SAGE Sourcebooks for the Human Services – serie

This book focuses on adoptive families after the legal finalization of the adoption has taken place. The authors, Susan Livingston Smith and Jeanne A. Howard, incorporate the findings of their own unique research project on troubled adoptive families with other empirical research, theory, practice, and knowledge. This volume is rich with case examples, detailed case histories, presentations of various practice strategies, and resources. The overall result is a stand-alone volume offering a clear and well-documented overview of the topic. It will be invaluable to social workers and other professionals working with children and families.

This book focuses on adoptive families after the legal finalization of the adoption has taken place. The authors, Susan Livingston Smith and Jeanne A. Howard, incorporate the findings of their own unique research project on troubled adoptive families with other empirical research, theory, practice, and knowledge. This volume is rich with case examples, detailed case histories, presentations of various practice strategies, and resources. The overall result is a stand-alone volume offering a clear and well-documented overview of the topic. It will be invaluable to social workers and other professionals working with children and families.

This nonjudgmental, inclusive, and far-reaching text focuses on the diverse patterns of family structure prevalent in our society today. Family Diversity presents empirical research on the internal dynamics, social environments, support factors, prevalence of discrimination, and common stereotypes that account for the issues surrounding current family relations. By examining the history and nature of foster and adoptive, single-parent, lesbian/gay, step- and grandparent family units, Pauline Irit Erera is able to challenge both the idealized family prototype and the hegemony of the traditional structure. 

Early prevention of child maltreatment is most commonly delivered through home visitation services, with the goal of promoting a positive start in parenting to avert potential child abuse and neglect, Stopping Child Maltreatment Before It Starts introduces best practice principles for early home visiting, examining the contexts from which these strategies arise.

Beginning with a discussion of the nature and etiology of physical child abuse and neglect, Guterman then examines the mechanisms by which child protective and early home visitation services have traditionally operated. The book explores best practice principles by providing a detailed "inside tour" of those practices that have been empirically linked with positive outcomes in serviced families. Guterman also discusses in detail ways how home visitation may more adequately address the problem of family substance abuse in reducing child maltreatment risk, and ways visitation can attend to social network and community influences and increase parent empowerment.

An essential text for child welfare courses, Stopping Child Maltreatment Before It Starts will also appeal to practitioners and policy makers in the child abuse and neglect field.

Early prevention of child maltreatment is most commonly delivered through home visitation services, with the goal of promoting a positive start in parenting to avert potential child abuse and neglect, Stopping Child Maltreatment Before It Starts introduces best practice principles for early home visiting, examining the contexts from which these strategies arise.

Beginning with a discussion of the nature and etiology of physical child abuse and neglect, Guterman then examines the mechanisms by which child protective and early home visitation services have traditionally operated. The book explores best practice principles by providing a detailed "inside tour" of those practices that have been empirically linked with positive outcomes in serviced families. Guterman also discusses in detail ways how home visitation may more adequately address the problem of family substance abuse in reducing child maltreatment risk, and ways visitation can attend to social network and community influences and increase parent empowerment.

An essential text for child welfare courses, Stopping Child Maltreatment Before It Starts will also appeal to practitioners and policy makers in the child abuse and neglect field.

Many of today's nonprofit health and human service organizations are developing coalitions, mergers, and other types of interorganizational alliances. These newly formed partnerships are created to gain a greater capacity within the organization and establish community-driven initiatives. While new strategies can enhance the scope and quality of organizations, they may also represent organizations own survival.

Through well-developed examples, this book examines the formation and maintenance of strategic alliances. From the motives that lead organizations to form relationships, to practical tips on how to sustain, recreate, and end partnerships, this text is a useful reference for both beginners and seasoned practitioners.

Many of today's nonprofit health and human service organizations are developing coalitions, mergers, and other types of interorganizational alliances. These newly formed partnerships are created to gain a greater capacity within the organization and establish community-driven initiatives. While new strategies can enhance the scope and quality of organizations, they may also represent organizations own survival.

Through well-developed examples, this book examines the formation and maintenance of strategic alliances. From the motives that lead organizations to form relationships, to practical tips on how to sustain, recreate, and end partnerships, this text is a useful reference for both beginners and seasoned practitioners.

Social work supervision has been identified as one of the most important factors in determining the job satisfaction levels of social workers and the quality of service to clients. As an indirect but vital factor in the social work process, it is surprising that supervision has not received as much attention as other components of social work practice, such as social work research or administration. A book on social work supervision is desperately needed to bridge the gap between the demands of the field and the absence of literature. Social Work Supervision: Contexts and Concepts aims to provide readers with basic knowledge of theories, research, and practice of supervision. The book will address the needs of social work supervisors, frontline practitioners, students, and educators.

The book is ideally suited as a text for graduate courses on social work supervision, as it contains a comprehensive literature review of the historical development, theories and models, and empirical research studies of the subject. Equally important, this is a book from practice experience in supervision that enhances the competence of supervisory practice. It will help social workers, supervisors, and administrators to realize and revitalize their "mission" in social work, that is, to benefit clients.

Key Features:

* Presents social work supervision as a rational, effective, and interactive process focusing on the whole person of the social worker* Discusses the history, the nature and definitions, and the theoretical models of social work supervision* Explores the major functions of social work supervision—administrative, educational, and supportive* Addresses the specific format and structure of supervision sessions

Social work supervision has been identified as one of the most important factors in determining the job satisfaction levels of social workers and the quality of service to clients. As an indirect but vital factor in the social work process, it is surprising that supervision has not received as much attention as other components of social work practice, such as social work research or administration. A book on social work supervision is desperately needed to bridge the gap between the demands of the field and the absence of literature. Social Work Supervision: Contexts and Concepts aims to provide readers with basic knowledge of theories, research, and practice of supervision. The book will address the needs of social work supervisors, frontline practitioners, students, and educators.

The book is ideally suited as a text for graduate courses on social work supervision, as it contains a comprehensive literature review of the historical development, theories and models, and empirical research studies of the subject. Equally important, this is a book from practice experience in supervision that enhances the competence of supervisory practice. It will help social workers, supervisors, and administrators to realize and revitalize their "mission" in social work, that is, to benefit clients.

Key Features:

* Presents social work supervision as a rational, effective, and interactive process focusing on the whole person of the social worker* Discusses the history, the nature and definitions, and the theoretical models of social work supervision* Explores the major functions of social work supervision—administrative, educational, and supportive* Addresses the specific format and structure of supervision sessions

Organizations today – whether public or private – exist in environments where the pace of change is dizzying. Human service organizations face both external and internal challenges: The public demands better services at more reasonable costs. Clientele is more diverse, more stratified, and more vocal than ever. The organizations themselves must keep up with rapid changes in technological innovation and labor-management relationships.

Organizational Change in the Human Services looks at the context of organizational change, describes how individuals and systems change, and pinpoints keys to successful change. Author Rebecca Proehl then presents a proven model of organizational change, built on lessons learned from both the public and private sectors, but tailored for human service organizations. Proehl also discusses in depth labor union-management issues, the political strategies leaders must use to implement change, and how to build collaborative relationships in human services. Full of examples of successful change projects within human services, the book emphasizes understanding the skills and tools needed for successfully leading and implementing change. As a special feature, case studies, organizational assessments and inventories, and exercises that can help the reader to adapt the change model to their own organization are included.

Practicing managers in the human services will find this book a necessary guide to leading and implementing change in their organization. It will also make a useful text for advanced courses in human services administration and management.