| Preface |
xv |
| PART 1 Social Work Practice Perspectives |
1 |
| 1. Generalist Social Work Practice |
3 |
| Social Work Values and Purpose |
6 |
| Human Dignity and Worth |
6 |
| Social Justice |
7 |
| Translating Values into Practice |
7 |
| Achieving the Purpose of Social Work |
8 |
| Generalist Social Work |
9 |
| Levels of Intervention in Generalist Practice |
10 |
| Policy and Generalist Practice |
12 |
| Research in Generalist Practice |
13 |
| Advantages of a Multifaceted Approach |
13 |
| Social Work Functions and Roles |
14 |
| Consultancy |
14 |
| Resource Management |
17 |
| Education |
20 |
| Integrating Generalist Functions |
22 |
| A Generalist Approach to Change |
23 |
| The Ecosystems Perspective |
23 |
| Values and Cultural Competence |
23 |
| Strengths and Empowerment |
23 |
| An Empowering Approach to Practice |
24 |
| Looking Forward |
24 |
| 2. The Ecosystems Perspective |
25 |
| The Knowledge Base of Generalist Practice |
27 |
| Social Work Knowledge is Multidisciplinary |
27 |
| Theoretical Frameworks for Practice |
29 |
| Developing a Practice Framework |
30 |
| Analyzing Theoretical Perspectives |
31 |
| The Ecosystems View |
31 |
| Humans in Context |
32 |
| Focus on Transactions |
33 |
| Development as Evolutionary Change |
34 |
| Goodness-of-Fit |
35 |
| View of Dysfunction |
36 |
| Implications for Change |
37 |
| Human Systems |
38 |
| System Defined |
39 |
| Dimensions of Systems |
39 |
| A Structural View of Systems |
40 |
| An Interactional View of Systems |
42 |
| Biopsychosocial Dimensions |
44 |
| Cultural Influences |
45 |
| Ecosystems: A Conceptual Framework for Practice |
46 |
| Identify the Focal System |
47 |
| What’s Happening Inside the System? |
48 |
| What’s Happening Outside the System? |
48 |
| How Do the Inside and Outside Connect? |
48 |
| How Does the System Move through Time? |
49 |
| Applying the Ecosystems Framework |
50 |
| Looking Forward |
51 |
| 3. Values and Cultural Competence |
52 |
| Frames of Reference |
53 |
| Your Frame of Reference Shows |
54 |
| Professional Values and Practice Principles |
55 |
| Acceptance |
56 |
| Individualization |
56 |
| Nonjudgmentalism |
57 |
| Objectivity |
57 |
| Self-Determination |
58 |
| Access to Resources |
58 |
| Confidentiality |
59 |
| Accountability |
59 |
| Value Conflicts in Practice: An Example |
59 |
| Personal Values and Resources |
61 |
| Use of Self in Social Work |
61 |
| Increasing Self-Awareness |
61 |
| Values and Principles in Action: A Practice Example |
62 |
| How Values Influence Practice |
64 |
| Values and Diversity |
64 |
| Cultural Competence |
66 |
| The Need for Cultural Competence |
66 |
| Cultural Diversity Defined |
66 |
| Developing Cultural Competence |
67 |
| A Generalist View of Cultural Competence |
68 |
| Practitioner-Level Cultural Competence |
68 |
| Agency-Level Cultural Competence |
73 |
| Community-Level Cultural Competence |
75 |
| Looking Forward |
76 |
| 4. Strengths and Empowerment |
77 |
| Strengths Perspective |
79 |
| Practice Assumptions |
80 |
| Key Transitions |
80 |
| Applying a Strengths Perspective |
83 |
| Empowerment |
83 |
| Personal Dimensions of Empowerment |
84 |
| Interpersonal Dimensions of Empowerment |
85 |
| Sociopolitical Dimensions of Empowerment |
86 |
| Power |
87 |
| Empowerment as a Concept and a Process |
89 |
| Empowerment-Based Practice |
90 |
| The Paradox of an Empowering Process |
90 |
| Collaboration and Partnership |
90 |
| Empowerment-Oriented Strategies |
93 |
| Tenets for Empowerment-Based Social Work Practice |
95 |
| Looking Forward |
96 |
| 5. An Empowering Approach to Generalist Practice |
97 |
| Elements of an Empowering Generalist Approach |
98 |
| Infusing an Ecosystems Perspectiv |
98 |
| Reflecting an Empowerment Orientation |
99 |
| Collaborating with Clients |
99 |
| Empowering Assumptions |
99 |
| Phases and Processes of Empowering Practice |
100 |
| The Dialogue Phase |
100 |
| The Discovery Phase |
102 |
| The Development Phase |
103 |
| From Solving Problems to Promoting Competence |
105 |
| Processes in Action: Practice Examples |
106 |
| An Example at the Microlevel |
106 |
| An Example at the Midlevel |
109 |
| An Example at the Macrolevel |
113 |
| A Process for All Human Systems |
115 |
| Maintaining Flexibility in Application |
115 |
| The Recurring Nature of Social Work Processes |
115 |
| Structuring Meetings |
116 |
| Looking Forward |
118 |
| PART 2 The Dialogue Phase: Building Relationships and Assessing Challenges |
119 |
| 6. Forming Partnerships |
121 |
| Collaboration and Partnership |
123 |
| The Dilemma of Social Workers as Experts |
123 |
| The Rewards of Clients as Experts |
124 |
| Making Initial Contacts |
125 |
| Recognizing What Clients Bring |
125 |
| Initiating Collaboration |
126 |
| Beginning Steps: A Practice Example |
126 |
| Qualities of Professional Partnerships |
130 |
| Genuineness |
130 |
| Acceptance and Respect |
131 |
| Trustworthiness |
132 |
| Empathy |
133 |
| Cultural Sensitivity |
134 |
| Purposefulness |
135 |
| Constructing Empowering Relationships |
135 |
| Recognizing Rights |
135 |
| Taking Responsibilities |
136 |
| Discussing Rights and Responsibilities |
137 |
| Augmenting Power |
138 |
| When Clients Feel Powerless |
138 |
| Voluntary and Involuntary Clients |
139 |
| Collaborating with Oppressed Clients |
140 |
| Partnerships with Larger Systems |
141 |
| Respecting Confidentiality |
141 |
| Absolute and Relative Confidentiality |
142 |
| Violating Confidentiality |
142 |
| Consent for Release of Information |
143 |
| Privileged Communication |
143 |
| Balancing Accountability and Privacy |
146 |
| Looking Forward |
146 |
| 7. Articulating Challenges |
147 |
| Describing Challenges |
149 |
| Orienting toward the Future |
149 |
| Focusing on Transactions |
150 |
| Enhancing Client Situations |
151 |
| Sizing Up Challenges |
151 |
| Exchanging Information |
151 |
| Verbal Communication |
153 |
| Nonverbal Communication |
154 |
| Influences on Communication Processes |
154 |
| Listening and Responding |
157 |
| Responding Versus Initiating |
157 |
| Beginning the Dialogue |
158 |
| Response Continuum |
159 |
| Allowing Space |
160 |
| Nonverbal Responses |
160 |
| Single Word Responses |
161 |
| Partial Restatement |
161 |
| Complete Restatement |
162 |
| Clarification |
163 |
| Summary Clarification |
163 |
| Request to Continue |
164 |
| Questioning |
165 |
| Combining Responses |
166 |
| Practice Example |
166 |
| Responding to Feelings |
169 |
| The Experience of Feelings |
169 |
| Identifying Feelings |
170 |
| Verbalizing Feelings |
170 |
| Validating Feelings |
171 |
| Responding to Multiperson Client Systems |
172 |
| Facilitating Discussion |
172 |
| Respecting Existing Functioning |
173 |
| Special Issues in Responding |
173 |
| Responding to Anger |
174 |
| Responding to Silence |
175 |
| Responding to Questions |
176 |
| Responding to Feedback from Clients |
176 |
| Looking Forward |
177 |
| 8. Defining Directions |
178 |
| Transforming Challenges Into Directions |
180 |
| Orienting Forward, Not Back |
182 |
| Framing the Search for Resources |
183 |
| Integrating Transactional Dimensions |
183 |
| Considering Client Motivation |
184 |
| A Transactional View of Motivation |
18 |
| Motivating Clients Who Have Given Up |
184 |
| Aligning Worker and Client Motivations |
185 |
| Overcoming Environmental Obstacles To Motivation |
186 |
| Motivating Larger Systems |
186 |
| Collaborating with Clients Who Resist |
187 |
| Resistance is Motivated |
187 |
| Cooperating with Resistance |
188 |
| Cooperating with Mandated Clients |
188 |
| Taking Priority Actions |
189 |
| Responding to Trauma |
189 |
| Responding to the Threat of Suicide |
189 |
| Responding to Threats toward Others |
191 |
| Responding to Child Abuse |
194 |
| Responding to Domestic Violence |
195 |
| Responding to Survival Needs |
197 |
| Responding to Signs of Addiction |
197 |
| Taking Control in Empowering Ways |
198 |
| Looking Forward |
199 |
| PART 3 The Discovery Phase: Assessing Resources and Planning Change |
199 |
| 9. Identifying Strengths |
201 |
| Building a Foundation of Strengths |
203 |
| What Are Strengths? |
205 |
| Why Identify Strengths? |
205 |
| Balancing Strengths and Challenges |
206 |
| Looking for Strengths |
208 |
| Highlighting Strengths in General Functioning |
209 |
| Strengths in Individuals |
209 |
| Strengths in Families |
210 |
| Strengths in Groups |
210 |
| Strengths in Organizations |
211 |
| Strengths in Communities |
211 |
| Locating Strengths while Discussing Challenges |
213 |
| Solution-Focused Dialogue |
213 |
| Recognizing Cultural Strengths |
214 |
| Strengths in Diversity |
217 |
| Ethnic Group Strengths |
218 |
| Strengths in Cultural Group Memberships |
218 |
| Clients as Resources for Understanding Cultures |
223 |
| Uncovering Strengths in Adversity |
226 |
| Surviving Oppression |
226 |
| Surviving Violence |
227 |
| Surviving Family Disruption |
228 |
| Looking Forward |
229 |
| 10. Analyzing Resource Capabilities |
230 |
| Exploring Resource Systems |
231 |
| Recognizing Environmental Resources |
232 |
| Turning Challenges into Resources |
233 |
| Collaborating to Search for Resources |
234 |
| Applying Theoretical Frameworks |
234 |
| Organizing Assessment with an Ecosystems Framework |
234 |
| Practice Example: Franklin Court |
235 |
| Using Assessment Tools |
235 |
| Social Histories |
238 |
| Genograms |
239 |
| Ecomaps |
242 |
| Community Assessments |
243 |
| Tools as Resources for Empowerment |
244 |
| Adding Viewpoints |
245 |
| Bringing in Significant Others |
245 |
| Contacting Other Professionals |
246 |
| Assessing Through Observation |
247 |
| Observations by Clients |
249 |
| Observations by Workers |
250 |
| Analyzing Human Systems |
251 |
| Collaborating on Analysis |
252 |
| Applying an Ecosystemic Perspective in Analysis |
253 |
| Analyzing Structures |
253 |
| Interactional Analysis |
256 |
| Psychosocial Analysis |
257 |
| Cultural Analysis |
258 |
| Analysis of Physical Environments |
259 |
| Putting the Pieces Together |
260 |
| Recordkeeping |
260 |
| Recording |
261 |
| Types of Recording Formats |
261 |
| Ethical and Legal Issues in Recordkeeping |
265 |
| Looking Forward |
266 |
| 11. Framing Solutions |
267 |
| Collaborative Planning Processes |
268 |
| Client Expertise in Planning |
269 |
| Worker Expertise in Planning |
269 |
| Issues Affecting Collaborative Planning |
270 |
| Planning in Multiperson Systems |
271 |
| Goals and Objectives |
273 |
| Differentiating Goals and Objectives |
273 |
| Considering Goals |
273 |
| Translating Goals into Objectives |
275 |
| Constructing Action Plans |
279 |
| Crystallizing Outcome Goals |
279 |
| Writing Effective Objectives |
283 |
| Prioritizing Objectives |
284 |
| Screening Generalist Intervention Strategies |
285 |
| Choosing Effective Strategies |
288 |
| Delineating Tasks and Responsibilities |
290 |
| Setting Reviews and Evaluations |
291 |
| Contracting |
292 |
| Forms of Contracts |
292 |
| The Evolving Contract |
293 |
| Contracting as an Empowering Process |
294 |
| Contracting as a Strategy for Success |
294 |
| Looking Forward |
295 |
| PART 4: The Development Phase: Implementing, Evaluating, and Stabilizing Change |
297 |
| 12. Activating Resources |
299 |
| Applying Generalist Intervention Skills |
302 |
| Intervention across System Levels |
302 |
| Maintaining Progress in the Action Plan |
303 |
| Implementing Action Plans |
304 |
| Enhancing Interactions |
305 |
| Sustaining Motivation |
308 |
| Developing Power |
310 |
| Promoting Leadership |
310 |
| Recognizing Choices |
310 |
| Locating Genuine Options |
311 |
| Magnifying Strengths |
312 |
| Changing Thinking and Behavior |
313 |
| Offering Feedback |
313 |
| Constructing Feedback |
313 |
| Creating New Concepts |
315 |
| Using Narrative Strategies |
316 |
| Trying Out New Behaviors |
317 |
| Managing Resources |
320 |
| Linking Clients with Resources |
321 |
| Case Advocacy |
322 |
| Maximizing Clients’ Rights |
323 |
| Educating |
324 |
| Teaching |
324 |
| Sharing Information |
326 |
| Looking Forward |
328 |
| 13. Creating Alliances |
330 |
| The Power of Alliances |
332 |
| Developing Alliances through Groups |
332 |
| Groups and Empowerment |
332 |
| Mutual Aid in Groups |
334 |
| Facilitating Group Functioning |
334 |
| Social Action in Groups |
336 |
| Self-Help Groups |
337 |
| Strengthening Natural Support Alliances |
338 |
| Social Support |
338 |
| Assessing Social Support: Social Network Maps |
340 |
| Worker’s Roles in Encouraging Social Support |
343 |
| Case Management: Client-Service Alliances |
344 |
| Case Management Defined |
345 |
| The Purpose of Case Management |
346 |
| Case Management in Action: A Practice Example |
347 |
| Case Management Activities with Clients |
348 |
| Case Management Activities with the Delivery System |
350 |
| Workers’ Resources for Case Management |
352 |
| Critical Issues and Ethical Dilemmas |
353 |
| Organizational Alliances for Service Delivery |
355 |
| Building Interagency Coalitions |
356 |
| Working on Teams |
356 |
| Leading Effective Meetings |
357 |
| Professional Support Networks |
358 |
| Alliances within Organizations |
358 |
| Burnout |
359 |
| Professional Memberships |
360 |
| Connections in Cyberspace |
362 |
| Looking Forward |
362 |
| 14. Expanding Opportunities |
364 |
| Opportunities: Keys to Empowerment |
366 |
| Environmental Opportunities |
366 |
| Environmental Risks |
367 |
| Empowerment and Opportunities |
367 |
| Empowerment in Groups and Communities |
368 |
| Resource Expansion |
369 |
| Identifying Resource Shortages |
369 |
| Mobilizing Resources |
370 |
| Educating the Public |
371 |
| Writing Grants |
371 |
| Community Change |
372 |
| Community Theories |
372 |
| Community Organizing |
373 |
| Community Development |
375 |
| Empowerment and Community Development |
376 |
| Policy Development |
377 |
| Policy Analysis and Change |
378 |
| Consumer Participation in Policy Development |
379 |
| Social Activism and Social Advocacy |
380 |
| A Heritage of Social Reform |
381 |
| Advocacy Role |
381 |
| Political Awareness |
383 |
| Social Work and Political Perspectives |
385 |
| Legislative Advocacy |
385 |
| Legislative Analysis |
385 |
| Lobbying |
386 |
| Legislative Testimony |
387 |
| Successful Legislation: The Americans with Disabilities Act |
387 |
| Resources for Professionals |
389 |
| Staff Development Training |
389 |
| Continuing Education |
389 |
| Professional Reading |
390 |
| Looking Forward |
391 |
| 15. Recognizing Success |
392 |
| Social Work Evaluation and Research |
393 |
| Research Roles for Practitioners |
395 |
| Integrating Practice and Research |
395 |
| Practice Evaluation |
395 |
| Progress Evaluation |
396 |
| Client Outcome Assessment |
397 |
| Program Evaluation |
398 |
| Research |
399 |
| The Research Process |
400 |
| Research Terminology |
403 |
| Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis |
406 |
| Ethics in Research |
407 |
| Single-System Designs |
408 |
| Phases of Single-System Designs |
408 |
| Types of Single-System Designs |
409 |
| Limitations of Single-System Designs |
419 |
| Goal Attainment Scaling |
421 |
| Looking Forward |
421 |
| 16. Integrating Gains |
423 |
| Knowing When to Resolve |
425 |
| Collaborating on Resolutions |
425 |
| Endings with Individuals and Families |
425 |
| Endings with Larger Systems |
428 |
| Completing Contracts |
429 |
| Preparing for Resolution |
430 |
| Discussing Readiness |
431 |
| Evaluating |
432 |
| Reviewing Progress |
433 |
| Sharing Feelings |
433 |
| Feelings about Endings |
434 |
| Generalizing Outcomes |
435 |
| Closing with Referral |
437 |
| Acknowledging Limited Resources |
438 |
| Recognizing Interim Success |
439 |
| Making Referrals |
439 |
| Responding to Client Withdrawal |
441 |
| Preparing for Early Withdrawal |
441 |
| Recognizing Exit Clues |
442 |
| Pursuing Mutual Resolutions |
443 |
| When Clients Die |
444 |
| Resolving Relationships with Larger Systems |
445 |
| Small Group Endings |
445 |
| Endings with Organizations and Communities |
447 |
| Resolving Intermember Relationships |
448 |
| Endings Are Beginnings |
449 |
| Epilogue |
450 |
| Appendix A NASW Code of Ethics |
452 |
| Appendix B The Northside Community |
471 |
| References |
475 |
| Author Index |
499 |
| Subject Index |
503 |