"Specifically dedicated to the skills that social workers need to advance community practice, this creative book is long overdue. Grounded in the wisdom and evidence of well-honed interpersonal social work skills...Donna Hardina's new text takes community practice to a higher level than ever before developed in book form; indeed she displays the most thorough understanding of research on community practice that I have read in any community practice text."--Journal of Teaching in Social Work Community organization has been a major component of social work practice since the late 19th century. It requires a diverse set of abilities, interpersonal skills being among the most important. This textbook describes the essential interpersonal skills that social workers need in community practice and helps students cultivate them. Drawing from empirical literature on community social work practice and the authorís own experience working with community organizers, the book focuses on developing the macro-level skills that are especially useful for community organizing. It covers relationship-building, interviewing, recruitment, community assessment, facilitating group decision-making and task planning, creating successful interventions, working with organizations, and program evaluation, along with examples of specific applications. For clarity and ease of use, the author employs a framework drawn from a variety of community practice models, including social action and social planning, transformative/popular education and community development approaches, and multicultural and feminist approaches. The text is linked to the competencies outlined in the Council of Social Work Educationís (2008) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), as well as ethics and values identified in the National Association of Social Workersí (NASW) Code of Ethics, and the International Federation of Social Workersí statement of ethical principles. Most chapters begin with a quote from a community organizer explaining how interpersonal skills are used in practice, and student exercises conclude each chapter. The text also addresses other important skills such as legislative advocacy, lobbying, and supervision. Key Features: Describes the essential skills social workers need in community practice and how to acquire them Includes examples of specific applications drawn from empirical literature and the authorís experience working with community organizers Grounded in social justice, strengths-based, and human rights perspectives Linked to competencies outlined in EPAS and values identified in the NASW Code of Ethics Based on a variety of community practice models

" This text describes the essential interpersonal skills that social workers need in community practice and helps students to cultivate them. Drawing from empirical literature on community social work practice and the author's own experience working with community organizers, the book focuses on developing the macro-level skills that are especially useful for community organizing. It covers relationship-building, interviewing, recruitment, community assessment, facilitating group decision-making and task planning, creating successful interventions, working with organizations, and program evaluation, along with examples of specific applications. The text is linked to the competencies outlined in EPAS and values identified in the NASW Code of Ethics. "

This text takes a broad based approach to basic generalist practice methods that emphasize the common elements in working with individuals, families and groups. The goal of the book is to teach social work students how to enhance clients′ social functioning by helping them become more proficient in examining, understanding, and resolving clients′ social problems. The authors pay special attention to enhancing social justice by working with individuals and families who have been historically oppressed. This edition includes specific integrated coverage of the Council on Social Work Education′s (CSWE) latest Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Intended Audience This core text is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the introductory Direct Practice and Generalist Practice courses in BSW and MSW programs of social work.

Focuses on skill-building to facilitate positive social change With straightforward content enriched by practical and applicable learning experiences, this comprehensive text prepares social work students for careers in community organizing and macro practice. It focuses on building the social work skills required for organizing communities, including cause-based coalitions, geographically/identity-based communities, and health and human service organizations, to achieve culturally relevant, equity- and justice-driven social change. The second edition presents new information that includes self-care for the community practitioner, social work grand challenges, cultural humility, community dialogue, trauma-informed and resiliency-focused community development, environmental justice, and many other topics. Emphasizing community practice through the application of macro, mezzo, and micro social work skills, the book uses frameworks drawn from generalist social work practice as well as core competencies identified by CSWE's EPAS. Its focus on a broad range of community practice models makes it accessible to all social workers. The text also highlights the importance of technology as a tool for social work macro practice with skill-building activities. Vivid case vignettes, applied and experiential learning activities, and team and individual-based assignments reinforce content and emphasize skill-building, along with abundant resources for further learning. New to the Second Edition: Presents a framework for self-care for the community practitioner Highlights the importance of community practitioner readiness, competency, and leadership Introduces a new trauma-informed and resiliency-focused approach for community development Discusses strategic compatibility for interorganizational collaboration Introduces youth-based participatory research and empowerment evaluations Key Features: Focuses on skill-building for community engagement and organizing, facilitating community dialogue, and conducting assessments Covers planning and implementing community change initiatives and evaluating and disseminating knowledge from change activities Provides case vignettes to reinforce content and abundant resources for additional learning Offers a complete ancillary package that includes chapter PowerPoints, Test Bank, and an Instructor's Manual with suggested individual and group activities and more

Encompassing community development, organizing, planning, & social change, as well as globalisation, this book is grounded in participatory & empowerment practice. The 36 chapters assess practice, theory & research methods.

The second edition of Social Work Policy Practice: Changing Our Community, Nation, and the World demystifies policymaking for social work students and demonstrates why policy practice is a critical dimension of social work. The text provides a comprehensive introduction to political advocacy, the political process, and how laws are enacted to inspire social work students to enter the field with a mind for political advocacy and social justice. The book is divided into three parts. In Part I, students learn a brief history of social welfare legislation in the United States and the role of social workers in policy development. Part II provides concrete information on how policies become law. It includes an overview of the levels and branches of government, in-depth descriptions of the policy change process, and various strategies advocates employ to enact change. Part III consists of real-world stories of advocates and advocacy organizations that have attempted to change policies on behalf of vulnerable populations. This edition includes up-to-date information regarding policy issues in child welfare, aging, healthcare, mental health, poverty and income equality, rights for racial minorities, and immigration. New material addresses policy issues pertaining to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and the #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter social movements. Engaging and accessible, Social Work Policy Practice is an ideal resource for courses that introduce policymaking to students of social work.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Social Work are at the heart of effective social work practice. This book offers students a solid grounding in the core knowledge and skills of communication needed for effective practice. The book takes the key theories in communication and explains them in a systematic and practice-related way, essential for both undergraduate and postgraduate students to develop a critical understanding of the subject. This crucial fifth edition supports students with core communication skills by providing in-depth coverage closely interwoven with learning features that engage, stimulate and challenge. Working with children, adults and those with learning difficulties are all fundamental aspects of the book making it useful to students of all disciplines.

This book develops a new paradigm suited to the quickly shifting dynamics of a globalized society, both more reliant on social networking, and yet seeking common connection and community.

Generalist Social Work Practice provides students with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to serve clients across micro, mezzo and macro areas of practice. Author Janice Gasker brings a focus on self-reflection as the first stage in the planned change process and writes with the perspective that we consider work at all levels of practice simultaneously rather than in isolation. In accordance with the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) set forth by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), the planned change process is presented as dynamic and interactive, providing students with a clear understanding of how each stage of the planned change process can be utilized at any point when serving a client system. The text spotlights the distinctive characteristics of the worker—their values, attitudes, and experiences—that may influence client interaction. The text also includes case studies, collaborative learning exercises, and critical thinking questions to help students apply concepts to practice.

Introduction to Social Work Practice orients the students to the role of the professional social worker. The first chapter delineates the differences between being a good friend and being a good clinician in terms of social/emotional factors, professionalism, and self-disclosure. The second chapter covers techniques for building a trusting working environment that is conducive to processing sensitive issues along with an overview of key therapeutic communication skills. The remaining five chapters detail an easy-to-remember five-step problem-solving model to guide the clinical process: 1. Assessment, 2. Goal, 3. Objectives, 4. Activation, 5. Termination. Key features include: - role-play exercises - brief essay and response questions to build and test key communication skills - discussion points - glossary of terms - diagrams and charts that graphically represent the flow of the helping process. The workbook presumes no prior clinical experience and uses no technical psychological jargon. It teaches fundamental communication skills while emphasizing key social work values, ethics, and issues of multicultural populations and diversity throughout.