Introduction to Using Theory in Social Work Practice

James A. Forte is Professor of Social Work at Salisbury University, Maryland, USA.

‘The puzzle pieces fit just right with these texts. They can be effective for the everyday practitioner who wants to enhance and evaluate his or her own practice. They are similarly effective for budding undergrad students who have been told they should join social work because they are good at helping others. Yet, I found the book was just right for those who love theorizing and grapple with the pedagogical quandary of helping students think about how they think and what goes into authoring their own ending. The texts use illustrations, tables, grids, and sequential knowledge grids allowing individuals to use them for their own gain. This simple concept helps the practitioner or graduate student spring to page 60 and the undergraduate student use it as a dictionary approach to learning concepts versus simply reading page 1 to page 220. These books are like sweet victory where you feel you have scored. This is the best we have done in theory and theory education to date. Forte hits the homerun and we celebrate.’ – The New Social Worker'[T]he author provides useful...“learning activities and lessons” at the end of each chapter.[T]his book provides a useful framework for teaching and learning about aspects of theorising that are transparentand potentially open to critical reflection. The framework provided is valid as an approach to making meaning of complex life situations and applying that understanding to social work practice in Australia.'Deborah Hart, University of Newcastle, Australia, Australian Social Work,

• Foreword Preface Section 1: Multi-Theoretical Social Work: Basics 1. Use Theories for Professional Purposes 2. Identify Your Theoretical Orientation 3. Cultivate an Orientation Affirming Theoretical Pluralism 4. Use Theories to Guide Helping Processes in Six Ways 5. Use a Metatheory to Guide Selection of Theoretical Languages for Helping Section 2: Multi-Theoretical Social Work and The Planned Change Process 6. Translate Theories to Guide the Engagement Process 7. Translate Theories to Guide the Information Gathering Process 8. Translate Theories to Guide Informational Question Formation 9. Translate Theories to Guide the Assessment Formulation Process 10. Translate Theories to Guide the Goal Setting Process 11. Translate Theories to Guide the Specification of Change Theory and Logic Model 12. Translate Theories to Guide the Identification, Selection, and Implementation of Intervention Strategies 13. Translate Theories to Guide the Evaluation Process 14. Translate Theories to Guide the Ending Process Section 3: Multi-Theoretical Social Work Across the Career 15. Identify and Remove Barriers to Multiple Theory Use Across the Career 16. Participate in Multi-theory Reflecting Teams 17. Choose and Implement an Approach to Integrate Theoretical Languages 18. Build an Integrative Multi-Theory Personal Practice Model Section 4: Conclusion 19. Coda: Translation and Translators for Multi-Theoretical Social Work