ASWB Bachelor Practice Exam 2026 - Free ASWB Practice Questions and Study Guide

In crisis intervention, one of the primary roles of a social worker is to assess immediate needs and safety. This involves quickly identifying the critical issues that have arisen during a crisis, understanding the individual’s or family’s current situation, and determining what urgent resources or interventions are required to stabilize the situation.

Assessing immediate needs includes evaluating factors such as emotional distress, physical safety, medical needs, housing, and access to resources. By doing so, the social worker can connect clients to appropriate services, provide support, and develop a plan to address the crisis effectively. Ensuring safety is crucial, as individuals in crisis may be at risk of harm or may pose a risk to others.

In contrast to this role, evaluating past failures, while potentially helpful for longer-term planning, is not the immediate focus in crisis situations. Long-term therapy is also not a function of crisis intervention, as this typically involves in-depth exploration and treatment over extended periods, rather than the rapid response required during a crisis. Enforcing rules may be relevant in certain contexts, but it does not capture the essence of the social worker’s role in providing immediate support during a crisis. Thus, focusing on immediate needs and ensuring safety is essential to effectively help individuals facing crises.