jr. came to the rescue and stabbed his brothers attacker
using the knife which he was able to away from the aggressor himself. After
which, the siblings ran away taking different route while the other boy was
brought to the hospital by the onlooker and was later declared dead on
arrival.
Larry and his brother hid for a while but after ten days, they were
found and arrested by the authorities. They were detained at Talomo precint
for more than a week and were eventually transferred to Ma-s City Jail. A
murder was filed against them and the trial is still ongoing at RTC Branch 12,
Davao City

Clients Background

Larry is the youngest among the three children of Cesar Sr. and Susan. He
stands 55,of medium built and with fair complexion. He is neat at all times and carries
himself well. A silent type of person, he does not talk much but nevertheless, his silence
did not make him less participative in the activities being held at the agency. He is also a
keen observer and has well-thought ideas to share. During his BJMP-Ma-a City Jail, he was
considered as one of the most reliable and trusted inmates, giving him some privileges
during his stay there.
Prior to this, the client experienced loitering in the street for almost a year. While
there, larry shared that he was able to meet and make friends with other boys his age.
He claimed that it was because of them why he learned to engage in vices such as
drinking, smoking, sniffing rugby as well as taking on gang riots. Indeed, that was what
made up Larrys life for a while.
But when realization of his activities negative effects came, he decided to go back
home and start new. He enrolled himself as a freshmen in a nearby public school with the
help of his father. He was already doing fine when the stabbing incident happened.

Family Background

Larry is a product of a broken family and, together with his brother and sister, was
left under the welfare of their father upon their parents separation when he was barely
four years old. At the time, his mother eloped with other man, leaving him and his two
other siblings with their father. His father and brother ate the breadwinner in the family.
They provide for the familys daily needs with their work as furniture makers.
Larry describe his father as a good person. According to him, they always talk
about things and resolve every issue in a calm way. He also said that they are happy and
contented even without their mother. His sister now become the one in charge of the
place their mother once hold and long vacated. They are patriarchal when it comes to
decision-making and their sister, being the oldest, is next to their father of power inside
the home.
Initially, the family resides in Digos City, Davao del Sur but when Larrys parents
parted ways, the children were brought by their father in Piapi Boulevard, Davao City
where they rented a house. It now serves as their permanent residence for years now.
Their place is not conducive for the growth and development of a teenager like
him. There are many bystanders hanging around in the neighborhood. There people that
eventually become Larrys peers has primarily influenced him to loiter in the street,
engage in vices and become a member of a gang called CIA, also known as City Innocent
Angels.

V. Assessment

Based on the clients statement, he neither stabbed nor provoked the victim in any
way and argued that this brother only defended him. The attempt to stab Larry could
probably be motivated by a vengeance from other gang member whom the client and his
fellow gang members have encountered and fought with in a riot before.
Larrys association with the CIA or City Innocent Angels has been the main root of
his problem. If it were not for the gangs past adventures, which made him earn some
enemies along the way, he and his brother would not be involved in such crime. On the
contrary, this happening is rather anticipated and expected due to the family set-up that
the client had. The absence of his mother at the early stage of his life and the reality of
having a broken family made him seek for belongingness and security outside the home
and he got it from his peers who mostly have the same situation with him.

Given the companionship and momentary fun they brought him, Larry, at first,
did not mind the negative influence they have on him. When he did, it was already a little
too late. Furthermore, he was not able to have the proper guidance while growing up
since his father and brother was always out working and his sister had been focused on
her duties at home, hence, there is no one to check on him and monitor his activities.

This analysis is supported by Abraham Maslows theory on the Hierarchy of Needs in

which he give emphasis on the five levels of needs that every human being should meet
To be able to function well, grow fully as a person and realize his/her innate potentials-
the Physiological Needs, Love and Belongingness, Security and Safety needs, Esteem
Needs and Self-Actualization needs. Essentially, when one level is not satisfied, the
others would be greatly affected and so is the individual himself. This would ultimately
lead him/her to be dysfunctional and unable to effectively perform his/her roles in the
society.

Given Larrys situation, though his physiological needs like food, clothing and shelter
are provided for by his father and brother, his need for love and belongingness is still not
fully compensated and that may be the reason why he could not feel any security,
particularly inside their home, which every person yearns to possess. With that, he has
resorted to the comfort and company of his friends and made matters worse.
 VI. Treatment Plan

General Objectives:
To help the client restore his social functioning and regain his self esteem as well
as discover and realize his innate potentials, turning him into a more productive
individual.

Specific objectives activities Person responsible Expected outcome

1. To Conduct a Family Social worker The family
strengthen Counseling Clients family relationship
the clients client become stronger
relationship and the family
with his member
parents and developed an open
siblings communication
with one another
2. To let the Provide an Social worker The client restored
client individual client his normal
ventilate-let counseling functioning and
him regained his self-
overcome esteem
his fears
and
insecurities
as well as
regain his
self-esteem
3. To develop Encourage the Social worker The client become
the clients client to open up Spiritual adviser spiritually-inclined
spiritual and participate in Inmate/wards
side the religious client
activity of the
agency
4. To provide Let the client Social worker The client acquired
the client participate in the Homelife staff new learnings,
with new livelihood and House parents values and skills
learnings, skills training client
values and program and
skills home life activities
of the agency
5. To restore Let the client Social worker The client decided
the clients attend the non- Agency volunteers to continue with
interest on formal classes (educators) his studies upon
his studies provided by the Inmates/wards discharge from the
and agency thru client agency
encourage Alternative
him to Learning School
continue (ALS)
with it upon
his
discharge
6. To assist Coordinate with Social worker The client become
and give the PAO for the PAO lawyer hopeful and
support to speedy trial on the Clients parent optimistic
the client case, continue on client regarding the of
regarding monitoring the the outcome of his
his pending clients progress trial
case in the inside the agency
court and regularly
submit reports to
the court

VII. Evaluation

A murder case was filed against Larry and his brother in 2008. But being a
minor, only fifteen during the commission of the crime and having been
 detained for two years in Ma-a City Jail, Larry has been transferred to RRCY to
undergo intensive rehabilitation while waiting for the outcome of his trial.

VIII. Recommendation

It is recommended that the client undergo intensive rehabilitation so as to

free him from the trauma he may have acquired in the past, to restore his
normal functioning and to strengthen some aspect of his well-being that has
been cited in the above mentioned plan