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Overview
Considered the profession's ideal learning resource--based on the authors' extensive experience in the field and the text's balanced focus on theory and application--DIRECT SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE: THEORY AND SKILLS, Eleventh Edition, prepares social work students for effective ethical and anti-oppressive practice. Authoritative, well-organized and written with an appropriate level of rigor, this thorough introduction to practice grounds students in theory while connecting them to real-world applications with clients through vivid examples and vignettes. Many case examples are drawn from active social work practitioners, as well as the authors' own practice situations. As part of the Brooks/Cole Empowerment Series, the Eleventh Edition is completely up to date, discussing topics such as COVID-19, tele-social work, Black Lives Matter and other issues related to racial inequity. In addition, the authors have carefully revised the text to incorporate gender-neutral language and explore key structural implications affecting clients and practice. The text thoroughly integrates the core competencies and recommended practice behaviors outlined in the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
- To enhance readability and make key concepts easier to master, the authors have condensed and streamlined the presentation of core models and skills, while retaining core content and skills essential for beginning social workers.
- To more fully explicate and update the philosophical underpinnings of direct practice, Chapter 2 presents six “orienting perspectives” that underlie contemporary direct practice across multiple practice domains. These include ecosystems perspective, strengths perspective, cultural humility, anti-oppressive practice, trauma-informed practice and evidence-informed practice. Orienting perspectives are woven throughout the text to help students align their practice with the ethical and social justice missions of the social work profession.
- Throughout the text, references to cultural and racial diversity have been updated and revised in alignment with the orienting perspectives presented in Chapter 2. In addition to the traditional stance of sensitivity to diversity, the revised text includes a focus on self-awareness about the power and positionality of the social worker as part of a critical analysis that underlies effective social justice practice.
- References to gender throughout the text have been expanded to recognize the non-binary nature of this social construct. While many clients continue to be identified as “female” or “male,” the text uses the gender-neutral “they/their” when practice scenarios include non-gender binary examples or when gender is not central to the scenario presented.
- The authors have updated various chapters to include elements of the contemporary practice context, including the social work response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the expanding use of tele-social work, environmental justice, and other recent important developments. In addition, The authors have reviewed and revised the entire text to streamline content, and replace outdated references with up-to-date information.
- All-new coverage of trauma-informed care introduces students to the principles and practice of this approach in working with clients. Resources and references are included to add to students' knowledge and understanding of the prevalence of trauma experienced by clients.
- The Eleventh Edition reflects changes made to the NASW Code of Ethics in 2017 and expands attention to global differences in social work ethics. Included dilemmas and practice scenarios invoke contemporary challenges such as worker safety, political tensions, social media and service limitations.
- Student video demonstrations illustrate important skills and practices described in the text, enabling students to model appropriate behavior without the pressures of facing a client. References to the videos throughout the text help students put each new skill into context. The videos are available through the accompanying MindTap®, which also offers students practice exercises and questions to evaluate their learning and skills.
- The text balances fundamental theory with a practical emphasis on improving and refining students' assessment, helping and communication skills. Composed of four parts, the text begins by identifying the mission of social work, its values, and knowledge base. The authors then differentiate generalist from direct practice and explore roles of direct practitioners. Common elements among diverse theorists are examined next, followed by key intervention strategies and information about various client population and practice settings.
- Rather than focusing only on clients' problems, the authors explore how social workers can better assess clients' strengths and integrate those positive attributes into the social work process.
- The text is packed with examples and case studies, many drawn from social work practitioners and the authors' personal practice situations. Diversity content is integrated throughout the text, with cases exemplifying diversity in multiple forms. Skill development exercises give students myriad opportunities to put chapter concepts into action.
- Guides to assessing specific problems--such as the potential for suicide--and full examples of written assessments are included to help students practice and improve these important skills.
- The text is packed with examples and case studies, many drawn from social work practitioners and the authors' personal practice situations. Diversity content is integrated throughout the text, with cases exemplifying diversity in multiple forms. Skill development exercises give students myriad opportunities to put chapter concepts into action.
- Guides to assessing specific problems--such as the potential for suicide--and full examples of written assessments are included to help students practice and improve these important skills.
1. The Challenges of Social Work.
2. Orienting Frameworks for Direct Practice.
3. Overview of the Helping Process.
4. Operationalizing the Social Work Values and Ethics.
Part II: EXPLORING, ASSESSING, AND PLANNING.
5. Building Blocks of Communication: Conveying Empathy and Authenticity.
6. Verbal Following, Exploring and Focusing Skills.
7. Eliminating Counterproductive Communication Patterns.
8. Assessment: Exploring and Understanding Problems and Strengths.
9. Assessment: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal and Environmental Factors.
10. Assessing Family Functioning in Diverse Family and Cultural Contexts.
11. Forming and Assessing Social Work Groups.
12. Developing Goals and Formulating a Contract.
Part III: THE CHANGE-ORIENTED PHASE.
13. Choosing and Implementing Interventions to Facilitate Change.
14. Balancing Micro and Macro Social Work Practice: Roles, Theories and Intervention Strategies.
15. Enhancing Family Functioning and Relationships.
16. Intervening in Social Work Groups.
17. Additive Empathy, Interpretation and Confrontation.
18. Managing Barriers to Change.
Part IV: THE TERMINATION PHASE.
19. The Final Phase: Evaluation and Termination.