Poster #198 - Spoke-and-Wheel Model of a Social Worker's Role in Holistic Defense

• In Event: ASC Poster Session II

Abstract

This poster presents the Spoke-and-Wheel Model of a Social Worker’s Role in Holistic Defense, a comprehensive framework designed to enhance the multidimensional support provided to clients within the legal system. Grounded in the principles of biopsychosocial assessment, investigation, and client advocacy, the model emphasizes the interconnected roles of assessment, investigation, emotional support, documentation, and case management. By visualizing these components as spokes radiating from a central hub (the client), the model highlights the importance of a holistic, client-centered approach that acknowledges the complex interplay of personal, environmental, and systemic factors influencing legal outcomes. This framework aims to guide social workers in delivering effective, integrated support that addresses clients' broad needs and promotes equitable legal processes. The poster outlines each component of the model, supported by relevant literature, and seeks to lay the foundation for ongoing dialogue about its practical applications and implications for practice, education, and policy in holistic defense approaches.

Author

• Lindsay Bendell, Washington University in St. Louis