Skills for Social Work Practice – Serie

This book provides social work students at both undergraduate and graduate level with compelling child welfare case examples, intervention plans, and tips for building working alliances with clients. The 50 such case examples, categorized by maltreatment type(s) and by underlying problem(s), each present an intertwined network of issues characterizing the members of a family and their interactions—as in actual field situations. Thus, social work students learning therapy or case management will find a wide variety of scenarios from child welfare services and children/family outpatient care and will learn about the range of challenges clients can face. Using the instruction/practice sheets that illustrate sound approaches for joining with clients to tailor their own interventions, students are provided with the tools to work out the application of assessment and intervention strategies with regard to the particular circumstances of each example. Throughout, the emphasis is on growing the working alliance between social worker and client, reflecting the strength perspective emphasized in social work practice.

This book provides social work students at both undergraduate and graduate level with compelling child welfare case examples, intervention plans, and tips for building working alliances with clients. The 50 such case examples, categorized by maltreatment type(s) and by underlying problem(s), each present an intertwined network of issues characterizing the members of a family and their interactions—as in actual field situations. Thus, social work students learning therapy or case management will find a wide variety of scenarios from child welfare services and children/family outpatient care and will learn about the range of challenges clients can face. Using the instruction/practice sheets that illustrate sound approaches for joining with clients to tailor their own interventions, students are provided with the tools to work out the application of assessment and intervention strategies with regard to the particular circumstances of each example. Throughout, the emphasis is on growing the working alliance between social worker and client, reflecting the strength perspective emphasized in social work practice.

Social workers play a critical role in the wellbeing of communities – trained to help individuals, families, and groups effect positive change and address barriers that stand in the way of optimal life and wellbeing. In addition to a focus on people, many social workers include animals in their definition of systems and family units, leading to endless ways they have successfully incorporated animals into their work. This book offers insights from pioneers as well as practitioners in the field who have created their niche within this growing area. Coming from the philosophy that we cannot work towards what we do not know exists, this book offers knowledge, pathways, and advice from those who have succeeded in including their love for animals into their careers, shining a light on the path for those who share similar passions. The book can be used as a supplemental textbook in undergraduate and graduate social work academic programs as well as a resource for social workers in the field looking for ways to expand their work.

Social workers play a critical role in the wellbeing of communities – trained to help individuals, families, and groups effect positive change and address barriers that stand in the way of optimal life and wellbeing. In addition to a focus on people, many social workers include animals in their definition of systems and family units, leading to endless ways they have successfully incorporated animals into their work. This book offers insights from pioneers as well as practitioners in the field who have created their niche within this growing area. Coming from the philosophy that we cannot work towards what we do not know exists, this book offers knowledge, pathways, and advice from those who have succeeded in including their love for animals into their careers, shining a light on the path for those who share similar passions. The book can be used as a supplemental textbook in undergraduate and graduate social work academic programs as well as a resource for social workers in the field looking for ways to expand their work.

Over the last 30 years, domestic far-right extremism has risen to become the greatest threat to peace and safety in the United States. In the last few years alone, racialized, minoritized, and marginalized individuals and communities have been increasingly forced to feel the pain and experience the consequences of domestic far-right terrorism. Supposing academics, community leaders, and elected officials seek to combat the rising threat of far-right extremism in the United States, a greater focus must be paid to the lived experiences of men and women seeking to exit extremist groups.This study aimed to better understand the psychosocial processes involved in the disengagement and/or de-radicalization journey of former far-right extremists. Additionally, this study sought to understand better the potential role social work could play in the disengagement and de-radicalization of far-right extremists seeking to exit a life of hate and extremism. A constructivist grounded theory approach provided the framework for this qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews with 19 former white nationalist extremists recruited through community informants and snowball sampling were used to answer the research question: What are the psychosocial processes involved in the disengagement and de-radicalization journey of former far-right extremists, and how do they develop in society? To date, there has not been a study located utilizing constructivist grounded theory in disengagement and de-radicalization studies. Additionally, a theory of disengagement and de-radicalization has yet to be explored.This study sought to explore and conceptualize latent social patterns and structures within the disengagement and de-radicalization journey as a means to construct a theoretical frame to better understand one’s journey from a life of hate. Study findings emerged from over 3,500 coded items from 18 transcripts. Eight themes emerged from the data, and a theoretical model conceptualizing the psychosocial processes involved in the journey out of far-right extremism is introduced.

Technological innovation has brought changes to the landscape of the social work profession, and these have produced both challenges and opportunities for the field.Guiding readers through the origins of the policy standards around technology integration including the profession’s charge to explore strategies for harnessing technology for social good, it also examines shifts in philosophical views among practitioners regarding the use of technology as a practice tool and the ethics around their use. Considering both the challenges and opportunities of the utilization of technology in social work practice, it analyses various technological tools, such as ChatGPT, social media, avatars, and metaverse, across different practice levels (micro, mezzo, macro).Providing practical tips and case-examples, this book will be required reading for practitioners, educators, and students to improve their efficiency, efficacy, and skills with technology while connecting and engaging with clients.

Technological innovation has brought changes to the landscape of the social work profession, and these have produced both challenges and opportunities for the field.Guiding readers through the origins of the policy standards around technology integration including the profession’s charge to explore strategies for harnessing technology for social good, it also examines shifts in philosophical views among practitioners regarding the use of technology as a practice tool and the ethics around their use. Considering both the challenges and opportunities of the utilization of technology in social work practice, it analyses various technological tools, such as ChatGPT, social media, avatars, and metaverse, across different practice levels (micro, mezzo, macro).Providing practical tips and case-examples, this book will be required reading for practitioners, educators, and students to improve their efficiency, efficacy, and skills with technology while connecting and engaging with clients.

Social workers prioritize understanding and advocating for unjustly at-risk vulnerable populations. Honoring this moral imperative requires critical empathy, imagination, knowledge, theorizing, and action.This textbook provides a comprehensive, practical, and normative framework for assessing a population with a problem in a place, for using standards of justice to appraise "what is", "what could be" (ideals), and "what should be" (norms), and for using the (in)justice profile as a foundation for planning transformative interventions. Focusing on marginalized and vulnerable populations, it shows their differential exposure to hazardous intersections and perilous paths, and the consequential harms they often suffer. Expanding on Nancy Fraser’s multi-theory, multidimensional justice paradigm, topics covered include the grounds of social work’s justice imperative; the forms of injustice-recognition denial, resource deprivation, representation deficiencies, and rights violations; environmental injustice and the ecosystems perspective; risks and protectors; creative agency, resistance, and well-being; privilege and penalty; resiliency and vulnerability; and plausible explanations. It also includes content on pivotal social systems; the intersectional life course perspective and other critical theories of inequity; processes of injustice including blaming, dominating, exploiting, stereotyping, and stigmatizing; and descriptions of possibilities, real alternatives to oppressive, inequitable, and unsustainable structures and processes.Designed for use as a core text on all HBSE modules on BSW and MSW social work programs, it will also be of interest to novice social workers, social workers engaged in professional development, and allied human services professionals.

Social workers prioritize understanding and advocating for unjustly at-risk vulnerable populations. Honoring this moral imperative requires critical empathy, imagination, knowledge, theorizing, and action.This textbook provides a comprehensive, practical, and normative framework for assessing a population with a problem in a place, for using standards of justice to appraise "what is", "what could be" (ideals), and "what should be" (norms), and for using the (in)justice profile as a foundation for planning transformative interventions. Focusing on marginalized and vulnerable populations, it shows their differential exposure to hazardous intersections and perilous paths, and the consequential harms they often suffer. Expanding on Nancy Fraser’s multi-theory, multidimensional justice paradigm, topics covered include the grounds of social work’s justice imperative; the forms of injustice-recognition denial, resource deprivation, representation deficiencies, and rights violations; environmental injustice and the ecosystems perspective; risks and protectors; creative agency, resistance, and well-being; privilege and penalty; resiliency and vulnerability; and plausible explanations. It also includes content on pivotal social systems; the intersectional life course perspective and other critical theories of inequity; processes of injustice including blaming, dominating, exploiting, stereotyping, and stigmatizing; and descriptions of possibilities, real alternatives to oppressive, inequitable, and unsustainable structures and processes.Designed for use as a core text on all HBSE modules on BSW and MSW social work programs, it will also be of interest to novice social workers, social workers engaged in professional development, and allied human services professionals.

Social Work Practice and Artificial Intelligence for the Common Good is the first university-level textbook to address how AI can be leveraged for the common good without reproducing systemic inequities, whilst also addressing how social workers can develop the digital literacy necessary to evaluate, design, and ethically use AI tools.Drawing on global case studies, practice-based examples, and a range of pedagogical tools, this book:• Introduces AI concepts in plain language for non-technical learners.• Explores ethical dilemmas, bias, and the implications of automation in human services.• Connects AI use cases to micro, mezzo, and macro practice levels.• Provides tools for advocacy, policy engagement, and community-based technology design.• Positions social workers as active shapers of emerging technologies rather than passive adopters.• Embeds equity, human rights, and the NASW Code of Ethics into AI discussions.Offering chapter critical thinking questions, empowerment-focused activities, reflection prompts, interviews with experts, and support materials, this textbook will be relevant to all students of social work, public policy, and human services. This book will also be of interest to practitioners in nonprofit and public service sectors, and faculty members looking to advance their understanding and infuse AI literacy in their courses.