1. Generalist Practice and Introductory Theory
Chapter 4
Generalist Practice and Introductory Theory

2. Introduction
Social work is founded on the generalist premise of the individual and environment
Holistic and comprehensive knowledge base
Honors diverse value systems and a wide range of professional skills
Generalist principles and “direct practice”
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3. Introduction
The Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) suggests that programs:
Teach a strong generalist practice core (undergraduate)
Teach a generalist perspective with advanced concentration (graduate)
Generalist conceptualization
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4. Introduction Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS)
Social worker involved in four systems
Client system
Change agent system
Action sytem
Target system
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5. Introduction Roles social workers can take, such as: Enabler Mediator
Integrator/coordinator
General manager
Educator
Analyst/evaluator
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6. Introduction Empowerment and strengths perspective Broker Facilitator
Initiator
Negotiator
Mobilizer
Advocate
Empowerment and strengths perspective
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7. Need for a Theoretical Framework
CSWE has required social work schools to
Teach Human Behavior and Social Environment classes
Focus on people and the context in which they live
How individuals grow and develop socially, biologically, emotionally, & spiritualistically
Charity Organization Societies
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8. Need for a Theoretical Framework
Settlement House Movement
Since the 1970s, the profession has added the systems and ecological models
Definition of a system
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9. Need for a Theoretical Framework
Ecological theory
Micro
Mezzo
Macro
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10. Introductory Inner and Outer Forces Paradigm
Attempt to explain why people seem to at at times in strange and unpredictable ways
There are forces developed within the person & the person’s environment
Cause him/her to behave in certain ways
Social worker reduces negative outer forces and increases positive inner forces
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11. Introductory Inner and Outer Forces Paradigm
Prevention
Creating a classification system for the new theories in human behavior
Sociology, psychology, social work, psychiatry, and anthropology
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12. The Life Cycle and the Inner and Outer Forces Model
Erik Erikson
Eight stage classification of life crises
Trust
Autonomy
Initiative
Industry
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13. The Life Cycle and the Inner and Outer Forces Model
Intimacy
Caring
Integrity
Questions social workers can ask based on the individual’s life stage
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14. Social Functioning
Intervention and social work are needed when people cannot cope
With social obligations and commitments
When problems interfere with relationships within the family, school, job, etc.
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15. Levels of Social Functioning
The wholeness of individuals
Education is focused on teaching methods, learning theory, motivation, etc.
The individual’s relationships with others
Social work doesn’t make people free from stress-producing problems
Adaptive behavior
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16. A Base for Generalist Social Work Practice
Requires the worker to explain human behavior and decide on intervention
Must work with the micro, mezzo, and macro systems
Methodology of administration
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17. Summary Emphasizing the generalist perspective Inner and outer forces
Deal with multiperson systems
Inner and outer forces
Social functioning
Administration and research
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