Description
Book SynopsisIntroduces an ecological perspective into social work practice. This book examines major changes in our socioeconomic and political landscape, including the threat of terrorism, international trade agreements, and the conservative revolution, and a discussion of developments in ethics and standards of practice.
Trade ReviewAlex Gitterman has set his sights on nothing less than defining social work practice in its broadest sense and at the same time providing details that allow us to understand our work with specificity. He has truly engaged the enormous quantity of knowledge that has emerged since the publication of the last edition, and his ability to incorporate all of this into one book is masterful. He has captured social work at a time in which our profession is increasingly difficult and has found a way to help us reason through the 'wicked problems' we face in an uncaring and frequently oppressive society. -- Jacqueline Mondros, dean, Hunter College School of Social Work Alex Gitterman and the late Carel B. Germain are seminal thinkers on this topic, and their extremely comprehensive, scholarly text is a refreshing break from many of the social work practice texts that are available. Its scholarship is first-rate. -- Meredith Hanson, Fordham University, Graduate School of Social Service
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Part 1: Overview 1. Social Work Practice and Its Historical Traditions 2. The Ecological Perspective 3. The Life Model of Social Work Practice: An Overview 4. Assessment, Practice Monitoring, and Practice Evaluation Part 2: The Helping Process in Life-Modeled Practice Initial Phase 5. Preparation: Settings, Modalities, Methods, and Skills 6. Beginnings: Settings, Modalities, Methods, and Skills Ongoing Phase 7. Helping Individuals, Families, and Groups with Stressful Life Transitions and Traumatic Events 8. Helping Individuals, Families, and Groups with Environmental Stressors 9. Helping with Dysfunctional Family Processes 10. Helping with Dysfunctional Group Processes 11. Reducing Interpersonal Stress Between Worker and Client Ending Phase 12. Endings: Settings, Modalities, Methods, and Skills Part 3: Life-Modeled Practice at Community, Organization, and Political Levels 13. Influencing Community and Neighborhood Life 14. Influencing the Practitioner's Organization 15. Influencing Legislation, Regulations, and Electoral Politics Appendix A: Individual, Family, and Group Assessments Appendix B: Practice Monitoring: Records of Service Appendix C: Practice Monitoring: Critical Incidents Notes References Index
