An extensively revised version of the first edition, this text focuses on the practical foundational knowledge required to practice social work effectively in the complex and fast-changing world of services to children and their families. The core organizing framework consists of eight pragmatic perspectives: combating adultcentrism, family-centered practice, the strengths perspective, respect for diversity and difference, the least restrictive alternative, ecological perspective, organization and financing, and achieving outcomes. Unlike most texts that focus either on direct practice or on policy, Petr's revised volume integrates current policy-including recent reform efforts-with "best practices." The student thus gains a deep appreciation for how direct social work practice is linked to, and even guided by, contemporary policy initiatives and the values that underscore those initiatives. Two new chapters are devoted specifically to the fields of child welfare and children's mental health, providing an overview of the laws, policies, practices, and terminology pertaining to each setting. The next eight chapters focus on each pragmatic perspective and its relevance to child welfare and children's mental health. The in-depth case studies that comprise the concluding two chapters illustrate how typical client situations can be successfully addressed within the context of the pragmatic perspectives. Packed with case studies, specific practice instruction, chapter summaries, and suggested learning activities, this book prepares students and practitioners to think and act professionally in ways that are consistent with current laws, values, policies, and reform efforts in the field.

Covers all major topics relevant to clinical social work. Discusses social work practice, multicultural and diversity issues, and research, as well as assessment and measurement.

Every day, social workers deal with individuals, families, and groups struggling with problems that are often chronic, persistent, acute, and/or unexpected. When community and family support systems are weak or unavailable, and when internal resources fail, these populations become vulnerable to physical, cognitive, emotional, and social deterioration. Yet despite numerous risk factors, a large number of vulnerable people do live happy and productive lives. This best-selling handbook examines not only risk and vulnerability factors in disadvantaged populations but also resilience and protective strategies for managing and overcoming adversity. This third edition reflects new demographic data, research findings, and theoretical developments and accounts for changing economic and political realities and immigration and health care policy reforms. Contributors have expanded their essays to include practice with individuals, families, and groups, and new chapters consider working with military members and their families, victims and survivors of terrorism and torture, bullied children, and young men of color.

Emotional abuse and neglect are at the core of all types of child maltreatment, and have the most harmful effects on the physical and psychological development and well-being of children. Yet they are considered to be the most difficult to deal with by those who have the responsibility to protect and intervene in effective ways. In this book the author explores the concept of a damaged child, and asks what are the different types of injury, ranging from active to passive, physical to emotional, that stop children from reaching their full potential psychologically and physically? The author questions whether emotional damage to a child can be repaired and answers questions such as: Is some injury irreversible? What therapeutic techniques are available to deal with emotional abuse? Can the abusers as well as the abused be helped to change? Case studies are provided to illustrate the features of emotional abuse, and chapters are devoted to the assessment and prediction of emotional abuse, effects of emotional abuse as the child grows up, intervention and treatment and working with the family as a whole.

The focus of this book is on understanding the major social issues in America, the social welfare system and it′s attempts to resolve those issues, and the many roles assumed by professional social workers within the social welfare system. This is an easy to read book which includes many examples of successful social work practices within existing social welfare settings.

This text provides graduate students going into the social work field with real world and practical information about what it is really like to work as a social worker. Each chapter presents a true picture of what to expect as a front-line social worker in the given practice setting.

The decision whether to reunify a child in care with their birth family is one of most serious considerations of child protection workers. This book examines the long term consequences of family reunification and the risk of returning the child without adequate support to the family.

Covers key social problems and practice-related issues The last two decades in social work have seen tremendous strides in field research, from the development of improved research designs to more accurate methods of problem measurement and outcome analysis. Drawing upon these significant advances, the two-volume handbook of Empirical Social Work Practice brings together empirically validated interventions for many of the psychosocial problems most frequently encountered by social workers in their daily practice. Unlike other books in the field that employ a theory-based approach to treatment, this handbook focuses on the best-supported methods of helping clients with particular problems irrespective of theoretical biases, offering clinicians a valuable compendium of practice guidelines for treatment. Edited and authored by recognized experts in the field, the Handbook of Empirical Social Work Practice is clearly written and organized for easy reference. Volume Two covers key social problems and practice-related issues including: * Crime, homelessness, and unemployment * Domestic violence and sexual abuse * Family conflict and preservation * Practice approaches for older clients * Empirically based supervision With information that is at once accessible and up to date, the Handbook of Empirical Social Work Practice is a vital source of guidance for today's clinical social workers and other practicing mental health professionals, as well as students. "One of the best tools to promote the values of the [social work] profession is that of empirical social work practice. 'Telling the truth' is one of these values, and discovering the truth is something that empirical research is very good at. This book presents credible reviews of contemporary empirical literature pertaining to selected behavioral, affective, and intellectual disorders, and their psychosocial assessment and treatment. That such a book is now possible is a striking affirmation of the merits of the approach to social work called empirical clinical practice." ---- from the Handbook of Empirical Social Work Practice