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Social Work vocabulary · Casework and Assessment

Genogram

Meaning in social work, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In social work, genogram means: A diagram of a family over at least three generations, showing its members, their relationships and important events such as births, deaths, separations and illness.

In Turkish: genogram, aile şeması

How it is used

A standard assessment tool in family social work and family therapy, using symbols such as squares for males and circles for females. Workers often draw a genogram together with the family, which also helps build the relationship.

Example sentences

  1. Drawing a genogram showed that women in three generations of the family had cared for disabled relatives.

  2. Please attach the genogram to the assessment.

Common collocations

  • draw a genogram
  • family genogram
  • three-generation genogram
  • genogram symbols
  • ecomapA diagram with a person or family in the centre, showing their links with the people, services and organisations around them and how strong or stressful each link is.
  • assessmentThe process of gathering and analysing information about a person's situation, needs, strengths and risks in order to decide what help is needed.
  • family supportServices that help families cope with difficulties and bring up their children well, such as parenting groups, practical help and family support workers.
  • chronologyA list of the significant events in a person's or family's life and in the case, in date order, used to spot patterns over time.

More terms: Casework and Assessment

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