Question

Upon intake, a woman tells a social worker that she was brutally beaten by her boyfriend 6 months ago, but it was an isolated incident and there have been no further acts of violence. Since that time, he has been remorseful and attentive. In this situation, the social worker should FIRST: ______

Answer 1

Answer: Evaluate the need for medical or protective services.

Explanation:

According to what we know about the cycle of abuse, the woman and her boyfriend are probably in the honeymoon phase that follows a violent episode. Despite the women saying it was an isolated incident, and the time that has passed since then, violence in the future is a certain possibility, as the honeymoon phase usually leads to tension building and further violence. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, medical needs and safety issues must be addressed first.