Running head: SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 1

Social History Outline of Michelle Park

Antonio Covington
Johnson C. Smith University
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 2

I. Basic Data
Client: Michelle M. Long* Date of Birth: September 3, 1971
Chronological Age: 45 Race: African American
Religion: Southern Baptist
School and Grade: Johnson C. Smith University / Senior
Place of Employment: Full-time student
Address: 1319 Long Grass Ct Charlotte NC
Telephone Number: 704-488-2666

II. Individual Client Profile

A. Brief Physical Description of Client—Personality Picture
I noticed my client had a unique confidence about her. She had this calm demeanor
about her which made me feel relaxed. My client didn’t seem nervous at all which got rid
of any nervousness I was feeling.
My client was average height and medium build. Her hair was reddish in color and
styled very neat. Something else that stood out about my client was her warm and inviting
smile. I usually don’t encounter people with such a smile when getting ready to conduct an
interview because My client was soft spoken at first, however, as we began talking and
opening up, her voice became more audible.

B. Developmental History Questions:

Pregnancy:
My client’s mother pregnancy was normal. The client mentioned that her mother
hid her pregnancy from her mother and the maternal grandmother didn’t find out her
daughter was pregnant until she was between 7-8 months pregnant. The client shared
another portion of her mother’s pregnancy: her mother’s water broke overnight, she had
to wait until the morning time to call someone to take her to the hospital because she
didn’t have transportation. Once they arrived at the hospital, doctors had no time to prep
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 3

for delivery because the baby was coming out. The delivery was a normal vaginal
delivery; she was full term (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).
The name of the hospital where my client was born was John D. Archbold
Memorial Hospital in Thomasville, Georgia. My client weight was 5lbs 15.25oz and she
was born at 6:46 a.m. Her mother length of pregnancy 38weeks. (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016).
Client states she had a lot of medical problems during her childhood: sickle cell
trait, tapeworms, chronic nose bleeds. Treatment for the tapeworms including having to
drink an oral liquid medication that left a horrible taste in her mouth (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016).

Developmental milestone:
My client recalled learning a lot of things earlier on in her childhood because of
older siblings were learning in grade school they would teach their younger sibling (my
client). The client remembers prior to going pre-kindergarten she was able to write in
cursive; add, read, and draw figures that were identifiable. (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016)

Parental care:
Her mother found it extremely difficult raising three kids because majority of her
time was spent working to provide for her family. The kids were left to be raised by the
maternal grandmother (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

C. Social/emotional aspect:

Peer relationship:
She noted: during her childhood she didn’t have many friends because they weren’t
allowed to run around the neighborhood and play. At school, she did makes some friends.
However, those relationships only took place at school because she didn’t see them outside
of school. I noticed a distant look on my client’s face when she shared that piece of
information (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 4

Describe as a child:
As a child my client was deemed very smart, playful, and spoiled by her mother. She
felt that everything was supposed to go her way. If not, she would have a temper tantrum.
Client loved to play outside and observed her grandmother baking cakes in the kitchen.
Client enjoyed just being a kid. Look forward to going outside every day and staying out
until the sun went down. Client said “this is something this generation doesn’t know much
about” (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

What type of activities client played as a child:

Client said she did not have many toys so she created things to do, one of her favorite
games was making mud pies. Outside she played the childhood games of 70’s such as:
hopscotch, double-dutch, marbles, 123 red-light, and red-rover (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016).

Other:
By age six their mother moved away to Albany Georgia to find employment
leaving the kids with their grandmother, who was an elderly lady with a fourth grade
education. Also, no transportation leaving them to walk wherever they needed to go. The
client and her sister ran away from home one day because they wanted to live with their
mother who lived 57 miles away. They got as far as the railroad tracks then the sun went
down and they decided to go back home because they were scared of the dark. The
neighborhood kids pick the client because she lived with their grandmother which made
her angry and eventually led her to start fighting the kids in the neighborhood (M. Long,
personal communication, August 31, 2016).

School History:
The client has always excelled in the classroom. When she was in the 1st grade the
school wanted to skip her up two grades because she was so advanced but her mother
refused because she did not want her in the same grade with her older sister.
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 5

The client participated in school’s functions’: played clarinet, on the debate club, honor
society. The client was a person everyone liked she had many friends in school. Her
classmates loved her because she was the class clown. Client grandmother did not have
much involvement with school due to her low education status she wasn’t involved with
any school related activities (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

Education:

Johnson C. Smith University - Major: Social Work Minor: Criminology Anticipated

Graduation Date: May 2017

Associate of Applied Science, Southwest Georgia Technical College, Thomasville, GA,

June 2006. Major: Early Childhood

Westover Comprehensive High School Albany, Georgia graduated June 1989

Douglass Middle School 7th-8th grade Thomasville, Georgia

Macintyre Park School 5th -6th grade Thomasville, Georgia

Balfour Elementary School 1st-4th grade Thomasville, Georgia (M. Long, personal
communication, September 1, 2016)

Participation in school activities:

President's List Fall 2015 -JCSU

Dean's List Spring 2015- JCSU

ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INC November 2015

Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, November 2015

Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society, April 2015 Pi Alpha Honor Society, April 2015

Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society, March 2015

Alpha Lambda Delta, February 2014 (M. Long, personal communication, August 31,
2016)
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 6

Military Experience:

United States Navy Electricians Mate Subbase Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 2/12/1990-
07/02/1992

Work History:

DMSI Quality Inspector Charlotte, North Carolina 10/2010-05/2013

Comply with legal regulations

Approves incoming materials

Conduct visual and measurement tests

Reject and return unacceptable material

Maintain a safe and healthy working environment

Favor Christian Academy, Support Staff Thomasville, Georgia 09/2008- 05/2010

Maintaining a professional attitude and loyalty to the school

Treating all children with dignity and respect

Assist in implementation of the daily program under the direction of the teacher

Supervising outside playground activities (M. Long, personal communication, August 31,
2016)

Textron, Quality Inspector Thomasville, Georgia 02/2000 -10/2007

Perform visual inspections

Perform complex texts using instruments and gauges

Record pass or fail grade of products

Products accurate records Problem- solving

SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 7

Southwestern State Hospital, Health Service Technician, Thomasville, Georgia

09/1997- 11/1999
Assisted nursing staff by providing direct patient care

Documented progress charts and checked vital signs

Monitored fluid and food intake and output Moved patients safely

Responsible for maintaining a clean healthy working environment (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016)

ARC Incorporated, Lead House Parent Disability Services, San Diego, California
04/1997- 06/1997

Responsible for the daily needs of patients

Assisted with daily activities and implemented nurse activity programs

Administered physical therapy

Performed grooming and personal hygiene services

Observation of patients' skin for potential bed sores

Special Education Center of Hawaii, Program Assistant, Honolulu, Hawaii

08/1992-02/1994

Performed tasks that are patient-centered focused

Administered medication and educated patients in reference to their treatment plans

Ensured HIPAA compliance (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016)

Current Social/Emotional Elements:

The client has several friends that she has been friends with over a long period of
time. She may socialize with four people outside the campus. She states that she’s not a
lonely person; she stays to herself to avoid dramatic situations. Her focus is on finishing
college. (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

Major interests:
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 8

Client is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Inc. They do a lot of community service
activities: March of Dimes, Stork nest, and events with the American Cancer Society to
raise awareness, educate and collect monetary donations (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016).

Hobbies:
Client favorite hobby is arts and crafts. Client say that they are stress relievers and
allows your mind to be creative (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

Describe overall fit:

Client describes herself as being a person that a lot of people come to for advice
and mentoring (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

Self-description:
Even though there is room for improvement, she states that she loves everything
about herself. Client said that she is not concerned with labels that society place upon
people that are overweight. She said God made everyone the way he wanted them to be
(M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

Strengths:
The client is teachable, eager to learn, ability to maintain excellent interpersonal
skills. She can learn new skills and adapt to change quickly (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016).

Weakness:
Client states sometime she procrastinates and will then have to rush to completed things
(M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

Dislike about herself:

Client expressed no dislikes about herself. Her current worry is how society treats
African-American males. The client has a son and fears that his name will become a
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 9

hashtag because of race issues and police lack of training (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016).
Being a single parent of two children, the client’s personal accomplishments is not
becoming the typical statistic of being labeled welfare recipient and or high school
dropout. (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

Difficult accomplishment:
Over the past three years the client has been very ill. She’s had three surgeries and
other medical issues, however, she still didn’t let it interfere with her educational goals.
She’s been able to push forward despite all of those medical issues and maintain a 3.8
grade point average (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

Painful event:
There really hasn’t been any painful events, only thing she could think of was the
death of her grandparents. (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

Things like to change about her life:

If she had to do it all over again she would’ve went to college right after school.
Going into the military was a good choice, however, she ended up getting hurt early in
her career and had to be medically discharged and those medical issues still affect her
today (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

III. Family History

Family of Origin:
Parents were born in rural areas in southwest Georgia. They spent their lifetime as
factory workers. Both, were high school graduates but never seek higher education. Her
father was in the US Army and is a Vietnam war veteran. Even though her parents were
never married, they still had a close knit family relationship.
Client states that their family is very proud of her and all of her accomplishments.
They are more than willing to support her whenever is needed (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016).
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 10

Mother: Jewel Williams 07/31/1945 Retired age 71 married

Father: John White 05/09/1945 Retired age 71 married

Sister: Keziah Smart 07/27/68 Teacher Hillsborough County Schools age 48 married

Brother: Sean Brown 09/24/1966 Disabled Vet age 49 divorced

Son: Javari Long 07/04/1995 student age 21

Daughter: Aaliyah Hatcher 10/08/1999 student age 16 (M. Long, personal

communication, September 1, 2016)

Extended family:

Even though my parents were never married, they still maintained a good
relationship. Both parents married other people so she gained two wonderful step-parents.

Maternal Grandmother: Lula Mae Brown born in Thomasville, Georgia on December 10,
1918 died in April 12, 2010. She suffered from Alzheimer disease. She is the one that
raised client, so when she first took ill she cared for her for 6 years (M. Long, personal
communication, August 31, 2016).

Maternal Grandfather: Willie Banks Brown born in Thomasville Georgia but lived in
Katonah, New York until his death. She cannot tell you much about him because she
never met him in person.

Paternal Grandmother: Fannie Keaton-White was born in Hopeful, Georgia on August 6,

1923 she died November 20, 2015. She suffered from renal failure.

Paternal Grandfather: John Henry White he died before she was born to lung cancer.

Maternal Uncles: Bobby Brown and Johnny Walden

Paternal Aunts: Harriet White, Betty Greene, Frances White and Jackie White (T.Parks,
personal communication, August 31, 2016)

Current Family Relationships:

SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 11

Single-parent with two kids. Javari Parks, a 21-year-old college senior community health
major at Johnson C. Smith University and Aaliyah Hatcher. She is a 16-year-old junior at
Phillip O Berry Academy of Technology studying engineering. Michelle tstated that she
could not have asked God for a better set of children. They both are scholars, well-
mannered and well-rounded. Overall living conditions is good. She has the ability to
provide food, water and shelter for her family and can purchase some of her wants as
well. (M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016).

IV. Summary:

It is essential to conduct a social history in order to learn more about the client
and their upbringings, it can give you an indicator if the client maybe experiencing some
of the same things her parents went through. After conducting this interview, it was
proven that this is a remarkable woman. She is a woman who has defied and shattered
negative stereotypes that society place on single parents. A veteran who served her
country with dignity and grace. An adult learner who believes in the importance of
education and its value. A single parent of two, who manages to find a way to support her
children by attending events that they participate in. That’s why I labeled her
“remarkable”.

V. Research Applications:

From my research on conducting interviews, I learned that it is good to be

prepared and make the person feel comfortable during the interview. When a person is
comfortable speaking to you they will be more than likely answer interview questions in
an honest manner. Give the person you are interviewing time to answer questions and
explain themselves. Avoid been pushing and make sure your body language it warming.
If you are not clear, restate what the client is saying (General Guidelines for Conducting
Research Interviews, n.d.).
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 12

References

General Guidelines for Conducting Research Interviews. (n.d.). Retrieved September 05, 2016,
from http://managementhelp.org/businessresearch/interviews.htm

M. Long, personal communication, August 31, 2016

Reflective Rationale

Social histories reflect the important aspects of an individual’s development and help social
workers assess the nature of a client’s problems. In practice, a social history involves “an in-
depth description and assessment of the current and past client situation, often included in the
case records and medical records of clients.” The purpose is not to learn every intimate
detail of the client’s personal life but rather to gain a generalized understanding of what a
client’s life is like in addition to gaining more specific information related to the client’s
problem.
SOCIAL HISTORY OUTLINE 13

* Names have been changed to protect client’s confidentiality *