Chapter 6 Preparation for Generalist Practice

Chapter 6: Social Work Practice

with

Agencies and the Community

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing.

Empowering Programs with Resourcesthat Enhance Social Work Education


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


Generalist practice

• Also applies at exosystem and macrosystem levels • Assistance to individuals and families can often be

more effective if changes are made at community or

societal level rather than on a case-by-case basis• Sound plans for community change, social welfare

policies, and agency administration must be based on

empirical research

EP 2.1.8b


Social work with communities

Communities:• Can be conceptual rather than geographic• May be defined as spaces, interactions, and

identifications that people share with others in

place-specific and non-place specific locations

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.1c


Social work roles in communities

• broker ● advocate

● enabler ● activist

● negotiator ● educator

● analyst/evaluator ● facilitator

● general manager ● mediator

● initiator/coordinator

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.1c


Community practice approaches

• Neighborhood and community organizing• Organizing functional communities• Community, social, and economic development• Program development and community liaison• Political and social action• Coalition building• Social movements

EP 2.1.3b


Basic definitions

• Community organizing – social work practice

method and field of practice• Community practitioners – engage in community

planning and development to improve the quality

of life for community members

EP 2.1.3b


Effective Community Organizer

• Familiar with community customs and traditions, social networks, and values

• Capable leaders • Knowledgeable about political systems• Aware of past organizing strategies• Skilled in developing critical consciousness and

empowerment

EP 2.1.1c


Effective Community Organizer (cont’d)

• Skilled in evaluative and participatory research • Aware of self and personal strengths and

limitations• Skilled in program planning and development• Understanding of power• Curious • Able to dream and imagine

EP 2.1.1c


Policy practice

Social welfare policy

Actions that government takes (or chooses not to

take) that have an impact on the quality of the

citizenry

EP 2.1.8a


Values that impact social welfare policy

● Judeo-Christian charity ● Patriarchy

● Democratic egalitarianism ● Individualism

● Protestant work ethic ● Social Darwinism

● Capitalism ● New Puritanism

● Marriage and nuclear family ● “American ideal”

EP 2.1.8a


• Who should benefit from the policy?• What should those who benefit get?• How should what they get be delivered?• How will what they get be financed?

EP 2.1.8a


Policy choices

Models of Policy Analysis

• Institutional model• Process model• Group theory model• Elite theory model• Rational model• Incremental model

EP 2.1.8a


Practitioner’s Role in Social Welfare Policy

• Know impact of policy on clients, social workers,

and agency you work for• Advocate for policies that assist clients in

improving the quality of their lives

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8b


Administration and delivery of social welfare services

Agency administrators are charged with bringing

resources, opportunities, and goals together to

accomplish mission of agency, meet needs of clients

the agency serves

EP 2.1.9b


Operational questions for administrators

• How should the agency be organized?• What staff should be hired and how should they be

supported?• What roles can volunteers play and how should

they be recruited and supported?• Which programs should be offered and how

should they be delivered?

EP 2.1.9b


Operational questions for administrators

• How should sensitive information be kept?• How is the administrator accountable to the agency

board, funding sources, and accrediting/licensing

organizations?• How should funding be secured to enable the

agency to grow and thrive?• How can agency programs and services be

evaluated?

EP 2.1.9b


• Private voluntary sector emerged in 1700’s • Programs and services expanded with waves of

immigration in 1800’s• Federal government role limited until the Great

Depression• Federal role peaked with War on Poverty in 1960’s

and has declined since then

History of social welfare agencies

EP 2.1.9a


Contemporary agency structures

• Private non-profit social agencies• Faith-based organizations• Private for-profit social agencies• Government agencies• “Hybrids” increasingly common

EP 2.1.9a


Research Practice

• Role more important in era of accountability• Profession needs evidence-based practice to

strengthen work with clients• Types of research • Understanding of the relationship between

factors is critical since causal connections are hard to prove

EP 2.1.6a, 2.16b


Status of macro social work practice

• Social work shares key roles with many other

groups• Profession needs to play stronger role in macro

practice arena advocating for under-served

populations and client needs

EP2.1.1c


Professional status

Professional status depends on the presence of two

conditions:• Recognized body of knowledge capable of being

transmitted to others• Defined and legitimized area of activity

EP 2.1.1c


Career opportunities in macro practice

• BSW program focuses on generalist practice,

incorporating macro practice• Many MSW programs have specializations in

macro practice areas• Careers exist with activist organizations;

legislators, Congress, and other elected officials;

local, federal and state government agencies

EP 2.1.1c
