Working with Families

Description

Foreword   

Preface  

Authors   

Contributors    

Outline of Approaches  

 

Part One Theory Base and Contextual Practice: Metatheories for Working with Families at Four Levels of Need   

Level I    

Level II   

Level III   

Level IV   

Intervention Criteria    

Summary   

Discussion Questions   

Internet Resources    

Suggested Readings   

References  

 

Ecological Systems Perspective   

Applications to Family Practice   

Caveats in Using the Ecosystems Metatheory    

Social Constructionist Perspective    

Applications to Family Practice    

Caveats in Using the Social Constructionist Metatheory   

Comparing and Integrating the Metatheories   

Summary   

Discussion Questions    

Internet Resources    

Suggested Readings    

References   

The Helping Relationship/Therapeutic Alliance    

Client Diversity   

Summary    

Discussion Questions   

Internet Resources   

Suggested Readings    

References    

Ethically Informed Practice   

Spiritually Sensitive Practice   

Ethical Challenges   

Summary    

Discussion Questions    

Internet Resources   

Suggested Readings   

References 

   

Part Two First Level of Family Need: Basic Survival    

Needs of Neglectful Families    

Assessment    

Goals: Defining Family Preservation  

Basic Tenets   

Intervention Approach: Preserving Neglectful Level I Families  

Evaluation of Effectiveness  

Application to Families on Levels II, III, and IV   

Ethical Challenges   

Summary   

Discussion Questions    

Internet Resources   

Suggested Readings    

References  

6    A Family Case Management Approach for Level I Needs    

Family Needs  

Family Case Assessment   

Treatment Goals   

Treatment Approach: A Generalist Model of Case Management   

Evaluation   

Application to Families at Other Levels of Need   

Ethical Challenges 

Summary    

Discussion Questions   

Internet Resources    

Suggested Readings    

References 

 

Part Three Second Level of Family Need: Structure, Limits, and Safety   

Levels of Family Need    

Assessment   

Goals   

Intervention Approach    

Evaluation   

Application to Families at Other Levels of Need    

Ethical Challenges   

Summary   

Discussion Questions    

Suggested Videotapes    

Suggested Readings   

References  

Family Needs    128

Assessment and Treatment Goals    131

Social Learning Family Interventions    133

Evaluation of Effectiveness    139

Application to Families on Levels I, III, and IV    139

Ethical Challenges    140

Summary    140

Discussion Questions    141

Internet Resources    142

Suggested Readings    142

References    142

Part Four Third Level of Family Need: Boundaries and Control   

9    Solution-Focused Family Interventions    

Assumptions   

Typical Needs of Level III Families    

Assessment    

Theory Base and Basic Tenets    

Treatment Goals    

Application    

Application to Spirituality    

Interventions    

Evaluation    

Application to Families on Levels I, II, and IV  

Ethical Challenges    

Summary    

Discussion Questions    

Internet Resources    

Suggested Readings   

References  

 

Needs Presented by Level III Families   

Assessment   

Goals of the Intervention    

Intervention Approaches   

Applications    

Evaluation of Effectiveness   

Application to Families at Other Levels of Need  

Ethical Challenges   

Summary    

Discussion Questions 

Internet Resources   

Suggested Readings   

References   

Part Five  Fourth Level of Family Need: Family and Personal Growth   

Needs    

Goals    

Theoretical Foundations and Basic Tenets   

Assessment   

Intervention Approaches   

Evaluation   

Application to Families at Other Levels of Need   

Ethical Challenges    

Summary  

Discussion Questions    

Internet Resources    

Suggested Readings  

References    

Family Needs   

Family Case Assessment    

Treatment Goals    

Intervention Approach: Theory Base and Tenets    

Application to Families on Level IV   

Interventions and Techniques   

Evaluation of Effectiveness   

Application to Families Functioning at Other Levels    

Ethical Challenges    

Summary   

Discussion Questions    

Internet Resources    

Suggested Readings    

References  

  

Part Six  The Family in the Community: Ecosystem Implications    

13    The Family in the Community    

The Case of Mrs. Y.    

Dual Focus    

Definition of Community    

Family Practitioner and Agency Helping Function in Community   

Two Models That Address Family Needs on a Community Level    

Summary   

Discussion Questions  

Internet Resources    

Suggested Readings 
References  

Appendix: Ethics Cases and Commentaries  

Glossary    

Name Index    

Subject Index    

• Presents an integrative framework with intervention approaches to help students decide what model to use with various families and why.
• Emphasizes family strengths and resilience (Ch. 1 and throughout the practice chapters in Parts I through VI).
• Provides unique coverage of the importance of spirituality in working with families especially in Chapter 4.
• Offers current practice interventions, written by nationally and internationally known experts, that students can use in their practicums and internships.  (Chs. 5-12).
• Includes material on human diversity and ethnic-sensitive practice in Chapter 3. 
• Presents an ecological systems approach and social constructionist framework for interventions (Ch. 2).  
• Integrates case studies and vignettes in the theory base (Ch. 1-4, 13) and methods chapters (Ch. 5-12).
• Presents seven real-life ethics cases with commentaries from experts and references to the NASW Code of Ethics that allow students to apply the material in Chapter 4 on ethically informed practice to the case studies and compare their responses to the experts.
• Provides discussion questions, suggested readings, Internet Resources and Summaries for each chapter.

 

This text focuses on all levels of need within a family, and provides clear guidelines for effective family interventions.

 

The authors emphaize family strengths, coping capacities, and the many commonalities shared by all.All levels of need are addressed and practice models are applied, highlighting the importance of looking at the specific needs of each family and the effective practice interventions.

With its unique approach of presenting the skills needed to work with families specifically from a social worker’s perspective, Working with Families, Fifth Edition, examines how to assess families according to their level of need–from the most basic level (needs for food, clothing, and shelter) to more advanced levels (needs for intimacy and self-actualization). An innovative model for choosing specific interventions at each level helps apply concepts to real practice.

New to this Edition:

• NEW Chapter!  Interventions with Level I, Neglectful Families,writtenby James M. Gaudin, gives effective practice guidelines for working with these families (Ch.5).
• NEW Chapter! The Family in the Community, written by Elizabeth Vonk, provides a new look at ecosystem implications of the family in the community (Ch.13).
• Expanded material on Spirituality including a framework for spiritual assessment (Ch.4)  and additional coverage of ethics and spirituality has been added throughout the text. 
• Expanded section on Ethical Challenges.

 What the Reviewers are Saying:

 

“This text appears to be the best available for content on family practice models.  I do not use any other texts for this purpose.” — Joseph Anderson, University of California at Sacramento

 

“The authors’ writing style is engaging; students find the book both enjoyable and informative.” — Deborah J. Holt, Jackson State University

 

The section on “Ethical Challenges” is again included for each method of practice chapter to help students give special thought to this important area of practice. VideoWorkshop on Marriage and Family Therapy includes a student learning guide along with 180 minutes (20 segments) of specific video footage on a CD-ROM. Again available free when packaged with this text. Two new nationally and internationally known authors contribute two completely new chapters to this fifth edition. One focuses on working with neglectful families which constitutes the largest group of abused children. The other looks at ecosystem implications of the family in the community in a new and different way. A revised  Instructor’s Manual is available to supplement this edition as an aid to instructors and to the learning experience of students. Internet Resources included for each  practice method chapter previously to assist students and faculty in accessing new and relevant material is also included in the theory chapters and the community chapter.

This text focuses on all levels of need within a family, and provides clear guidelines for effective family interventions.

 

The authors emphaize family strengths, coping capacities, and the many commonalities shared by all.All levels of need are addressed and practice models are applied, highlighting the importance of looking at the specific needs of each family and the effective practice interventions.