John W. Miller Jr., PhD., LMSW
SW 333, Practice I
What is the mission of social work?
Social workers attempt to understand the
interactions of individuals and families with
their environment through the lenses of
ecology and systems.
Social workers look through a social justice
lens in order to advocate for the poor,
disadvantaged, disenfranchised, oppressed.
Professional relationship standards
Respect for an individual’s independence
Assistance of client systems
Improvement of social institutions
Respect and acceptance of diversity
Code of Ethics
– Specifies rules of conduct to which members
must adhere to remain in good standing within
a professional organization.
Accountability
– To the profession and society of sanction
– Bridges practitioners to consumers that utilize
their services
– Promotes accountability of practitioners to the
profession
For each client or case the social worker
focuses on:
A) Getting to know the person(s), family,
group (developing the relationship).
B) Problems and concerns: “What brings you
here today?”
C) Potential strengths and resources.
D) Development of a plan with client and its
implementation.
E) Evaluation of progress if possible at a
future time(s).
NASW: “The primary mission of the social
work profession is to enhance human wellbeing and help meet basic human needs,
with particular attention to the needs of
vulnerable, oppressed, and poor people.”
CSWE: The social work profession is
“committed to the enhancement of human
well-being and to the alleviation of poverty
and oppression.”
1. Enhance human well-being by
increasing social justice (alleviating
poverty, oppression, etc.).
2. Enhance social functioning of
individuals, families, groups,
organizations, communities by
reaching goals, developing resources,
lessoning distress.
Social Functions Used:
A. Prevention: Timely provision of services
to those in need, before problems develop.
B. Restoration: Restore functioning from
physical or mental health issues.
C. Remediation: Elimination or decrease in
social problems. Largest group served.
Person-In-Environment (PIE) focus: Use of
PIE classification system for social
functioning problems.
Every person is living in some social
environment which has resources as well as
limitations and problems.
PIE assessment helps social worker to
assess environment and make use of other
environmental resources to ameliorate
problems (Karls & Wandrei, NASW, 1994).
3. “The planning, formulation and
implementation of social policies,
services, resources and programs
needed to meet basic human needs and
support the development of human
capacities.” CSWE
Carrying out process of social work
At Micro, Mezzo, Macro social levels.
4. “The pursuit of policies, services,
resources and programs through
organizational or administrative
advocacy and social or political action,
to empower groups at risk and to
promote social and economic justice.”
CSWE
Social plans and actions toward social
justice.
5. “The development and testing of
professional knowledge and skills
related to these purposes.” CSWE
Professional values are connected to
societal values.
Social work embodies society’s
conscience for particular values.
Values and purposes of social work
education:
1. CSWE: “Social workers’ professional
relationships are built on regard for
individual worth and dignity, and are
advanced by mutual participation,
acceptance, confidentiality, honesty, and
responsible handling of conflict.” Primary
goal is service.
2. NASW: “Social workers respect the
individual’s right to make independent
decisions and to participate actively in
the helping process”. Right to freely
make own decisions through selfdetermination.
Right to exercise freedom of choice in
making decisions.
Social workers must be flexible enough
to be able to listen to many differing
value positions on most moral and
political issues.
It is vital therefore that social workers
are clear about their own values and
how their values further the social work
mission.
3. “ Social workers are committed to
assisting client systems to obtain
needed resources.”
4. “Social workers strive to make social
institutions more humane and
responsive to human needs.” Direct
practice workers work to make the
system more responsive.
5. “Social workers demonstrate respect
for and acceptance of the unique
characteristics of diverse populations.”
Diversity Variables:
race/ethnicity, culture, class, gender,
sexual orientation, religion, ability, age,
national origin.
Social work is connected to social
welfare as a social institution.
Social welfare: In industrial societies,
Whenever other major institutions, be
they familial, religious, economic, or
educational in nature, fall short in their
helping and resource-providing
functions, social welfare spans the gap
Specifies rules of conduct for
members: Expected responsibilities
and behaviors.
Accountability and sanctions when not
living up to the code of ethics.
Professionalism.
Consumer protection.
A. Often from other disciplines, as
from social sciences.
B. Assembled in unique ways.
C. Categories of knowledge:
1. Human Behavior and the Social
Environment: human bio-psychosocial-spiritual development through
environmental systems.
2. Social Welfare and Services:
political and systemic processes
involved in social policy; seeking social
justice.
3. Social Work Practice Methods:
through 3 social practice levels
A) Micro level practice: client
systems (individual, couples, families).
Face-to-face.
B) Mezzo level practice: peers,
groups – outside of intimacy of family
relationships.
C) Macro level practice: social
planning; community organization;
administration; evaluation.
4. Research
5. Field practicum
May be competent in some social
services and NOT others.
Degree issues; also license issues.
Areas of expertise.
Keeping up with new research,
theories.
Need to be professional as a
“competent practitioner” (what are the
skills needed?).
All theories may have “some truth”.
Use of Ecological Systems Model: from
biology.
Habitat (physical and social settings within
particular cultural contexts).
Niche (statuses or roles occupied by
community members)
People both act and react to environment
(ex: disability determined by environment).
Client System: There are a variety of
types of persons in need of social work
services:
Applicants: potential clients
Referrals: referred by others
Non-Voluntary Clients: come under
pressure
Legally Mandated Clients: legal
pressure.
Target System: People and problems
that have to be influenced in order to
reach goals.
Equifinality: Same outcome can be
reached from different starting places.
Multifinality: Beginning from the same
starting points may end in different
outcomes.
Choosing from the best theories at the
time, which may change in time.
– Is theory supported by empirical research?
– If 2 interventions are effective, which
offers less time, energy, money?
Systems theory cannot be applied
rigidly.
Is it ethical?
– Sensitive to context?
What are the ethical and value
implications of interventions?
– Practitioner needs to have the skill to carry
out intervention.
– Ethno-culturally sensitive?
– Is the intervention consistent with social
work focus/values?
Domain: Terms direct practice and clinical
practice are fairly new to social work. Result
of upheaval in society and social work field
during 60s and 70s.
Need for social work to address broad social
problems.
Generalist Practice is developed as
foundation for BSW and 1st year MSW.
Holistic and multilevel intervention approach.
At MSW level may have specialization later
in program.
Work with individuals, couples,
families, groups. More micro practice.
Face-to-face but also working with
other professionals, organizations, etc.
Does clinical practice have same
meaning as direct practice? Clinical
practice may have a more psychotherapeutic meaning but book uses
terms interchangeably.
Issue with licenses: Ability to work with 3rd
party payment. (need for M.S.W. + state
license).
B.S.W. social workers are trained at
beginning level direct practice, which may
have clinical component, but not
independent of supervision.
M.S.W. social workers need additional
training for independent practice.
Central to direct practice is PROBLEM
SOLVING.
Principles or Guides to Practice:
Preferred beliefs about nature and
causes of human problems, ability of
people to change; value of
relationships; nature of helping
process.
1. Problems stem from a lack of…
2. S.W. negotiate and advocate for
those in need.
3. People are capable of making own
choices and growth.
4. Social workers have systemic
educational role.
5. Value/belief negotiation with
involuntary clients.
6. Authentic relationship with social
worker.
7. All clients need respect, dignity.
8. Clients have strengths, can change.
9. More present to future orientation
than past problem orientation.
PRESENT  FUTURE ORIENTATION
System Linkage Roles
A) Broker: Intermediary who assists
in connecting people with
resources; monitoring.
B) Case Manager/Coordinator: For
clients who need ongoing help.
May provide direct services also.
C) Mediator (neutral forum for
disputants)
OR Arbitrator (decision maker
between client and service.
D) Client Advocate: Working with
and/or on behalf of client to get
services/resources.
3. System Maintenance and
Enhancement:
A) Organizational Analyst: For
service delivery when there are
problems.
B) Facilitator/expediter: Get
services.
C) Team member: on interdisciplinary
team. Explain/implement social work
mission.
D) Consultant/Consultee: B.S.W.
often consultee but may be consultant
with other professionals because of
some expertise.
4. Researcher/Research Consumer:
evaluation.
5. System Development:
Improve/expand agency services.
A) Program Developer
B) Planner
C) Policy and Procedure Developer
D) Advocate
Cultural issues: historical and present
inequalities/ preferences.
Warm-up period for rapport with some
cultures important, adolescents but not too
long.
Client dignity, worth: hospitality and
empathic responding.
Start where client is right now in the room
(fear, anger, passivity, etc.).
Language issues, interpreters; knowledge of
the culture.
After have explored problems, create with
client goals (negotiate with client; client has
major responsibility for creation of goals).
Ending Interviews: standard endings (see p.
52). May want to summarize what have done,
when will meet next, etc.
Goal Attainment and Termination: Review
goals and progress.
Important for social worker to be FOCUSED
and yet also RELATIONAL.