The Social Worker provides comprehensive psychosocial assessments to members. Social work services are designed to support and maximize the members ability to better direct their own health care experience through the use of assessment and intervention, educational programs, and linkage to health plan and community resources. The Social Worker encourages respect for individuality, independence and patient choice and collaborates on policies and systems that respect the cultural, religions, and ethnic differences among patients and families. Social work contributes to the medical teams understanding of patient beliefs, behaviors, and barriers regarding the members illness.