LMSW Practice Test

After working with a 15-year-old girl with a substance abuse problem for several weeks, the child welfare social worker learns that the client is pregnant. She is unable to control her drug use, has left a rehabilitation program and does not wish to return and seems unconcerned with the potential serious health effects on her unborn child. The social worker's best strategy is?

1. discuss the problem with her obstetrician

2. notify the client that she can be compelled to stop her drug abuse

3. seek to place her in a residential setting for the duration of her pregnancy, even if a court order is required

4. suggest that the client reenter the drug rehabilitation program

The correct answer is: discuss the problem with her obstetrician

Discussing the problem with her obstetrician is the most effective strategy in this scenario because the obstetrician is specifically trained to address the unique health risks associated with substance abuse during pregnancy. This collaboration can ensure that the client receives the necessary medical care and support tailored to both her substance abuse issues and her pregnancy. The obstetrician can assess the health of the unborn child, provide counseling regarding the effects of drug use on fetal development, and potentially involve other services such as addiction specialists or mental health care to address both the client's overall health and her substance use. This coordinated care approach may help the client better understand the seriousness of her situation, which, in turn, may motivate her to seek help or make changes. The other choices do not adequately address the immediate medical needs of the client and her unborn child. Communicating a message about compulsion is unlikely to be effective and may further alienate the client. Placing her in a residential setting, although potentially beneficial, poses significant ethical and legal challenges, especially regarding voluntary consent. Simply suggesting reentry into a rehabilitation program without addressing her current medical needs and the implications for her pregnancy may not resonate with her at this stage, as she has already shown resistance to such suggestions.