1. Generalist Practice Prof. Julie Smyth
Social work
Generalist Practice
Prof. Julie Smyth

2. LAP BRAINSTORM Small group sharing of possible topics
LAP worksheet introduction
What is Social Work? Paper Discussion

3. SOCIAL WORK VALUES
Respect for the dignity & uniqueness of the individual
An individual’s right to self determination
Confidentiality
Advocacy and social action for the oppressed
Accountability through program & policy evaluation
Institutional orientation
Respect for spiritual & religious beliefs
Promoting social & economic justice, safeguarding human rights

4. SOCIAL WORK, A STRENGTHS-BASED PROFESSION
EMPOWERMENT is at the core of the work.

5. Pathology  Empowerment
Historically, helping professions were looking to a person’s deficits and shortcomings
Freudian psychology focused on pathology, whereas today social workers assess strengths
Everyone has strengths!
Emphasizes abilities, values, interests, beliefs, resources, accomplishments, aspirations

6. SELF-AWARENESS
Unless the social worker has a high level of self-awareness, it is very unlikely that they will be able to perceive what others are thinking and feeling.

8. Multi-systems practice
MICRO 
one-to-one work
MEZZO 
family, group & community practice
MACRO 
government and policy change

9. Urie Bronfenbrenner
Ecological systems theory considers a child's development within the context of the systems of relationship that form his or her environment
Five different interacting levels which impact development
Social workers utilize this perspective when interacting with clients
Ecological Systems Theory for Human Development is considered to be the most recognized and utilized social ecological model

10. Ecological systems theory
MICROSYSTEM
Immediate environment & relationships
MESOSYSTEM
Interactions between microsystems
EXOSYSTEM
Decisions that indirectly impact a person
MACROSYSTEM
Society, culture, political structure, etc.
CHRONOSYSTEM
The dimension of timing on a person’s development

11. microsystem These relationships are bidirectional: Family Friends
Classmates
Teachers
Neighbors
Partners

12. mesosystem Relationship between various microsystems:
Example: If a child’s parents have a contentious relationship with that child’s friends, it will impact the child’s social experience and relationships
Example: The relationship between divorced or separated parents greatly affects a child’s development
Example: The interactions between residents at a homeless shelter impacts the entire environment and one individuals experience

13. exosystem
the context wherein an individual has no active role, yet it impacts development:
The physical structure of a house or a school
The activities within ones community of which you are not taking part
A father who travels abroad for months for several weeks at a time will impact the closeness of that child and its mother

14. macrosystem
The cultural and political context in which a person exists:
Influence of rural vs. urban environments
Political context of your country of origin
The larger context of racial or ethnicity perception

15. Chronosystem
The effect of both the passing of time and the timing of important personal, political and social events:
The age of a child growing up in Baltimore during the riots this year
Growing up during wartime or the Civil Rights Movement
The timing of the death of a loved one

17. MEDICAL MODEL SYSTEMS THEORY
Defining the social work profession...

18. Changing framework MEDICAL MODEL SYSTEMS THEORY
1920s -1960s (Freud) SW viewed clients as “patients” who needed to be diagnosed & treated
Medical labels given to psychiatric disorders, humanizing mental illness
Enabled patients to adapt & adjust to their social situations
1960s – SW began to question Freud’s model & look to environmental factors
Emphasizes looking beyond presenting problems to assess complex environments & relationships

20. PERSON-IN-ENVIRONMENT

22. What if I don’t like my client… or they don’t like me?
Transference
Counter-transference
Defined: All client reactions, conscious or unconscious, to a clinical practitioner
Working with an adolescent who reminds you of your little brother – this can unconsciously bring up either positive or negative emotions and reactions
Defined: the effects of the social worker’s conscious and unconscious response to a client
a social worker’s emotional entanglement with a client based on prior personal or professional experiences
transferring (unconsciously) or projecting feelings from past relationship (interactions with others) onto a therapist