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

Covers clinically effective treatments for over twenty of the major mental, behavioral, and emotional diagnoses in the DSM-IV 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 One covers clinically effective treatments for over twenty of the major mental, behavioral, and emotional diagnoses in the DSM-IV(TM), including: * Disorders typically diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence * Substance-related disorders * Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders * Mood and anxiety disorders * Sexual and eating disorders * Personality disorders 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

This ebook is a selective guide designed to help scholars and students of social work find reliable sources of information by directing them to the best available scholarly materials in whatever form or format they appear from books, chapters, and journal articles to online archives, electronic data sets, and blogs. Written by a leading international authority on the subject, the ebook provides bibliographic information supported by direct recommendations about which sources to consult and editorial commentary to make it clear how the cited sources are interrelated related. A reader will discover, for instance, the most reliable introductions and overviews to the topic, and the most important publications on various areas of scholarly interest within this topic. In social work, as in other disciplines, researchers at all levels are drowning in potentially useful scholarly information, and this guide has been created as a tool for cutting through that material to find the exact source you need. This ebook is a static version of an article from Oxford Bibliographies Online: Social Work, a dynamic, continuously updated, online resource designed to provide authoritative guidance through scholarship and other materials relevant to the study and practice of social work. Oxford Bibliographies Online covers most subject disciplines within the social science and humanities, for more information visit www.aboutobo.com.

Too often in practice, there is a tendency to pathologize clients, requiring a diagnosis as part of the helping relationship. Suppose, however, that most of the client problems that social workers encounter have more to do with the vagaries of life and not with what clients are doing wrong. This powerful idea is the philosophy behind the strengths-based approaches to social work. This groundbreaking practice handbook takes this concept one step further, combining the different strengths-based approaches into an overarching model of solution-oriented social work for greater impact. The strengths perspective emphasizes client strengths, goal-setting, and a shared definition of positive outcome. Solution-focused therapy approaches ongoing problems when they have temporarily abated, amplifying exceptions as solutions. This natural but rarely explored pairing is one component in the challenging and effective practice framework presented here by the authors, two seasoned practitioners with over 50 years of combined experience. By integrating the most useful aspects of the major approaches, a step-by-step plan for action emerges. With this text in hand, you will: - Integrate elements from the strengths perspective, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, and the strategic therapy of the Mental Research Institute (the MRI approach) into an effective and eclectic framework - Build and practice your skills using case examples, transcripts, and practical advice - Equip yourself with the tools you need to emphasize clients' strengths - Challenge the diagnosis-first medical model of behavioral health care - Collaborate with clients to get past thinking (first-order change), and more to acting "outside the box" (second-order change) - Learn to work with a wide variety of clients, including individuals, groups, and families; involuntary clients; clients with severe mental illness; and clients in crisis For any student or practitioner interested in working with clients towards collaborative and empowering change, this is the essential text.

This comprehensive handbook presents major theories of social work practice with groups and explores contemporary issues in designing and evaluating interventions. Students and practitioners gain an in-depth view of the many ways that groups are used to help people address personal problems, cope with disabilities, strengthen families and communities, resolve conflict, achieve social change, and more. Offering authoritative coverage of theoretical, practical, and methodological concerns--coupled with a clear focus on empowerment and diversity--this is an outstanding text for group work and direct practice courses.

Role in forming balanced assessments.

Expanding on the evidence-based practice approach, this book incorporates diverse perspectives on best practices that include qualitative research, professional practice wisdom, and consumer values and experiences.

Effective Ways of Working with Children and their Families examines the latest evidence about the most successful forms of intervention when working with children and their families. The book covers a wide range of approaches and services, with particular emphasis on those methods seeking to help children with identified problems. Certain approaches focus on individual children, others on their families, whilst some aim to influence children's lives at school, neighbourhood and community levels. After discussing the principles, designs and debates associated with ideas of effectiveness and evidence, the book evaluates current practice in child and family work, including: early years provision family mediation child and adolescent psychiatry treatment for children who have been sexually abused work with foster children and their families. Each chapter outlines the nature of and principle behind each form of intervention under consideration, then reviews the evidence for their success. The contributors, who come from a range of backgrounds including psychology, social work, psychiatry, education and family mediation, conclude by drawing out common themes and implications about what works for practitioners working with children and their families.

Human Behavior Theory and Social Work Practice remains a foundation work for those interested in the practice and teaching of social work. Roberta Greene covers theoretical areas and individual theorists including classical psychoanalytic thought, Eriksonian theory, Carl Rogers, cognitive theory, systems theory, ecological perspectives, social construction, feminism, and genetics. She discusses the historical context, its philosophical roots, and major assumptions of each theory. The general theme, which distinguishes this volume, is that the person-in-environment perspective has been a central influence in the formation of the profession's knowledge base, as well as its approach to practice. Greene provides perspective on how individuals and social systems interact. This book examines how social workers can use theory to shape social work practice by increasing his or her understanding of and potential for enhancing human well-being. Greene covers the relationship between human behavior theory and professional social work practice. She also explores the challenges and limitations of each theory and addresses the following issues: how the theory serves as a framework for social work practice; how the theory lends itself to an understanding of individual, family, group, community, or organizational behavior; what the implications are of the theory for social work interventions or practice strategies; and what role it proposes for the social worker as a change agent. Throughout the profession's history, social workers have turned to a number of theoretical approaches for the organizing concepts needed to define their practice base. The aims of social work--to improve societal conditions and to enhance social functioning of and between individuals, families, and groups--are put into action across all fields of practice and realized through a variety of methods in a range of settings. This third edition, completely revised, represents a fundamental contribution to the field, and like its predecessors, will be widely used as a basic text.

One of the key challenges of all types of practice and research is finding a way to measure the problem. This seminal 2-volume book contains hundreds of the most useful measurement tools for use in clinical practice and in research. All measures are critiqued by the editors, who provide guidance on how to select and score them and the actual measures are wholly reproduced. This first volume, focusing on measures for use with couples, families, and children, includes an introduction to the basic priniciples of measurement, an overview of different types of measures, and an overview of the Rapid Assessment Inventories included herein. Volume I also contains descriptions and reviews of each instrument, as well as information on how they were selected and how to administer and score them. This book is designed as the definitive reference volume on assessment measures for both practice and research in clinical mental health. This fifth edition of Corcoran and Fischer's Measures for Clinical Practice and Research is updated with a new preface, new scales, and updated information for existing instruments, expanding and cementing its utility for members of all the helping professions, including psychology, social work, psychiatry, counseling, nursing, and medicine. Alone or as a set, these classic compendiums are powerful tools that clinicians and researchers alike will find an invaluable addition to - or update of - their libraries.