Introduction to Social Work: Through the Eyes of Practice Settings, 1st edition

Preface xiii

Part I: Foundational Issues in Social Work Policy and Practice

1. Introduction to the Social Work Profession: Purpose, Preparation,

Practice, and Theoretical Orientations 1

The Nature of Social Work and Its Need in Society 2

Social Workers: Educational Requirements and Professional Standards 4

How Do Social Workers Practice and What Do They Do? 8

Theoretical Frameworks Used in Social Work 9

Summary 12

2. The Evolution of Social Welfare Policy: Effect on Social Work Practice 14

The History of Social Welfare Policy and Provision in Europe

and the United States 14

The Feudal System of the Middle Ages 15

Poor Laws of England 16

The Elizabethan Poor Laws 17

Charity Organization Society Movement in the United States 18

Jane Addams and the Settlement House Movement 19

The New Deal and the Social Security Act of 1935 21

Influences of African American Social Workers 22

Gay Rights: From Marriage Equality to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal 24

Welfare Reform and the Emergence of Neoliberal Economic Policies 26

The Christian Right 29

The Tea Party Movement 29

A Time for Change: The Election of the First African American President 30

Summary 32

3. Generalist Skills and Intervention Strategies: Effecting Meaningful

and Ethical Change 33

Ethics and the Social Work Profession 34

What Does It Mean to Be Ethical? 35

The Conflict Between Ethical Standards and Emotional Desires 35

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas 36 Cultural Influences on the Perception of Ethical Behavior 37 Ethical Standards in Social Work 39 Informed Consent and Confidentiality 40 Skills and Competencies 42 Sympathy and Empathy 43 Boundary Setting 45 The Psychosocial Assessment 47 Bowen’s Family Genogram 49 Psychological Testing 50 Continuum of Mental Health and Mental Illness 51 Generalist Techniques for Direct Practice 51 Task-Centered Casework 52 Perceptual Reframing, Emotional Regulation, Networking, and Advocacy 53 Cultural Competence and Diversity 55 Social Work Practice on a Macro Level 56 At-risk, Oppressed, and Disenfranchised Populations 58 A Human Rights Framework: Inalienable Rights for All Human Beings 59 Shared Goals of Effective Macropractice Techniques 59 Common Aspects of Macro Practice 60 Summary 62 Part II: Social Work in Action–Common Practice Settings 4. Child Welfare Services: Overview and Purpose of Child and Family Services Agencies 64 Introduction to Child and Family Services 65 The History of Child Welfare in the United States 66 Slavery and Child Labor 67 Child Labor During the Industrial Era: Children and Factories 68 The Orphan Problem and the History of the Foster Care System in Early America 69 Early Orphan Asylums 69 The Orphan Trains 70 Jane Addams and the Fight for Child Labor Laws 71 Overview of the Current U.S. Child Welfare System 73 Getting into the System 73 Current Legislation Impacting the U.S. Child Welfare System 74 Child Abuse Investigations 75 When to Intervene: Models for Decision Making 78 Working With Children in Placement 80 Working With Biological Families of Children in Placement 82 Working With Foster Children: Common Clinical Issues 83 Reunification 90 Family Preservation 91 Ethnic Minority Populations and Multicultural Considerations 92 Placing Children of Color in Caucasian Homes 93 Native Americans and the U.S. Child Welfare System 95 Summary 97 5. Adolescent Services 98 Adolescence: A New Stage of Development? 99 Developmental Perspectives of Adolescence 99 Common Psychosocial Issues and the Role of the Social Worker 102 Adolescent Rebellion 102 Depression, Anxiety, and Deliberate Self-harm 104 Suicide Risk in Adolescence 106 Eating Disorders 109 Chronic and Severe Mental Illness: Schizophrenia in Adolescence 110 Practice Settings Specific to Adolescent Services 111 Multicultural Considerations 114 Summary 116 6. Social Work and Older Adults 117 The Aging of America: Changing Demographics 119 Old and Old-Old: A Developmental Perspective 120 Successful Aging 123 Current Issues Affecting Older Adults and the Role of the Social Worker 124 Ageism 125 Housing 126 Homelessness and the Older Adult Population 127 Adjustment to Retirement 129 Grandparents Parenting 130 Depression 132 Dementia 133 Elder Abuse 134 Legislation Affecting Older Adults 135 Practice Settings Serving Older Adults 136 Special Populations 137 Summary 138 7. Mental Health and Mental Illness 140 The History of Mental Health Treatment in the United States 141 The Deinstitutionalization of the Mentally Ill 143 Common Mental Illnesses and Psychosocial Issues 144 Serious Mental Disorders Diagnosed on Axis I 145 Serious Mental Disorders Diagnosed on Axis II 146 Mental Health Counseling Interventions 148 Clinical Diagnoses 151 Common Mental Health Practice Settings 152 Mental Illness and Special Populations 154 Ethnic Minority Populations 155 Military Personnel 156 The Homeless Population 159 Prisoner Populations: The Criminalization of the Mentally Ill 161 Current Legislation Affecting Access to Mental Health Services and Mental Health Parity 163 Summary 166 8. Homelessness 167 History of Homelessness in the United States 169 A Snapshot of Homelessness 171 Gauging the Scope of the Problem 172 The Many Causes of Homelessness 174 The Rise of Homelessness in Single-mother Families 177 Homeless Shelter Living: Families with Children 179 Homeless Children: School Attendance and Academic Performance 180 Runaway and Homeless Youth 182 Single Homeless Men: Mental Illness and Substance Abuse 184 Older Adult Homeless Population 184 Homelessness Due to Natural Disasters 186 Working with Homeless Populations: The Role of the Social Worker 188 Common Housing Assistance Practice Settings 190 Summary 193 9. Healthcare and Hospice 194 Social Work in Hospitals and Other Healthcare Settings 196 Crisis and Trauma Counseling 197 Single Visits and Rapid Assessment 198 Working with Patients with HIV/AIDS 199 HIV/AIDS and the Latino Population 201 Three-pronged Approach to Working With the HIV/AIDS Population 202 The U.S. Healthcare Crisis: A Legislative Response 202 Ethical Considerations for Social Workers in Healthcare Settings 205 The Hospice Movement 205 The History of Hospice: The Neglect of the Dying 205 The Hospice Philosophy 206 The Hospice Team and the Role of the Hospice Social Worker 207 Intervention Strategies: Counseling the Terminally Ill and Their Family Members 208 Resisting the Reality of Death 210 Planning for the Death 211 The Spiritual Component of Dying 212 Effective Bereavement Counseling 212 Multicultural Considerations 213 Ethical Considerations for Social Workers Working in Hospice Settings 214 Summary 215 10. School Social Work 217 The History of Social Work in the Public School System 219 School Social Work: The Traditional Model, Roles, Functions, and Core Competencies 221 Interprofessional Collaboration: Working with Other Mental Health Professionals Within the Public School Setting 223 The Plight of Urban Schools 226 Diversity in the Schools: Developing Cultural Competence 227 Working With Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups 227 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning Youth 229 The Terrorist Threat and “Islamophobia” 230 Depression and Other Psychosocial Concerns 232 Substance Abuse in the Schools 233 Child Abuse and Neglect: Protecting Students 235 Bullying 235 Teenage Pregnancy 237 Common Ethical Dilemmas Facing School Social Workers 238 Summary 239 11. Religion, Spirituality, and Faith-based Agencies 240 The Historical Role of Religion in Caring for the Poor and Disadvantaged 242 The Role of Spirituality in Social Work 244 Faith-based Agencies: Social Service Delivery from Different Faith Traditions 247 Legislation and Policy Affecting Faith-based Agencies 248 The Benefits of Faith-based Services 250 Religious Diversity in Faith-based Organizations 250 The Role of the Social Worker: Social Services and Intervention Strategies 251 Jewish Social Service Agencies 251 Christian Social Services Agencies 253 Islamic Social Services Agencies 257 The Mindfulness Movement 260 Summary 261 12 .Violence, Victim Advocacy, and Corrections 263 Forensic Social Work: Working with Survivors and Perpetrators of Violence 265 Intimate Partner Violence 266 The Nature of IPV: The Cycle of Violence 267 Working with Survivors of IPV 268 IPV Practice Settings 271 The Prosecution of IPV 272 Batterer Intervention Programs 273 Sexual Assault 274 Why People Commit Rape 275 The Psychological Impact of Sexual Assault 276 Male-on-Male Sexual Assault 276 Common Practice Settings: Rape Crisis Centers 277 Working with Survivors of Violent Crime 277 The Victims’ Bill of Rights and Victim-Witness Assistance 278 Survivors of Homicide 279 Common Psychosocial Issues Among Survivors of Violent Crime 280 Working with Perpetrators of Crime 280 Gang Activity 281 Forensic Social Work Practice Settings Focusing on Gang Involvement 282 Social Workers in the Corrections System 283 Disparity in Sentencing: The Incarceration of Ethnic Minorities 283 Psychosocial Issues in the Prison Population: The Role of the Social Worker 285 Mental Health Programs in Correctional Facilities 285 Prison and Pregnancy 285 Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS 286 Barriers to Treatment 286 Summary 287 13. International Social Work 288 The Global Community 289 HIV/AIDS Pandemic 291 Crimes Against Women and Children 292 Female Genital Mutilation 292 Human Sex Trafficking 293 Orphans and Vulnerable Youth: Street Children 294 Child Labor and Economic Injustice 295 Indigenous People 296 Refugees 297 International Disaster Relief 299 The Effectiveness of International Disaster Relief and the Role of the Social Worker 299 Providing Psychosocial Support for Disaster Survivors 300 Crimes Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Populations 301 Government-Sanctioned Torture and Abuse 303 Genocide and Rape as a Weapon of War 305 International Social Work Practice in Action 306 Summary 307 Epilogue: The Future of Social Work in an Ever-Changing World 308 References 312 Index 330