Chapter 14 Rural Social Work

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

Chapter 14:Social Work in Rural

Settings


Social Work: A Competency-Oriented Education

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

- Defines Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAs)

- Developed 10 “Core Competencies” and 41 Related “Practice Behaviors”

Every student should master the Practice Behaviors and Core Competencies before completing the program


Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008

The Textbook –

- “Helping Hands” icons call attention to content that relates to Practice Behaviors and Competencies

- “Competency Notes” at the end of the chapter help put the Practice Behaviors and Competencies in practical context


Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008 (cont’d)

The Practice Behaviors Workbook developed

with the text provides assignable exercises that assist in mastering the Practice Behavior and Competencies

Additional on-line resources can be found at: www.cengage.com/socialwork



Definitional issues• Definitions of urban or rural are based on

population size, not behavioral attributes of

population groups• Such definitions do not take into account the

complexity of life in either place

EP 2.1.3a


Key facts about rural life

• 50 million people • Farming no longer central to rural economy• People have more limited resources than urban

residents• Different environment and lifestyle than found in

metropolitan areas

EP 2.1.3a


Key facts about rural life• Growing numbers of Hispanics • Weekly earnings for non-metro workers are 70% to

80% of those for metro workers• Food insecurity (not enough food to meet basic

needs) is greater in non-metro areas than in metro

areas

EP 2.1.3a


Characteristics of rural communities • Basic friendliness and trust• Isolation and resistance to change• Suspicion toward newcomers or outsiders• Independence of spirit, yet vulnerable• Financial and experiential poverty• Reliance on informal or natural helping systems for

assistance

EP 2.1.3a


Characteristics of rural communities (cont’d)• Concrete thinking and reserved behaviors• Traditional values and conservatism• More holistic, less compartmentalized lives

EP 2.1.3a


Social organization of rural communities

Although there are common threads of roles and

Relationships that knit the community together,

each locale has its own character

EP 2.1.7a

Support services in rural communities

• Scarce or nonexistent• Church is a significant institution • County agent often serves as counselor, case

manager, and resource finder• Reliance on informal or natural helping networks• Impact of digital divide


EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8a


Social problems in rural areas

• Few available mental health services • Major gaps in health care services• Persistent poverty• Rapidly-growing older adult population • Ethnic segregation

EP 2.1.3a, 2.1.7b


The rural familyThe notion that rural families experience a high

degree of harmony, are problem free, and enjoy high

levels of life satisfaction is not necessarily borne out

by fact

EP 2.1.3a, 2.1.7b


Crisis of the small farmerFew resources are available to assist the small farmer

and rancher in maintaining property and purchasing

equipment essential for successful competition

EP 2.1.3a, 2.1.7b


Social welfare in rural communities

• Rural areas vary in ability to finance needed

services• Few services are available – those that are tend to

be basic ones• Public social services are generally extended to

rural areas through state agencies

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8a, 2.1.9b


Social work in rural settings• Change comes slow• Strong relationships with community leaders are

essential• Requires knowledge of resources, resource

development, methods of linking clients with

resources, and case management

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.7b, 2.1.8a


Social Work in Rural Settings• Everyone knows the social worker

both professionally and personally• Maintaining client confidentiality

can be difficult• Social workers who do not reside in the community

are often regarded as outsiders

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.7b, 2.1.8a


Rural social work as generalist practice• Settings, problems, and lack of resources provide a

unique set of challenges• Requires creativity, innovation, and ability to

mobilize resources • Seen as neighbors as well as practitioners

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.7b, 2.1.8b