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DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY

History taking or gathering information is an essential and frequent task for social workers. This
assignment addresses the practice behaviors related to the skills of collecting and assessing data and the
ability to “apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and
other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituents” (Competency 6),
“collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and
constituents”(Competency 7), and “apply and communicate understanding of the importance of difference
in shaping life experiences in practice (Competency 2).

You are to complete the developmental history of a child from conception to 24 months of age.
The child may be currently older than two years of age, but you only have to explore the first 24 months
of development. It would be helpful, however, to select a child at least 24 months of age, as observation
of child development is another source of information.

Although this assignment requires the soliciting of personal information, you are not to present
yourself as acting in the capacity of a professional helper or engage in any behavior beyond that of a
student collecting information for learning purposes only.

The following are areas that you should include in a developmental history:

A. Biological Development
1. Pregnancy and birth
2. Physical development and growth
3. Developmental milestones
4. Health, medical care

B. Cognitive Development
1 Personality type and characteristics
2. Reactions to stress
3. Language
C. Psychosocial Development
1. Family relations
2. Bonding
3. Interaction style
4. Response to change
5. Stability and consistency of environment
6. Cultural Factors
7. Social policy influences (current or potential)
D. Assessment
Your developmental history should conclude with a summary evaluation or your assessment of the child’s
developmental status based on the information obtained on the child under study and your knowledge of
human development and the impact of systems on individual development. Use your text as your
reference for this section, and support your assessment statements with in text citations.
E. Construct an eco-map of the child.

Your report should be a minimum of three (3) typewritten pages.

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Format

1. Use narrative style, word-processed, double-spaced text, Times New Roman, 12-Font and plain white
paper.

2. Follow APA style references, one inch margins, pagination (upper right margin), and in text citations.

3. This paper requires a minimum of one reference, which must be your text.

4. The title page should include the title of the paper, course name, date, and name of writer.

5. Staple upper left hand corner of paper.

Note: Please submit your papers at the beginning of the class period. A ten-point penalty is applied to
late papers.

NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO SAVE AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF YOUR PAPER, AND KEEP A
HARD COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR GRADE.