A social worker in a child care agency sees a mother distressed by her toddler's separation anxiety. To BEST assist, the social worker should:

A social worker in a child care agency sees a mother distressed by her toddler's separation anxiety. To BEST assist, the social worker should:

• A. Teach the mother coping strategies aimed at reducing her distress
• B. Determine whether there are other issues in the mother's life that are causing her to react in this manner
• C. Design a behavioral intervention for the child to reduce symptoms of separation anxiety
• D. Assess the reactions of other family members to the child's behavior

Answer: (D)

Understanding how the family responds to a child’s distress is essential, and a family systems lens guides effective practice. When a toddler shows separation anxiety, the reactions of other family members—how they respond to the child’s distress, how they comfort or discipline, and how routines are managed—shape the child’s behavior and the caregiver’s experience. By assessing these reactions, the social worker can see patterns that may either reinforce the anxiety (for example, constant comforting that prevents the child from practicing separations) or support progress (consistent routines, gradual separation, and unified responses). This holistic view helps plan interventions that involve the whole family, align caregiver responses, and address broader stressors, rather than focusing only on the mother or the child in isolation.

Understanding how the family responds to a child’s distress is essential, and a family systems lens guides effective practice. When a toddler shows separation anxiety, the reactions of other family members—how they respond to the child’s distress, how they comfort or discipline, and how routines are managed—shape the child’s behavior and the caregiver’s experience. By assessing these reactions, the social worker can see patterns that may either reinforce the anxiety (for example, constant comforting that prevents the child from practicing separations) or support progress (consistent routines, gradual separation, and unified responses). This holistic view helps plan interventions that involve the whole family, align caregiver responses, and address broader stressors, rather than focusing only on the mother or the child in isolation.