Essentials Of Social Work Practice First Edition

Essentials of Social Work Practice: A Concise Guide to Knowledge and Skill Development introduces readers to core concepts and skills that are vital to cultivating a successful social work practice. Unique in approach, the book clearly connects human behavior theories to engagement, assessment, goal-setting, intervention, and evaluation, while also illustrating the fluidity between micro, mezzo, and macro level activities. Over the course of eleven engaging chapters, students are introduced to the helping process, ethical standards, and strategies for working with individuals, groups, and families. They learn about contemporary service delivery models and cutting-edge programs that exemplify strength-based, ethically-oriented, and culturally relevant practice. Narratives and dialogues throughout provide detailed depictions of the use of core skills to bridge the gap between concepts and practice. A variety of creative tools and techniques are offered for use with diverse clients. Every chapter features self-care strategies to facilitate coping with common stressors in social work. The final chapter emphasizes lifelong learning and informs readers of vital resources for on-going professional development. Essentials of Social Work Practice prepares future social workers to employ strategic interventions, reflect upon their strengths and needs as a practitioner, and maintain personal health and wellness throughout their career. The book is an exemplary resource for foundational courses in social work. For a look at the specific features and benefits of Essentials of Social Work Practice, visit cognella.com/essentials-of-social-work-practice-features-and-benefits.

This brilliantly systematic and comprehensive textbook provides an integrated approach to social work theory, methods and skills as the bedrock of all social work practice. Recognizing social work as a diverse activity that is rooted in common foundations, it explains how practice both shapes and is shaped by professional purpose. The text also explores the diverse range of social work practice methods available and aims to equip the reader with a foundation in the history and application of these varied approaches. Offering a step-by-step discussion that will empower readers to critically develop and refine their professional toolkit for purposeful and innovative intervention, this original rationale is an essential resource for any social work student or practitioner looking to build, or consolidate, their understanding of the range of methods and skills available for effective professional practice.

Presenting a different approach to the realities of everyday social work practice, this text includes exercises, case examples, chapter summaries, and practice notes, enabling students to apply theory to practice as they progress.

This gateway text lays the foundations for a thorough knowledge of the theory and methods that social workers need. Pulling together the work of a team of experts, this book uses the innovative “theorizing practice” approach, rather than the traditional “applying theory to practice” approach, thereby providing a much more satisfactory basis for understanding the relationship between theory and practice and making it easier for practitioners to employ theory in practice. Part I sets the scene by examining the relationship between theory and practice, how research can be used to inform practice and the important role of policy and organizational factors. Part II provides 14 chapters, each exploring a different theoretical approach. All in all, this book provides the ideal introduction to using social work theory and methods in practice.

The Social Work Practitioner: An Introduction to Fundamentals of the Social Work Profession emphasizes the practical over the theoretical to give students a deep understanding of fundamental concepts of the social work profession. Organized into four primary sections, it begins with a realistic examination of the social work profession. Students then learn about the practice of social work, the importance of cultural competence, and strategies for serving various client populations. Specific chapters are devoted to topics such as the goals and roles of social work, specializations within the field, professional ethics, and the role of one's own race or ethnicity in achieving cultural competence. The book also discusses poverty and at-risk communities, working with older adults and children, and the future of the social work profession. Each chapter frames the instructional content with learning objectives that help students read with focus and attention, exercises that allow them to apply what they read, and scenarios that bring the concepts to life. Foundational in coverage, and thoughtful in approach The Social Work Practitioner is well-suited to introductory courses in the field, as well as those in social or human services.

Creating Change in Social Work Practice: Four Essential Tools is strategically designed to help readers hone their ability to understand and create change within their social work practice. The text employs the Knowledge, Ability, and Skill model to assist readers in conceptualizing, envisioning, and creating change. Readers learn to identify the various stages in the process of creating change, as well as how to handle the challenges of change and plan appropriate treatment for

Essential Skills of Social Work Practice, Third Edition presents the basics of effective social work practice and helps students develop competence in assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Its broad coverage explores the counseling, case management, and research skills necessary to implement evidence-based practice in contemporary social work. Part I of the text includes three chapters that address the core foundations of social work practice: how assessment, intervention and evaluation are linked; the role of theory and research in practice; and a chapter on ethics. Part II, in addition to explaining how to conduct sound assessments and treatment planning, also examines client supportive/engagement skills, cognitive-behavioral skills, and case management skills. Part III focuses on integrating these skills into evidence-based practices with common mental health disorders and problems-in-living with adults, children, and families. Case studies, inspired by real clients, are accompanied by a psychosocial assessment, intervention, and evaluation plan. Appendix B, "The Comprehensive Service Plan," is incorporated throughout the text.

Focusing on what students really need to know, this book breaks down all of the key social work theory covered across a students′ training, demystifying complex concepts by demonstrating their application to real-life practice. Multiple case studies highlight applied theory in different practice settings and across issues and challenges that students might face, while self-assessment exercises, practice notes, concise chapter summaries and discussion points help to consolidate their understanding. New chapters bring the book right up to date and include Relationship-based Work, The Importance of Language, Political Perspectives and Environmental Intervention. Written by two well-established and expert authors, this is the ′must-have′ theory text for all social work students.