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Direct Social Work Practice
Theories and Skills for Becoming an Evidence-Based Practitioner

February 2015 | 280 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Using a case-based approach to connect the classroom and the practice environment, this foundational text incorporates a broad set of themes that include advocacy, social justice, global focus, ethics, theory, and critical thinking. Integrated, up-to-date, evidence-based content related to diversity, social justice, and international issues helps readers develop the basic skills of engagement, assessment, intervention, and reflective practice, as well as the key skills needed for the field experience. Each chapter of the book is mapped to the latest Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) to aid schools of social work in connecting the course content with monitored outcomes.

 
Chapter 1: An Overview of the Book
What Is Generalist Social Work Practice?

 
Major Themes in Each Chapter

 
How This Book Is Organized

 
Suggestions for the Social Work Student

 
Suggestions to the Social Work Instructor

 
 
Chapter 2: Integrative Themes That Guide Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Small Groups
Definition of Social Work Profession and Principles of the Profession

 
The Mission of Social Work

 
Social Justice Lens

 
Core Theoretical Perspectives

 
Integrating Conceptual Perspectives

 
 
Chapter 3: From Evidence-Based Practice to Evidence-Informed Practice
Defining Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

 
The Challenges in Using the EBP framework in Social Work

 
 
Chapter 4: Professional Values, Ethics, and Professional Use of Self
Professional Social Work Values, Purpose, and Practice Principles

 
NASW Code of Ethics Standards

 
Ethical Decision Making

 
A Closer Look at Self-determination, Informed Consent and Confidentiality, Privileged Communication, and Technology/Social Media Use

 
Addressing Malpractice and Unethical Behavior

 
 
Chapter 5: Engagement and Relationship-Building Skills
Core Values That Guide Engagement and Relationship-Building Efforts in Social Work Practice

 
Pathways to Services

 
Approaches That Positively Impact the Engagement Phase

 
Skill Building That Emphasizes Collaboration to Improve Follow-Through

 
The Stages of Change Framework

 
Alliance Building

 
 
Chapter 6: Assessment in Social Work With Individuals and Families
Defining Assessment

 
The Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual History

 
Key Screening Tools

 
Trauma Assessments and Mandated Reporting Responsibilities

 
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Cultural Assessment Tools in the DSM-5, and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)

 
 
Chapter 7: Change Planning
What Is Change Planning?

 
Core Principles of Change Planning

 
Change Goals

 
Goal Selection

 
Goal Specification: A SMART Approach

 
Intervention Selection

 
The Written Change Plan

 
 
Chapter 8: Core Intervention Skills: Using Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches in Social Work Practice With Individuals, Families, and Groups
The Cognitive Aspect of CBT

 
Cognitive Restructuring

 
Behavioral Aspects of CBT

 
ABC from a Behavioral Standpoint

 
CBT as an Integrative Framework

 
Practice of CBT

 
Structural Features of CBT

 
Ongoing Professional Development

 
 
Chapter 9: Intervention Skills: Using Problem-Solving, Psychoeducational, and Multisystemic Intervention Approaches and Case/Care Management Skills in Working With Individuals and Families
Problem-Solving Approach

 
Psychoeducational Approach

 
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) Evidence-Based Toolkit

 
Online Psychoeducational Modules

 
Multiple-Family Psychoeducation Program (MF-PEP)

 
Multisystem Intervention Approaches

 
Case/Care Management Approaches

 
 
Chapter 10: Additional Skills for Working With Families and Groups
Introducing the Core Skills Needed When Working With Families and Helping Families to Change

 
Social Work’s Mission in Working With Families

 
A Multidimensional Ecosystemic Comparative Approach (MECAmaps) to Assess Cultural and Contextual Sociopolitical Contexts

 
Establishing a Relationship With Each Family Member

 
Models of Family Work

 
Special Note: Working With Couples

 
Introducing the Core Skills Needed When Working With Groups

 
Leading Groups and Understanding Group Development Stages

 
 
Chapter 11: Outcome Monitoring
Overview of Outcome Monitoring

 
Is Outcome Monitoring Research?

 
General Principles of Outcome Monitoring

 
Measurement Types and Data Collection

 
Summarizing Data and Making Inferences

 
Common Measurement Questions

 
 
Chapter 12: Lifelong Learning and Professional Development Over the Life Course
Your Professional Identity

 
Supervision and Mentorship

 
Remaining Current With the Research

 
Licensure

 
Continuing Education

 
Professional Social Networks

 

Supplements

Instructor Teaching Site

Password-protected Instructor Resources include the following:

  • A Microsoft® Word® test bank is available containing multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter. The test bank provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding.
  • A Respondus electronic test bank is available and can be used on PCs. The test bank contains multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter and provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding. Respondus is also compatible with many popular learning management systems so you can easily get your test questions into your online course.
  • Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course.
  • EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles that have been carefully selected for each chapter. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter. This feature also provides questions to focus and guide student interpretation. Combine cutting-edge academic journal scholarship with the topics in your course for a robust classroom experience.
  • Lecture notes summarize key concepts on a chapter-by-chapter basis to help with preparation for lectures and class discussions.
  • Sample course syllabi for semester and quarter courses provide suggested models for use when creating the syllabi for your courses.
  • Lively and stimulating ideas for class assignments that can be used in class to reinforce active learning. The activities apply to individual or group projects.
  • Case situation discussion questions help launch classroom interaction by prompting students to engage with the material and by reinforcing important content. 
  • Web resources are included for further research and insights.
Student Study Site

The open-access Student Study Site includes the following:

  • Learning objectives reinforce the most important material.
  • Mobile-friendly eFlashcards reinforce understanding of key terms and concepts that have been outlined in the chapters.
  • Mobile-friendly web quizzes allow for independent assessment of progress made in learning course material.
  • EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles have been carefully selected for each chapter. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter. This feature also provides questions to focus and guide your interpretation.
  • Case situation discussion questions reinforce key concepts in each chapter for self-review. 
  • Web exercises direct you to useful and current web resources, along with creative activities to extend and reinforce learning or allow for further research on important chapter topics. 
  • Web resources are included for further research and insights.

I chose this book for my graduate class in social work, after reviewing several others, because of the author's inclusion of cultural competence, cross-racial social work and other cultural factors.

Ms Linda Edwards-Brown
School Of Social Work, University Of Michigan
October 11, 2020
Report this review
Key features

KEY FEATURES:

  • The book not only helps students develop key social work practice skills, including field skills—it also helps them become critical consumers of new evidence-based approaches.
  • Direct mapping of the chapter content to the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) facilitates monitoring and evaluation of specific outcomes.
  • An emphasis is placed on the integration of multiple sources—best available research, client values, and professional experience—in all aspects of service delivery.
  • Chapter-opening cases link theory and skills to real-world problems.
  • Learning Objectives, Reflective Learning Activities, and Chapter Review Questions in every chapter encourage a deeper understanding of the material.
  • Free online resources include video skills modules, a test bank, PowerPoint slides, quizzes, case discussion questions, eflashcards, access to SAGE journal articles, and more!

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

For instructors

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