1. CHAPTER ONE HOW SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IS ORGANIZED
The Practice of Generalist Social Work (3rd ed.)

2. Key Ideas
Social work practice can be conceptualized in several different ways.
Conceptualization of practice varies depending on many factors such as the roles, activities, frameworks, purposes, types of practice and practice settings in which social workers engage and the set of competencies and practice behaviors social workers utilize in their practice.
© 2014 Routledge

3. Types of Practice and Range of Practice Settings
Types of practice include:
Direct (one-on-one)
Group
Local and community development
Specialized practice (family therapy, administration)
International practice
Types of settings include:
Schools
Psychiatric facilities
Family service organizations
© 2014 Routledge

4. Activities and Roles Types of activities include:
Advocating for policy change
Facilitating an empowerment group
Fundraising to support disadvantaged neighborhoods
Types of roles include:
Counselor
Case manager
Educator
© 2014 Routledge

5. Competencies and Practice Behaviors
Social work competencies consist of practice behaviors that social workers should be able to demonstrate in practice settings.
Competencies are composed of a set of knowledge, values, skills, and attributes that social workers bring to their work.
© 2014 Routledge

6. Client Groupings Individual work or casework Group work
Community practice
International work
© 2014 Routledge

7. Practice Framework Engagement Assessment and planning Intervention
Termination
Evaluation
© 2014 Routledge

8. Licensure Four types of licensure BSW MSW (upon graduation)
MSW (after 2 years of supervised general experience)
Clinical (after 2 years of supervised clinical experience)
© 2014 Routledge

9. Tensions in the Profession
Whether to promote a clinical or nonclinical approach to working with clients
The extent to which social workers exercise social control or promote social change
The extent to which social workers promote change or acceptance of their clients
The struggle between encouraging clients to adjust to their circumstance or challenge their circumstance
Whether social workers promote their expert position or share power with their clients
The adjustment to globalization by the profession
© 2014 Routledge

10. Diversity and Cultural Competence
Social workers work with many types of client populations, such as:
LGBTQ Youth, Adults, and Older Adults
Religions Beliefs
People with Disabilities
Minority Ethnicities
Immigrants & Refugees
Active Military and Veterans
Rural Populations
People in Poverty
Children, Adolescents, and Youth
© 2014 Routledge

11. Diversity and Cultural Competency
Exploring your self-knowledge about diversity:
What is my race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status?
How is “family” defined by my culture? Other cultures?
Do I assume my culture is the worldwide norm?
To what degree do I understand the ideas of other cultures other than my own?
To what degree is my language respectful about other cultures?
Do I think that I will be less empathic or energetic when working with persons from one or more particular populations?
Do I acknowledge that cultural differences exist?
What is diverse within my culture? What diversity exists between my culture and others?
© 2014 Routledge

12. Diversity and Cultural Competency
Building Cultural Competency:
How might my biases impact my practice?
Do I think that I will be less likely to advocate for or seek out resources for particular types of clients?
Do I think that I will advocate for effective services that differ by culture?
Do I stereotype client from specific groups?
Am I aware that some clients may not relate closely to their cultural group?
Am I aware of different types of natural support systems that differ from my own (e.g., folk healers and religious leaders)? Do I understand how to utilize natural support systems in practice?