Which of the following statements would be most consistent with a systems approach to school social work?

• A. Excluding parents from child therapy
• B. Considering family therapy to help a troubled child
• C. Considering a child's medical history when designing interventions
• D. Recommending play therapy for a child

Answer: (B)

Systems thinking in school social work focuses on how the child’s problems emerge from interactions within and across their family, school, and community. Engaging the family through therapy directly targets these relationships, communication patterns, and support systems, aiming to change the situations and dynamics that contribute to the child’s difficulties. By working with the family, you’re addressing the wider context in which the child operates, not just the child in isolation, which is the heart of a systems approach.

Excluding parents from therapy misses the essential relational context and keeps the problem confined to the child, ignoring how family dynamics influence behavior and outcomes. A strategy that centers on the child alone, such as play therapy, can be helpful but does not inherently address the broader system unless it’s integrated with family or school work. While considering a child’s medical history is important for a comprehensive assessment, it centers on the individual and medical factors rather than the interconnected systems that shape functioning.