Professional Domain of Social Work

Concepts to Understand:
Human Diversity
Cultural Competency
Oppression
Population at Risk
Empowerment
Resiliency
Human Rights
Social Justice
Critical Thinking
Ethical Dilemmas

Mrs. Richards

Mrs. Richards

• Name
• Age
• Race/Ethnicity
• Marital Status
• Education and Income Source

Mrs. Richards (cont)

• Other family members (name and age)
• Presenting problem(s)

System

“A system is a set of elements that are orderly and interrelated to make a functional whole."
KAH, 2009

Systems inform about the person-environment interrelatedness and person-situation transactions.

Systems inform about the person-environment interrelatedness and person-situation transactions.

Systems allow for observation of the person as a part of his or her total life situation

Homeostasis
Negative Entropy
Negative Feedback
Boundaries
Disengagement
Enmeshment

Ecosystems Theory

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Various Conceptual Frameworks:
Systems Theory
Bio-Psycho-Social
Micro, Mezzo, Macro
Family Open System
Ecological Perspective
Life Model
Problems in Living

Ecology: Study of relationships in a biological community, emphasizing interdependence between organism and environment

Ecological Thinking and Social Work

The life model of Social work Practice

Our clients are coping with stressful situations

Life stressors (external) and physical/emotional stress (internal) indicate lack of balance between the person and his/her environment.

Stress happens when a person believes the stressors of life exceed the personal and environmental resources to cope.

Stress comes from three interrelated areas of living

• Life Tranistions
• Interpersonal Processes
• Environmental Pressures

Stress from Life Transitions:
Developmental Changes
Role Changes
Crisis

Stress comes from Maladaptive, Interpersonal Processes

Stress comes from the Surrounding Environment

Social Work

Professional Activity of Helping

Individuals, Families, Groups and Communities

Enhance and Restore Social Functioning

And for creating societal conditions favorable to that goal (Barker, 1995)

Social work's Purpose

To improve transactions between persons and their environment so that positive growth happens in both.

Function of Social Work

Strengthen Adaptive Capacities

Improve Environment's response to people's Needs

Promote human growth and development

Generalist Practice

Application of eclectic knowledge, professional values, and a wide range of skills to target systems of any size.

Four Primary Contextual Processes:

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• Utilizing organizational structure/supervision
• Engaging a wide range of roles
• Applying critical thinking to planned change
• Empowering clients

Levels of Practice:
Micro
Mezzo
Macro

Generalist Practice Roles

Micro Roles:
Broker
Enabler
Mediator
Evaluator
Case Manager
Coordinator
Advocate
Educator

Mezzo Roles:
Broker
Educator
Mediator
Facilitator

Macro Roles:
Initiator
Negotiator
Advocate
Spokesperson
Organizer
Mediator
Consultant

Domain of Social Work

goals of social Work

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• enhance client's problem solving capacity
• link clients to resources
• promote effective and humane systems
• develop and improve social policy
• empower at-risk groups

Planned Change Process

Engagement
Assessment
Planning
Intervention
Evaluation
Termination

Four Basic Practice Systems

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• Change Agent System
• Client System
• Target System
• Action System

Social Work Case Management

A method of providing services whereby a professional social worker...

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• assesses the needs of the client system
• arranges services 
• coordinates
• advocates
• monitors and evaluates

for a package of multiple services to meet the needs of a clients' complex needs (NASW)

How might this apply to Mrs. Richards?

Shulman Skills

You are an agent of Change!