CHAPTER SEVENSOCIAL WORK PERSPECTIVES& METHODS

Social Work & Social Welfare: An Invitation (2nd ed.)

Key Ideas

Generalist social work practice Levels of practice Skills and roles

Theory in Generalist Practice Person in Environment Ecological Perspective

Ecomap Systems Theory

Empowerment Solution Focused Model

Generalist Practice

Being able to work with a variety of issues of concerns

Being able to work with diverse client systems

Being able to influence change at multiple levels or client systems

Levels of Practice

Micro Direct practice with individuals and families

Mezzo Groups

Macro Organizations and communities

Skills and Roles

Direct services Counseling/therapy, group work, educator

Systems linkage Broker, case manager, mediator, advocate

Systems maintenance and enhancement Organizational analyst, facilitator, team

member, consultant, survivor Research System development

Program developer, planner, policy developer, advocate

Theory in Generalist Practice

Theory: an empirically tested concept used to explain behavior, process, or phenomenon

Theoretical Perspectives

Person in EnvironmentEcological PerspectiveSystems TheorySolution Focused Model

Person in Environment Perspective The social worker perceives each

individual as an interactive participant in a larger physical, social communal, historical, religious, physical, cultural, and familial environmental system

Kondrat, 2008, 348

Systems Theory

Most used theoretical approach in social work

Aids in understanding the multiple and complex lives of families and the systems with which they interact

Can be used with: Individuals within family, group, organization,

community or society Interactions within any of the above groups Interactions between any of the above groups

What is a System?

A set of elements that forms an orderly, interrelated, and functional whole

Systems Theory continued

Enables understanding and use of potential growth in the broad environment

Eclectic and integrative perspective Interactions are influenced by mutual

feedback process Views self as part of the system/process Emphasizes the dual task that is the

purview of social work (PIE)

Eco-Map

Paper-and-pencil assessment tool used to assess specific troubles and plan intervention for clients

A drawing of the client or client family in its social environment.

It helps both social worker and client view client’s environmental context from a systems and ecological perspective

Eco-Map

Helps both social worker and client achieve a holistic or ecological view of the client’s family life and the nature of the family’s relationships with groups, associations, organizations, and other families and individuals

Social Environment

A stressful, conflict- ++++++++ laden relationship

A tenuous, uncertain - - - - - - - - - relationship

A positive relationship _________ or resource

The direction of the giving & receiving exchange or a relationship or resource

Commonly Used Symbols in Ecomaps

Strengths Perspective

Process of increasing personal, interpersonal or political power so that individuals, families and communities can take action to improve their situations

Empowerment

The process of helping individuals, families, groups and communities to increase their personal, interpersonal, socioeconomic , and political strength and to develop influence toward improving their circumstances. (Barker, 2003, 142)

Principles of the Strengths Perspective (Saleeby, 1995, 12-15)

1. Every individual, group, family, and community has strengths.

2. Trauma and abuse, illness and struggle, may be injurious but they may also be sources of challenge and opportunity.

3. Assume that you do not know the upper limits of the capacity to grow and change. Take individual, group, and community aspirations seriously.

4. We best serve clients by collaborating with them.5. Every environment is full of resources.

Solution-Focused Model

Construct/re-construct the person’s reality

Builds on strengths to change a self-perception

Focus on individual goals Effective with individuals and families