Question

A social worker leads a group of pregnant adolescents with the purpose of developing the members' coping skills and decision-making capabilities. The group has met weekly for three months with minimal gains. To facilitate growth in independence, the social worker should FIRST.

A. give the group members control over as manydecisions as possible
B. encourage the members to make decisions within agency guidelines
C. educate the members regarding assertiveness techniques
D. assign clear roles to each of the group members

Answer 1

To help pregnant adolescents develop independence, the social worker should first educate them about assertiveness techniques, aligning with the empowerment theory's aspect of psychological empowerment.

Step-by-step explanation:

To facilitate growth in independence among the group of pregnant adolescents, the social worker should first educate the members regarding assertiveness techniques. This approach aligns with the empowerment theory, which emphasizes the importance of psychological empowerment, including aspects such as emotional, cognitive, relational, and behavioral components. By learning assertiveness techniques, the members can better articulate their needs and boundaries, contributing to increased self-efficacy and control over their lives. Controlling their choices within agency guidelines may come later once they have developed the fundamental skills to advocate for themselves confidently.