SDV105: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CASEWORK

Study guide

Prepared by

Uthman L Shehu

For

Per time Diploma in social development

2012
 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CASE WORK
Background to Social Development Case Work.
Although the history of social case work can be traced back to ancient religious practices, and

later to the of home visitors by religious practices, and later to the use of home visitors by

religious organization. Social casework could be said to have started in 1818, when the New

York society for the prevention of poverty appointed network of “ward visitors” to counsel the

poor and to conduct a scientific survey (Siper in 1980:11).

By 1832, Josephine shaw, a pioneer leader in the development of professional social work

advised these friendly visitors that the man and woman should be seen and advised together

about their present condition and future plans; and by 1890, the most important principle of

“charity” was the need to treat the family as a unit as a whole rather than treat individual

members that make up the family. By 1943, the basic focus of a casework has its assistance to

family members with their roles and relationship in order to “help the family to achieve more

normal balance”, and directly help couples with their marital roles in the home including co-joint

interviews in their homes (sipor in 1980:14).

Social casework thus developed in the family and has continued to have its base there, it

recognized the family as the most important institution in the society with a firm belief that a

balanced family will produce balanced individual who will make up a balanced society. This

tradition of making the family its starting point has given social casework the biggest task. This

is because while in group work, the group worker concentrates on the group alone, and in

community development, the worker minds his community, a social casework is involved in

many areas as that touches the family. Such areas include marital counseling, child welfare

services, care of the aged, day care services, school children, hospital patients, rehabilitation e.tc.

However, social casework took a different dimension in Nigeria. It is a relatively new

phenomenon in Nigeria and unlike other branches of social work Viz:- Group work and

community development, it is slow in recognition, in application in understanding and in

development. It’s very slow rate of development can be attribute to: the Nigeria culture,

personeel, and slow rate of societal, national socio-economic development and progress.

The development of casework in Nigeria can be attributed to people like chief M.I. Okuno, Mr.

D.R.L. Jack, Mallam H.A. Haruna and among many others. At the University of Ibadan

conference centre, on October 17th 1975 the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASOW)

was inaugurated. The Association Comprises Largely Civil Service Workers paid directly by the

various Government working under the civil service rules and regulations.

DEFINITION OF SOCIAL CASEWORK

Various authors have defined the concept social casework. Below are definitions.

Encyclopedia online (2009) defined social casework as “directly concerned with individuals,

especially, that involving a study of person family history and personal circumstance.”

Collins Encyclopedia online (2009) view social casework as social work based on close study of

the personal histories and circumstances of individuals and families.

Kelvin (2004) view social casework as “an individualized way of assisting people when they are

experiencing some breakdown and cannot function unaided”. He stressed further that, “the

manner in which the help is given is unique. It is given by individualizing the client that is,

taking into full consideration his thought and feelings, physical, social as well as emotional

needs.”

Richmond(1934) stated that social casework is a process which develops personality though

adjustment consciously affected individual by individual between men and their social

environment.

Against this background, the subject matter of social casework is the “human being” as he exist

in reality, that is, in a total situation. social casework deals with the person as he is related to all

factors in the environment, which can be family setting, work place, school, or other external

environment of the person or a family (Bower 1949-50:285).

 CASEWORK PRINCIPLES

Principles in casework process and relationship are rules of conduct or regulation laid down for

workers to follow and adhere to in the day to day performance of their professional duties. These

set rules of conduct are to portray the qualities of a good casework and can be termed as

guideline for professional practices. These principles of casework are obtainable in the

professional code of ethics.

The most often talked about are:

1.Individualization;

2.Effective communication of feelings;

3.Control emotional environment;

4.Acceptance;

5.Non-judgmental attitude;

6. Client self determination; and

7.Confidentiality,

The application of these principles calls into play the psychological, philosophical, and

sociological training aspect on the work of the workers. It is through the application of such

principles that a worker applied the theoretical aspect of his training coupled with skill and

technique acquired.

1.Individualization: A social caseworker should not be tempted to treat client with past method

applied to another client who have the same problem with new client. In other words, there

should be individuality in treating case, even thought, they are similar .Because what led Mr. X

to commit such crime or act may be different from what make Mr. Y to commit the same type of

crime or act.

This individualization is the best approach in the study of perception looking at identical twin

once, and looking at them again and once more, one will notice some differences in their
physical features or structures. When one studies them, one will also notice differences in their

pattern of behavior no matter the degree of their being identical

Identical twin may jointly commit a common offence. e.g. truancy, the caseworker should not

treat them collectively even though they may have the same environment background and

commit the same offence at the same time. Each of them should be treat separately and

individually as to meet their own separate individual needs.

2.Effective Communication of Feelings: Most clients go to agencies for reasons best known to

them some go for relief, some for help of one kind or the other, while some go simply to have

someone to talk to. Some go to “let out the steam”, while others go there to get out their

frustration through their conditions verbally or non- verbally, what the worker should watch out

is the type of expression being communicated, how it is communicated and try to understand

why such an expression is communicated. Clients are not actors who make up scenes and pretend

and as such, caseworker should pay serious attention as to how client express their feelings. A

client should be allow to express his feelings and the worker should respond accordingly and

appropriately.

3.Controlling Emotional Involvement: Client come to agencies to seek help and look upon

caseworker as those who could help them overcome their problem and effect change for the

better. Nigeria are known to be over anxious and emotional, whenever they are to tell their

stories concerning their problems. They equally exaggerate when they are to explain their

achievement or heroic deeds. The worker is to provide emotional, social and psychological

support to his client in the process of their working together for a common purpose.

A worker actually is a human being who has got human blood in his brain, as such there is

present in him as a person some sensitivity and emotions. Professionally he should not allow

these to weaken him as to be move to a point of shedding tears with client or to continuously

shake his head at any terrible news or expression of feelings. These are point of the seasons why

it is advocated that, all social workers should be people of strong personalities.

4.Acceptance of Clients and Situation: One of the honorable things in social work profession

is HONESTY. Worker should be concerned about their client and their problems, but need to

tell them exact position of things. A worker should accept his client for whatever he/she is

irrespective of any religious, political, social, economic, racial, trial, ethnical background or

differences.

A caseworker cannot go and offer help beyond the provision of his agencies, as such, he must

accept his own limitation and that of agency.

5.Non – Judgment Attitude: The clients have already suffered from changes of circumstance

or fortune of life, and what they require of workers are help service understanding, and support

and it is useless blaming them for the crimes/act that they have committed. Also they do not want

to be told that their failures, they already known it. They went help not an insult, they want

service not disservice they need change for better and not condemnation.

6.Client Self Determination: Clients come to the agency on their own free will and should be

allow to leave it in the same manner if they wished so. No worker should force his ideas, help, or

service on any client if such ideas, help or service did not please him. He should be guided and

should also be given the freedom to terminate the case work relationship at will

7.Confidentiality: Client sees caseworker as trusted people in whom they can confide and tell

the truth and the whole truth so that they can receive help or service to meet their needs.They see

and look upon to social workers to provide support and security for them. They see and take

them differently from police, the courts. Etc. client and social workers build up relationship of

trust, which will belittle, the worker if the client is aware that the worker has betrayed this trust,

which might have taken a long time to build.

However, as good and ideas as seven principles is, there are inhibiting factors which make it to

be poorly operated.

1.THE AGENCY: Most agencies are short of accommodation and the few available rooms are

overcrowded with worker who in some cases share table.

 2.Nigeria is a heterogeneous country with hundreds of languages. Most worker posted out of the

areas need the assistance of interpreters in dealing with clients. Such interpreters may see

nothing wrong in disclosing cases outside.

3.Most caseworkers cannot type their letters and records, in such situation, their clerical officer

are responsible for the typing and dispatching the files. As a result of this, the principles of

confidentiality is hindered half way.

4.There is also the problem of inadequate personal to handle the profession.

ASPECT OF SOCIAL CASEWORK

1.Case work process.

2.Case work principles.

3.Case work recording and records.

4.Home visit.

5.Case work conference..

THE AIMS OF CASE WORK

The aim of a good casework is to help the needy, individual, families, group, community or

society towards effective social functioning, the worker help in the adoption of the norm and

values toward modifying or rehabilitating the social disorder.

WHO IS A CLIENT

He is a person with a problem. Webster online dictionary (2009), define client as a person

served by or utilizing the service of a social agency.

Also Dictionary – com (2009) viewed client as a person or group that uses the professional

advice or service of an agency.

Finally, client as a person who is receiving the benefits services etc. of a social welfare agency,

a government e.t.c. The client comes to the agency in order to get something for him, they come

on their own free will, and there is to get rid of their problem.
 Process of Social Casework / Casework Process

One of the most intricate aspects of casework is the procedure to be adopt, in an attempt to seek

solution to problem. The process in casework if properly followed will obtain all necessary facts,

provide all required information that will enable the worker to know the cause of problems,

source of problems, the real problem, what should be applied to treat the problems and where to

get the service and resources to be used in treating the problems.

A casework process is a systematic approach and documentation of event and methods of

happening from the time a client come to seek help and to the time help sought is received and

the case terminated. Casework process is a particular professional method to solving clients’

problems with all the steps involved.

Steps in Casework Process

Step 1 : The Meeting: The client who face problem decide to go to the agency to meet the

practioner (worker) does so in order to find solution to his problem. Against this background, the

worker at the first meeting with his client should make the client feel at ease and patiently listen

to him and create an atmosphere that the client will feel that the worker would help solve his

problems, under such a secured respectable atmosphere emanate good casework process.

Step 2: Information: A client who goes to an agency to seek help has got a story to tell or

information to offer. He is in the agency to state his problem and the second step is for the

worker to, patiently and attentively gather relevant information from his client.

Step 3: Social History: This is one of the most important aspects of casework process. The

historical background of the client enables the worker know a lot about his past, his present and

possible what his to know who and what would have contributed or associated with the client

problems or needs.

Step 4: Analysis/Diagnosis: After all information had been gathered, personal and social

history of the client has been known, the caseworker is equipped with enough material to

proceed in handling the problem, the next step is for the worker to diagnose carefully, investigate
the facts made available to him to determine the nature of the problem. Through diagnosis, the

worker will be able to ascertain what the client actually said to be his problem was the real

problem or there were real problems hidden somewhere.

Step 5: Treatment: Treatment occurs after diagnosis has been made. The case worker is

require to apply the result of the diagnosis in order to treat the problem. A solution to a problem

may be obtainable within the agency and sometimes outside it; as such, the agency must be staff

with knowledgeable person who are well informed, current, know the allocation of various social

services, and programme that can meet the need of their clients.

S/ CLIENT NEED RESOURCES

NO

1 Poor Money, food Employment, bureau,

industries, corporations,
Government Establishment and
private.
2 Matrimonial Love, Affection
Dispute . stability, cohesion.
Casework, counseling.

3 Care, love,
Orphan or protection, normal Foster parent, adoption
abandoned life home. children home, orphanages,
child. clinics and maternity hospitals.

4 Understanding, Foster parent, Children Homes,

reformation, love Remark homes,Approved
Delinquent. affection, group Schools, Youth Clubs, Schools,
activities education Parents, and Guardians.
employment etc.

Rehabilitation Probation, Industrial

5 Adult Understanding Establishment, Family, Society
Offenders. Employment. etc.
 Care Affection,
6 Old. Tolerance, Old people’s home, Families,
Companionship etc. Voluntary organization, Club,
etc.

7 Sick. Medicare, Fitness. Clinics, Hospitals, Health Centre’s,

Dispensaries.Group therapy,

8 Mental. Rational behaviour, and Psychiatric, Hospital, Counseling.

thinking normally
medication.

9 Handicapped Rehabilitation, Education, Craft centre’s counseling industries

Self reliance, design, establishment offices, corporation.
productivity;
Employment.

10 Emotional. Love, Company Casework, club or recreational

Understanding, centre’s, Activities group,
Relaxation, Exercise physiotherapy.

11 Fire and Food. Resettlement, Food, Local and state Government,

Cloth, Shelter, Care relief. relatives, Red cross and other
Voluntary organization, low case
house individuals etc.

12 Lost wandering, Repatriation, food, care, Social work Agency, Police

out-of-pocket shelter, and protection. transportation Authorities, railway,
(stranded). Airways, Motor drive union
Voluntary organization etc.

Resettlement, Rehabilitation centre’s, social work

13. Beggar. Repatriation, Employment agencies, Employment Agency,
Education. Adult Education Centre’s etc.

SOCIAL CASEWORK AS SCIENCE OF HUMAN RELATIONS

The human relations theories provided a study how relate to each other in terms of

communication and sensitivity to others people feelings. This theories emphasis on a study of

feelings, needs, beliefs, interest, wellbeing, attitude, and habits of people, thereby giving

proficiency to human factors in social context.

It studies the social relationship between people, work and their organization. It is a study that

relates social theory to social practice. Its relationship to casework study is that human relation

school is also concern with the whole person and his interpersonal dynamic within the same

system. It therefore involves human nature and human behaviour. By postulating that human

need, ability, imitating tend to shape organizational structure (society) and in turn, the society

shapes the behavior of its citizen.

The human relation approach considers the role of psychological manipulation of people

through counseling system. The approach therefore views counseling (social work) as an

important variable in social casework. The approach holds the view that the society should

satisfy the social ego and needs of the people. So as to obtain the patriotism and communication

of his client or people. Skills of human relation includes:

 Leadership;

 Communication;

 decision making;

 Negotiation;

 Counseling; and

 Conceptual skill.

The 10 Commandments of Human Relation

I. Speak to people: There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.

II. Smile at people: It take 72 muscles to frown, only 14 to smile.

III. Call people by name: The sweetest music to any one’s ears is the sound of his own

name.

IV. Be friendly and helpful, if you want friend, you must be one.

V. Be cordial: speak and act as if everything you do is a joy to you.

VI. Be genuinely interested in people: you can like almost everybody if you try.

VII. Be generous with praise and cautious with criticism.

 VIII. Be considerate with the feeling of others there are usually three sides to a controversy:

Yours, the other fellow’s and the right side.

IX. Be eager to lend a helping hand. Often it is appreciated more than you know.

X. Add to this: A good sense of honor, a huge dose of patience, and a dose of humility.

This combination will open many, doors and the rewards will be enormous.

Social Theory of Individuality in Casework.

Casework as a form of study in social work, beliefs in the individuality of human being as social

objects. Casework appreciate the fact that people has different personalities character and

individual trait. Because of these individual differences, human being has different feelings,

sense of independent goals and interest in life. Casework study therefore adopt the social theory

of individuality in it approach to client problems and aspiration.

Caseworker treat each case on it merit, adopt method that are relevant and available to each case

(client) and proffer solutions base on his study.

Clients or problems may have same generic or the same environmental background and many

have the same type of remittent problems. Nevertheless, it is the duty of the casework to treat

each client problem individual as a “whole person” (social unit) in order to offer service that will

provide solution to client problems.

Principle of Client Self – Determination

This principle provides for the right and ability of the client to make his/her own decision

without any form of interferences. The duty of the casework is to guide his client in the choice

and decision and the client has the right to terminate the casework relationship at any point in

time, he/she wishes.The action, ideas, service of the caseworker should agree with the interest

and aspiration of his/her client

The Moral Theory of Respect for Person

It is the duty of the caseworker to give respect to his/her client and treat him/her humbly and

respectfully as responsible human being. The person work and dignity of the client must be given
due regards as a member of a society.This is a moral as well as professional responsible of the

caseworker to his/her client.

Casework Agency

Definition of Agency
According to Webster online Dictionary (2009). Agency is an organization that offers a

particular kind of assistance or services to people.

Social casework Agency: Statutory or voluntary establishments as an office or bureau

where social welfare programmes and activities are carry out. A social work agency is similar in

structure to other government or voluntary establishment. It performs certain functions allotted to

it by society and who perform such functions on behalf of various governments, voluntary

organizations, philanthropist etc. The commonest social work agency is social welfare offices.

Social casework is administered by both private and private agencies with the aim at making

social services readily available to the people. In Nigeria, the department of social welfare exist

at both federal, state and local government level. Under the respective level of ministry of youth

and (or) social development.

This public and private social work agencies administer social welfare programe or

provide funds to agencies in order to carry out social work programme such as adoption, service

to abuse and neglected children, foster care, children institution, Juvenile training school as well

as local community organization and civic centre’s. The government provide grant for social

programmes and activities.

An ideal agency consist of

a. Social workers.
b.Administrative staff.
c. Clerical staff.
d.Cleaner and messengers and
e. Others that may be assigned responsibilities at the agencies.
 Client Social Setting.

Concept of social setting

According to Wiktionary online (2012). Social setting is a location, defined in form of both

space and fine which provide the contexts in which social interaction can occur.

Client Social Setting

The client social setting includes the events, activities, happening, the environment, and

the people within the human settings. The dynamic of these features and results effect determine

the client behavior to social issues.

The social worker therefore observe the client social setting, this will help to provide a

better understanding of the difficulties and problems areas of his/her client thereby enabling the

social worker to offer effective services to his/her client. The knowledge of client social setting is

necessary in social case work because it enable the social caseworker to undertake proper

diagnosis of his/her clients problem by analyzing issue involve, before proffering solution that

are both practical and result oriented.In sum, the social worker must ensure that he/she has

enough information by conducting adequate study under social setting of his/her client. This is

necessary in the diagnosis (examination of problems) and therapeutic measures to address the

client problem.

Casework Interview

Concept of Interview
Wikipedia online (2012) describe interview as a conservation between two or more people (the

interview and the interviewer) where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain

information from the interviewer.

Casework Interview

Interview is the method of obtaining information from client through face to contact. The

essence is to acquire information in order to assist the client in solving or understanding his

problems, and provide for his/her needs. This is a part of social work practice use in getting
information and taking action in order to review the causes or some of the problem, identifying

solution or consider the implications of certain issues.

Types of Interview

The following are some of the type interview use in casework process.

1.Formal (Structured): This is the type interview in which the interviewer follows a sequence

of questions from an interviewer schedule.

2.Informal (Unstructured): In this instance, the interviewer starts the interview session and

then, allows the interviewer to direct the subsequent conversation.

Importance of Interview

1.It is flexible and applicable to different types of problem.

2.An interviewer can observe both what the respondent and how he say it. This provide for

better understanding and original perception of the client (interviewer).

3.It is useful in collecting personal information relating to the attitude of interviewee. It is

particularly usefully in providing additionally information if the need arise, thereby providing

solution to the problem.

4.The interview can be very effective if a respondent (interviewee) has been motivated to accept

the reason for been interviewed.

INTERVIEW THERAPEUTIC

Interview has proved to be effective instrument in information gathering, analysis and arrival at

acceptable diagnosis. This is because it has become a method through which:

1.Client can talk freely and confidently with the professional.

2.Client can express their feeling at minimal cost and without any fear of intimidation or any

unwarranted fear.

3.Client are free to answer any question or refuse if they wish to.

4.Client can also determine the objectivity, mentality of the caseworker.

The interview process has therefore proved to be a reliable and useful method of treating

(therapeutic) client’s problem.

Effectiveness of Interview Technique

For the interview technique to remain very effective, it is necessary that:

1.Technique should build and sustain the trust of the client.

2.Identity underlines issues that will provide solution to the problem.

3.The objectivity of both the interviewer and the interviewee are sustained throughout the

process.

4.The confidentiality of information is guarantee.

Functions of Social Caseworker

Some of the function includes:

1.Investigate reports of child abuse and neglect.

2.Assessing families needs, including issue/ concerns of domestic violence, substance abuse,

child abuse, child neglect, unmet medical/Educational needs mental health issues, Environment

Condition and caretaker’s capacity to parent; provide for and protect children;

3.Develops individual case plans and reports;

4.Maintains case records according to federal, state and country requirement;

5.Collaborates with community, agencies such school, mental health systems, probation, police

agencies, substance abuse treatment providers, and extended family members to provide

coordinated serve to families.

6.Work with treatment providers to monitor family progress in addressing abuse/neglect issues.

7.Writes court reports, attend legal hearings, testified for department, consults with attorney

regarding legal aspects of case.

8.Ensures the safety and well-being of children and families in the community by effectively

assessing and assisting these children and families with agency or outside community resources.

SOURCE: ADAMS .S.O. (2009)

Crime and Delinquency

Definition of Crime

It is clear that the legal definition of what is crime behavior change over time within any

society. As such, the sociologist has not given a universal definition of crime or criminologist.

For instance, what may be an offence in one society may be lawful in another society.

However, the following definitions are use for the purpose of our studies.

1.Crime is an act that break the law and for which punishment is provide by law.

2.A crime in law is any act that is dangerous to peace and order of society and is punishable as

such.

3.A crime is a public wrong against society punished by the state (Law) after a criminal trial.

4.A crime is an offence for which there is several punishments by law.

5.Crime is an act committed or omitted in violation of law forbidding or commanding it and for

which punishment is impose upon conviction.

Definition of Delinquency

Web definition (2010) define delinquency as “failure or neglect to do what duty or law requires.

Also, it can be seen as behaviour, especially by the young that is antisocial or in violation of law”

Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency is an antisocial misdeed in violation of the law by a minor. Also,

antisocial or criminal conduct by Juvenile delinquents (who is not up to the age of 19).

Theories of Crime

Historically crime is a norm rather than exception. Crime is a very complex social issues to be

dealt with. However, the insight from sociological theories offer some hope to maximize crime

in any society whether they are traditional or modern. Below are some theories of crime.
 Strain Theory

This sociological theory focuses and explains the cause of crime is any society. According to

the theory the primary cause of crime is the strain on individuals and group in society, which

push them to point they cannot survive without crime. In this theory of crime, three situation

causes strain on individuals or some group in society. Some group can cause the strain,

individuals who prevent them from achieving their goals or it can be cause by when an

individual or group value taken away from them or some group presents an individual or group

with noxious or negative stimuli. The goals can be money, status/respect, or for adolescence

autonomy from adults.

Labeling Theory of Crime

The labeling theory focuses on the official reaction to crime and makes a rather counter

intuitive argument regarding the cause of crime. According to labeling theory official efforts to

control crime often have the effect of measuring crime. Individual who are arrested, prosecuted

and punished are labeled as criminals, then others view and treat these people as criminals, and

this increase their level of strain and reduces their stake in conformity. Labeled individuals may

find that conventional people are reluctant to associate with them, and they may associate with

other criminal as a result, this reduces their bond with conventional other and fosters the social

learning of crime. Finally, labeled individual may eventually come to view themselves as

criminals and act in accord with this self-concept.

Critical Theories of Crime

Critical theories also try to explain group differences in crime rates in terms of the large social

environment. Some focus on class difference, some on gender difference and some versions of

critical theory exist, but all explain crime in terms of group difference in power.

Marxist Theories

Marxist explain crime in several ways some draw on strain theory, arguing that worker and

unemployed people engage in crime because they are not able to have their economic goals
through legitimate channel. Also, Marxist argue that crime is a response to the poor living

condition experience by workers and the unemployed

Situational Theories of Crime

The theory focused on the factors that create a general willingness or predisposition to engage

in crime, locating such factor in the immediate and large social environment. People who are

disposed to crime generally commit more crime than those who are not. However, even the most

predisposed people do not commit crime all of the time. In fact, they obey the law in most

situations: several theories argue that predisposed individual is more likely to engage in crime in

some types of situation than other is these theories specify the types of situation most conductive

to crime.

Cause of Crime and Delinquency

Crime and delinquency is said to occur due to the following factor, but not limited to the them.

Throughout history, people have tried to explain what causes abnormal social behavior including

crime. Efforts to control “bad” behavior go back to ancient Babylon’s code of Hammirdebai

some 3,700 year age. Later in the Seventeenth Century, European colonist in with America

considered crime and sin as the same thing they believed that evil spirit possessed those who did

not confirm to social norms or follow rule. By the twenty-first century criminologists looked to a

wide large of factors to explain why a person would commit crime. These included biological,

psychological social and factors. Usually a combination of these factors is behind a person who

commits a crime.

Reasons for committing a crime may include greed, anger, jealously, revenge, or pride. Some

people decide to commit a crime and carefully plan everything in advance to increase gain and

decrease risk. These people are making choice about their behaviour; some even consider a life

of crime better than a regular to believing crime bringing in greater rewards, admiration and

experiment at least until they are caught. Others commit crime on impulse, out of rage or fear.
The desire for material gain (money or expensive belonging) lead to property crime such as

,robberies, burglaries, white-collar crimes, and auto theft.

The desire for control, revenge, or power leads to violent crimes such as murder, assaults, and

rapes. These violent crimes usually occur on impulse or the spur of the moment when emotions

run high. Property crimes are usually plan.To be specific, the causes of crime includes:

1.Parenting: Children who are neglected or abused are more likely to commit crime later in life

than others. Similarly, sexually abuse in childhood often leads these victims to become sexual

predators as adults. Many inmates on death penalty have histories of some kind of severe abuses.

2.Heredity and Brain Activity: In 1986, psychologist Robert have identified a connection

between certain brain activity and antisocial behavior. He found that criminals experience less

brain reaction to dangerous situation than most people. Such a brain function, he believed, could

lead to greater risk-taking in life with some criminal not fearing punishment as much as others.

Also, most crime minds are passed to people through birth.

3.Weakness: people are not bad-by nature, but sometime simply too timid to resist the vicious

demons that play on their weakness and cut their bond with the source of their power. Human are

good by default, but not everyone is made of steel so as to defense themselves and the demonic

force- destructive emotion and detrimental attitudes, fear, ignorance, hatred, worry, revenge,

envy, attachment greed, lust, etc. there are two core reasons why weakness prevails with some:

lack of faith, imbalance.

4 Poor Judgement: Lack of proper education and great role models causes many to fail to

distinguish between right from wrong.

5.Lack Of Love: Being raised in a dysfunctional family or coming from disadvantaged

background, or feeling discriminated may also lead to crime.

6. Poverty: Poverty is often blamed for leading crime, however underneath is something more

vital-society bombards us with commercial values, making us want more and more material

things, to the point when some would do anything (including criminal acts) to get them.
7. Deprived neighborhoods: Economically improvised neighborhoods breed criminal minds.

8. Media Violence: Watching and reading the act or ways those crimes are committed.

9. Being a Victim in a Chain of events: Sometimes individual do not mean to cause harm, but

are drawn into if by a chain of events that are beyond their control or influence.

10. Poor Parenting Skills: Erratic or harsh discipline lack of parental control, supervision and

monitoring, parental conflict, family dysfunction/breakdown, criminal, antisocial and/ or

alcoholic parent/fatherlessness are also the cause of crime.

11.Class Structure: Frustration of the working class resulting from constant exploitation by the

upper class, economic condition and poverty have been found to be a critical factor in the cause

of criminal and delinquent behavior.

12.Some drawn on control theory, arguing that crime results from the fact many workers and

the unemployed have little stake in society and are alienated from governmental and business

institution and some draw on social learning theory, arguing that capitalist societies encourage

the unrestrained pursuit of money. Marxist theories, then attempt to explain both class and

societal differences in crime.

Other cause of crime includes:

 Peer influence
 Education
 Hormone
 Drug and alcohol
 Easy access

Casework Recording and Filling Techniques

This is properly one of the most important aspects of casework process.

Recording is documentation on proper or on special forms designed for use in a particular

agency to show what has taken place between a client and a worker. It is a detailed account of all

the relevant and vital issues that had taken place. This can be attributed to the adage that says

“the weakest ink is stronger than the strongest memory”.

 Filling in casework is a means or way of classifying and storing information for future

references.

Facts about Filling

I. Every latter should have a subject. If the subject is not shown as a heading this should be

easily discovered by reading the letter and should then be match to the letter of one of the files.

II. The files should be reasonable- current files i.e those in constant use should be close at

hand Closed at hand files should be put away in less accessible places not to be destroyed,

should in case there is a need to refer to it in future.

III. Keep only “current files in the filling cabinet nearby to release filling space.”

System of Filling

There are very many system and methods of fillings it is not always the most up to date or the

most expensive system that the best. Every system has its advantages and its disadvantages, and

it is impossible categorically to say that one is better than another is. Some among them are as

following.

a) Alphabetical Method: This method of classifying files is simple to understand therefore

little training is require. It expands to accommodate additional files without trouble. This method

is more suitable for subject titles or names of clients. Difficulties may however arise in

misplacing files because of spelling errors.

b) Numerical Method: of classifying files is also simple to understand and operate. This

method is suitable where there is some secrecy about the titles or client or where the subject is in

numbers.

c) The Geographical Method: Of filling is suitable where distinction is to be made

between areas, towns, countries etc.

d) Subject Filling: this is method is been used in most offices today due to its simplicity,

for subject to be filled it always been referred to under subjects.

 Fostering, Adoption and Probation

Definition of foster care

According to Adams(2009). Foster care is the placing of a child in the temporary care of a

family other than its own as the result of problems or challenge that are taking place with the

birth family, or while critical elements of an adoption are being completed.

It is use to include care in any kind of facility individual family, boarding home, adoptive home,

group home, or children’s institution. It must always be seen as a kind of interim care, waiting

the time when the problem that made placement necessary may be return to his own home, or

move on to a new, “own” home on a permanent basis.

Foster care is providing to children who are in need of care and protection. In addition, children

are recommended for foster care if the biological parent cannot affectively provide for

upbringing of child due to poverty, maltreatment, child abuse and among many others. Children

whose parent are victims of terminal illness such HIV, AIDS, T.B. etc. are also taken for foster

care in order to prevent them from been infected

Adoption

Adoption has been in existence a long time ago and is a common practice in several

countries of the world but in Nigeria this doesn’t seem to be the case because of the individual

apathy or appeal to the practice and other requirement.

The child right act (2003) define adoption as the legal process whereby a person obtains

judicial or administrative authorization to take usually but not invariably the child of another

person as his own and parental rights and obligations are permanently transferred from the

child’s natural parents to the adopter.

Also, the united nations convention on the rights of the child (1989) that adoption is

recognized as one of the forms of alternative care for children who have been temporarily or

permanently deprived of their family environment, and also for children who are unable to

remain in their family environment.

 Reasons for Adoption

The factors that necessitate that adoption of a child according to the act range from:

1.Childless;

2.The desire to replace a dead child;

3.To acquire a companion for an child;

4.To stabilize a marriage;

5.To legitimate an illegitimate child;

6.To sustain a particular line of descent;

7.To rescue a child who is in an irreversible situation of abandonment; and

8.To relieve parent who are unable to take care of their child.

Problems of Adoption in Nigeria

Some of the problems of adoption includes:

1.Also some children adopted may turn out to have health or mental problem that someone

never think of.

2.Adopted children grew up in most cases and persist on knowing their biological parent when

they are aware that you are not their real biological parent. This also create problem.

3.Religioue Factors: According to Faruk (2008). Adoption is contrary to Islamic religious or

beliefs because the child is not entitled to inherit anything from his/her adopter.

4.The child right act of 2003 has not wholly help adoption as it has not been passed in some

states.

5.Cultural practice among various ethnic group in Nigeria do not suppose adoption base on

custom and traditional practice.