SECOND WEEK: PRACTICE FRAMEWORKS KWABENA FRIMPONG-MANSO (PH.D)

What is a Practice Framework In social work, it is not possible to separate theory from practice In fact, practice is the process of using knowledge and applying theory in order to bring about specific types of change A framework can be thought of as an outline of ideas that help one to understand people, how people function, and how people chan ge.

Practice Frameworks Perspectives Theories Models

TYPES OF PRACTICE FRAMEWORKS Perspective : – it is a lens through which one views human behavior and social structures – guide the selection of intervention strategies. – It serves to focus on or magnify a particular feature while placing other features in the background. Examples : Ecosystem, strengths, feminist, and ethnic-sensitive practice

TYPES OF PRACTICE FRAMEWORKS Theory offers an – explanation of certain behaviors or situations – broad guidelines about how those behaviors or situations can be changed. – It serves as a road map for an intervention that will bring about a certain type of change. Examples: behavioural theory, psychodynamic theory

TYPES OF PRACTICE FRAMEWORKS Practice Model is a – set of concepts and principles used to guide certain interventions. – A model is not tied to a particular explanation of behavior. – They are step-by-step guides for client sessions and develops out of actual experience or experimentation. Example: crisis intervention, task centered

ECO-SYSTEM/ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Purpose: Guides the social worker’s focus toward viewing the client as a person-in-environment Description: – Theory: based on ecology and systems theory, it emerged as a model during the 1960s in opposition to the medical model – Environmental factors were shown to be as important as internal factors in causing a client’s problems. – Ecology focuses on the relationship between organisms and their environment

ECO-SYSTEM/ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Individuals develop within ecosystems The person’s environment can promote or curtail the opportunities and well- being of individuals Emphasises the dysfunctional transactions between people and their physical and social environments. Highlights a range of factors that might otherwise been overlooked

ECO-SYSTEM/ECOLOGICAL PERSP client Macro: cultural, religion, economic etc Micro home Meso: school, neighbourhood Exo: powerful institutions and practices

ECO-SYSTEM/ECOLOGICAL PERS PECTIVE Application – Most useful during the assessment stage of the helping process – Understand the issues and strengths in your client individually and also in their relationships, community and society The social worker using this model can focus on: – The client and seeks to develop their problem-solving, coping and adaptive capacities

ECO-SYSTEM/ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE – Relationship between a client and the systems and link the person with needed resources, services and opportunities – seek to reform systems to meet the needs of the individual more effectively (e.g. Brazil universities) – Use of an Ecomap: a tool used to draw a client’s eco-system (also Genogram) Client groups: individual with personal, relational and resource needs

ECOMAP It is a visual tool that can provide useful information about clients and their social context A ecomap should be undertaken with the client using the following steps: 1.On a board or large paper and draw a large circle in the centre with the client’s name in the middle 2.Draw between six to ten smaller circles around the large one with the following labels: friends, partner or lover; religion, work, recreation, health etc. 3.Draw a straight line (______)= strong relationship; (-----) = relationship is stressed 4. Review the eco-map with your client

ECOMAP

BEHAVIOURAL THEORIES Purpose: to improve the social functioning of clients by helping them learn new behaviours or stop behaviours that are ineffective or inappropriate Description: – Theory: Behaviorism (psychological theory) – Central belief is that behaviour is the outcome of learning – Humans react to stimuli in their environment.

BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH Behaviourists (e.g. Freud, Erickson) believe that human beings learn from what they see and therefore imitate or model their behaviour The behavioural approach is scientific because it measures behaviour prior to, during and after an intervention Underpinned by operant condition, social learning and cognitive behaviour modification

BEHAVIOURAL THEORIES: APPLICATION Behaviour modification: – a method of teaching people to change their behaviour thru systematic use of reinforcements and punishments – Seeks to reduce unwanted behaviour (e.g.tantrums) and increase positive or socially acceptable behaviour. – Increase particular behaviour by rewarding or reinforcing (tangible e.g. toys, trips or intangible e.g. praise, attention, hugs)

BEHAVIOURAL THEORIES: APPLICATION Social worker who uses this approach must: – Identify with the client the behaviour to be changed – Help the client understand the damage or harm that behaviour has caused – Client must be open to learn a new behaviour Goal or objective Objective must be observable and measurable. – Professional monitors increase or decrease in the behaviour for change Client groups: self-mutilation and dependency on alcohol

CRISIS INTERVENTION Purpose: – It seeks to address individuals who are in an acute psychological crisis. Description – People face a crisis when they perceive or experience an event which find it extremely difficult or impossible to handle – their normal methods of problem-solving do not seem to work and they can’t understand how services might be organized to help them through – Can be brought on by a single event or a series of mishaps

CRISIS INTERVENTION Application – The crisis intervention model has six steps (James & Gilliland, 2001) Define the problem Ensure client safety Provide support Examine alternatives Make plans Obtain commitment

IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICE FRAMEWORKS They provide a structure for analyzing complex and often highly emotional human problems and situations They organize information, beliefs, and assumptions into a meaningful whole They provide a rationale for action and decision making They promote a systematic, orderly, and predictable approach to work with people They facilitate communication among professionals.