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Social Work Practice: Toward a Child, Family, School, Community Perspective
Social Work Practice Toward a Child Family School Community Perspective Author:Edith M. Freeman, Marianne Pennekamp The main purpose of the authors in writing this book is to overcome the distance between workers and the natural environments of children and families, thereby enabling all of the stakeholders in the home/school/community arena to recognize and connect with each other in the task of enhancing childrens development. This "ecological perspec... more »tive" encourages focus on all of the individuals and service systems in the childs life space, including parents, siblings, extended family members, peers, principals, teachers and other school staff, staff in social agencies, and individuals in churches, neighborhoods, and community organizations. For the purpose of enhancing this type of awareness on the part of the reader, the book has been organized into three major sections: (1) "The Joining Process"; (2) "Reframing Daily Practice: Cases and Programs"; and (3) "Enhancing and Maintaining Oneself as a Resource: Focus on the Worker." Each section represents a step-by-step effort to give the reader a new perspective about this type of practicefrom showing how to reposition oneself for effective joining to the doing of practice by reframing referrals into opportunities for providing anticipatory guidance, to emphasizing how workers can maintain themselves as a resource to clients and to themselves. In addition, specific case, organizational, and communi-ty-level examples are presented through the book to illustrate the conceptual and practice-related discussions. Another feature of the book is the inclusion of several maps which demonstrate graphically various intra-and intersystem linkages that enrich the resources available to workers and clients. Moreover, the workers professional development and daily practice activities are carefully documented in the books scenarios through log entries, the use of case and situation examples, and through a major section devoted to the workers maintenance and growth. Much of the text has been rewritten in this new edition, and two completely new chapters have been added that focus on community development practice and social work administration. It will be of interest to students, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in social work and other fields who are committed to effective practice in the school and community.« less