Macro - Exam I
Committees
-A group of persons delegated to consider, investigate, take action on, or report on some matter -Consist of volunteers, appointees, or elected representatives who meet to address any significant issue concerning the organization's functioning -Can be ongoing, temporary, or ad hoc
Delegate Councils
-A group of representatives from a series of agencies or units within a single agency -May be elected by their constituencies or appointed by agency decision makers -Goals include enhancing cooperation and communication among professionals, reviewing issues relevant to service provision, enhancing management approaches, and pursuing social action goals
Subsystem
-A secondary/subordinate system -May be thought of as a smaller system within a larger system -Ex: social work program is a subsystem of college/university; each member of the Denver Broncos
System
-A set of elements that are orderly, interrelated, and a functional whole -An individual is a system with biological, psychological, and social qualities and characteristics -Ex: Slab City, WI; large urban dept of social services; tiny 2-person, part-time counseling center; Washington, D.C.; Buzzard, Saskatchewan; local chapter of Gamblers Anonymous
Commitment as social worker
social and economic forces
Political ideology
the relatively coherent system of ideas (beliefs, traditions, principles, and myths) about human nature, institutional arrangements, and social processes that indicate how a government should be run and what principles that government should support
Organizational culture definition
the set of key values, beliefs, understandings, and norms shared by members of an organization
A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Macro Social Environment and Social Work Practice: Ecosystems Theory
theoretical/conceptual perspectives provide symbolic representations/pictures for how to view the world
Task-oriented roles
those with the purpose of conducting tasks to achieve goals
Relations-oriented roles
those with the purpose of keeping group members happy and satisfied with group progress and interaction
Evidence-Based Practice Definition
The conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of clients
Interface
The exact point where the interaction between an individual and the environment takes place
Self-esteem
The extent to which people feel significant and worthy
Self-determination definition
each individual's right to make his/her own decisions
Increasing Understanding
Communication with other group members about their perceptions of problems and issues can greatly expand group members' understanding of these issues
Macro client system
Communities, organizations, and larger groups of clientele who have similar issues and problems and are potential beneficiaries of positive change
The History of Generalist Practice with and within Communities
Community organization - term used to refer to macro practice in social work Past methods of community organization included social action, social planning, and locality development
Stages of Task Group Development
Composition, beginnings, assessment, stabilization and working, and ending stages
CSWE
Council on Social Work Education
Contemporary Macro Practice
"Social advocacy" should replace social action -Deems the application of pressure as the best course of action to take against people or institutions that may have brought about the problem or that stand in the way of its solution - which frequently involves promoting equity or social justice -Advocacy is stressed "Planning and policy practice" replaces social planning -Efforts to change policies in legislative, agency, and community settings, whether by establishing new policies, improving existing ones, or defeating the policy initiatives of other people -Changing policy is stressed "Community capacity development" replaces locality development -Assumes that change is best accomplished when the people affected by problems are empowered with the knowledge and skills needed to understand their problems , and then work cooperatively together to overcome them -Capacity is stressed
Neil and Barbara Gilbert
-"The Enabling State" -social security, farm subsidies, loans for education, income tax deductions for home mortgages and costs of medical care, tax subsidies for retirement incomes
Organizations Definition
-(1) Social entities that (2) are goal directed, (3) are designed as deliberately structured and coordinated activity systems, and (4) are linked to the external environment -Structured groups of people who come together to work toward some mutual goal and perform established work activities that are divided among various units
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities in Practice Settings (3rd cat of Code of Ethics)
-10 -Competent and evaluate supervisees fairly -Any info/data they record should be accurate -Should advocate for increased funding both inside and outside their agencies -"Act to prevent and eliminate discrimination in the employing organization's work assignments and in its employment policies and practices"
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues (2nd cat of Code of Ethics)
-11 -Having respect for colleagues -Working cooperatively -Make referrals to professionals when necessary -Should address situations when colleagues are functioning ineffectively due to personal problems/unethical conduct
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Clients (1st category of Code of Ethics)
-16 -How practitioners should behave with respect to clients -What aspects of working/client interaction are most significant within an ethical context -Standards range from supporting client self-determination to maintaining the highest possible level of confidentiality to avoiding sexual relationships with clients
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to the Social Work Profession (5th cat of Code of Ethics)
-2: integrity and evaluation and research -Integrity - social workers' promotion of high practice standards -Participate in activities aimed at professional contributions -Assess effectiveness of policies -Keep selves updated on research
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibility to the Broader Society (6th cat of Code of Ethics)
-4 -Advocate and work for people's general welfare -Should encourage involvement in the formulation of public policies and practices -Offer services during community crises -Actively participate in improving policies
Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals (4th cat of Code of Ethics)
-8 -Competent -Seek education/learn skills -Should not "practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental/physical disability" -Honest, avoid fraud, seek help with personal problems -Never take credit for someone else's work
Task Groups
-A collection of people that applies the principles of group dynamics to solve problems, develop innovative ideas, formulate plans, and achieve goals within the context of an organization or community -Formed to meet client, organization, and community needs
Roles
-A culturally expected behavior pattern for a person having a specified status or being involved in a designated social relationship -Ex: student, employee, mayor
Stressors
-A demand, situation, or circumstance that results in a physiological and/or emotional tension -Ex: adolescence/old age/divorce/job/moving/falling in love
Teams
-A group of 2 or more people gathered together to work collaboratively and interdependently to pursue a designated purpose -Improve client treatment and service provision -Members depend on each other and clearly acknowledge that fact -Emphasize achievement of team goals -Small groups made up of highly skilled individuals who are able to meld these skills into a cohesive effort -Can be formed internally within an agency or may include representatives from other systems Types of teams: ---1. May consist solely of social work practitioners from the same agency ---2. Composed solely of social workers from a variety of agencies within the community ---3. Professionals from a variety of disciplines within the same agency ---4. Variety of professionals from different agencies ---5. Social work practitioners working together with indigenous helpers or paraprofessionals within the parameters of the same agency -----Indigenous worker - a community member who either volunteers or is employed to assist professionals -----Paraprofessional - a person with specialized skills and training who assists a professional in conducting his or her work ---6. Social work practitioners working with indigenous workers or paraprofessionals who come from outside the agency's parameters
Virtual Teams and Team Leadership
-A small group of people who conduct almost all of their collaborative work by electronic communication rather than in face-to-face meetings -Email, instant messaging, telephone and text messaging, wikis and blogs, videoconferencing, etc. Advantages: -Allow more flexibility -Can be more efficient -May have more control over when and how they communicate -Members can work on own tasks in own locations and may better schedule their time Disadvantages: -Lack of cohesion -Feelings of isolation by members -Absence of face-to-face contact to facilitate relationship building Leaders must: -Promote feeling of inclusion -Provide team with necessary info -Promote trust -Encourage healthy discussions -Manage conflict -Review communication strategies to determine effectiveness -Making certain that goals and expectations are clearly defined -Leaders holding members responsible for completing tasks on time -Regularly give members feedback about performance -Leaders should be optimistic and encouraging -Soliciting input from team members on a regular basis -Hold face-to-face meetings when possible - if can't, use videoconferencing
Micro system
-An individual -Personality, emotion, beliefs, behavior, interests, goals, strengths, weaknesses -Working with individual, identifying issues and strengths, enhancing person's functioning
Client system
-Any individual, family, group, organization, or community that will ultimately benefit from social work intervention -May be micro/mezzo/macro
Macro system
-Any system larger than a small group -Made up of individuals and groups of individuals -Workers can undertake projects, seek policy changes, and develop programs
Cross-Cultural Differences in Communication
-Appropriate personal space, eye contact, handshaking, dress, formality of greeting, perspective on time can all be subject to misinterpretation -In some cultures, silence may be a sign of respect and politeness or fear and confusion -Asians often think eye contact is rude
Critical Thinking Video
-Art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with view to improving it (Dr. Richard Paul) -Taking things apart - construct reasoning; dissection -Looking at quality of thinking (assess capacity) ---Follow set of criteria to assess ---Be able to put self in other's shoes -Can help understand how others think
Triple A Approach
-Ask questions (of your personal learned values and experiences) -Assess the established facts and issues involved (review of professional research) -Assert a new concluding opinion
Groups Definition
-At least 2 individuals gathered together because of some common bond, to meet members' social and emotional needs, or to fulfill some mutual purpose -Communities and organizations are made up of groups
10 Core Competencies
-Basic capabilities involving social work knowledge, skills, and values that can be demonstrated and measured by practice behaviors -Reflect more general expectations
UA - Settlement House Movement
-Began in england in late 1800s with establishment of Toynbee Hall in London's East end by some young graduates of Oxford University -Idea: middle and upper class young men/women to establish residence in working-class neighborhoods -Expression of strong desire to be of service to poor -Liberal-minded and well-educated young men/women -Settlements provided child care for working mothers, health clinics, classes (dance, arts, culture, domestic sciences)
UA - Jane Addams
-Best-known leader of settlement house movement in U.S. -Father was friends with Lincoln and supported Union -When abroad, visited settlement houses in England -1889 (using own money) - founded Hull House in Chicago ---Seen as social experiment at time by many -Hull House was in heart of crowded working-class neighborhood with immigrants from Greece/Italy/Germany -Started with readings, discussions, art -1893 - 40 clubs and day nursery, gym, dispensary, playground (art gallery, theater, music school later) -Defenders of organized labor, supported outlawing child labor, fought for women's suffrage -Saw importance of helping immigrants maintain cultural and family ties -Pacifist during WWI and lost support
Common Elements in Oppression
-Bestows power and advantage on certain people who are regarded as the norm and denied to others based on status as the "other" -Held in place by ideology and violence/threat of violence -Institutionalized - built into the norms, traditions, laws, and policies of a society
UA - Authors suggest "social work seems to have taken shape in a way that neither Addams nor Richmond envisioned entirely". What did they mean by this?
-Both were trying to "perfect" communities instead of focusing on individuals and receiving them with an open mind -Richmond didn't foresee psychotherapy being important -Addams underestimated the political barriers to realization of the kind of community support system she wanted to make -Both wanted to construct "city on the hill" -Today, building "church of individual repair" -Blend of micro and macro practice today
Organizations
-Clearly defined membership in terms of knowing who is in and who is out -Businesses ---Goals of production, sales, profit ---Each person has structured role and responsibilities -Schools ---Students, teachers, administrators ---Defined roles and expectations -Churches, mosques, synagogues
Stage 3: Assessment
-Conduct ongoing assessment of group dynamics and functioning -Focusing attention on communication, interpersonal interaction, norms, roles, cohesion, power, and status -Conflict referred to as storming - characterizes this phase and beginnings phase
Support Groups
-Consist of participants who share common issues or problems and meet on an ongoing basis to cope with stress, give each other suggestions, provide encouragement, convey information, and furnish emotional support -May be run by trained social worker or by members -Ex: people with AIDS, alcoholics, adult survivors of sexual abuse, veterans with PTSD -Place emphasis on members supporting and helping each other -Emphasis on ongoing coping and support
How to Build Trust within a Group
-Make your behavior consistent with your intentions and invite feedback -When the group has a problem, move into problem-solving mode instead of looking to blame others -Honor confidences -Maintain a high level of integrity and build a reputation for doing what you think is morally right in spite of consequences -Admit mistakes
Poor Law
-Determined deserving poor from undeserving poor -System of income supports (welfare) has origins in Elizabethan Poor Laws (1601 by Elizabeth I) created to deal with provision of income supports for paupers -Poor Laws laid upon each county the responsibility of caring for the poor -Based on belief that locality of origin should be source of help -American colonists transported Laws to America Today: -"Less eligibility" refers to practice of providing income supports to eligible recipients at levels below what's established as their real need on the principle that benefits received should be noticeably less than the salaries of the lowest-paid workers -Programs for poor given support grudgingly -Means tested and mean spirited -Deliberately made unattractive -Social workers work under unpleasant/dangerous conditions -Social workers in public services receive little support from community, profession, and political leaders -Many choose not to make careers in public social services -Those who do become burned out -Often expected to carry out state's social control functions with respect to the protection of children and dependent adults - associated with law enforcement
Taking Action
-Developing plans and assisting group members in plan implementation -Encourage members' input, assist them in communication with each other, provide direction when necessary, keep the group on task, and resolve conflicts as they arise
Ecosystems Theory and the Macro Social Environment
-Ecosystems theory (ecological systems theory) provides one significant means of conceptualizing and understanding human behavior -Serves as a conceptual framework to help social workers comprehend people's interaction with various systems in the macro social environment -Heart of perspective - person-in-environment concept (individuals and their environments are interrelated whole) -Draws its major concepts from systems theory and the ecological perspective
UA - Charities and Corrections Movement
-Effort to rationalize charitable giving in American communities -1865 - Massachusetts - first state to appoint Board of Public Charities -Organized the Social Science League - 1865 -Founding of the American Social Science Association -National Conference on Charities and Corrections - 1874 -Movement based on a belief in the perfectibility of society -Concerned about "feeble-minded", insane, criminals, drunks, tubercular, epileptics, pure food and drugs, the poor, children, sanitation, playgrounds, disaster relief -Reforms sought - 40 hr work week, social security, child labor laws, disaster relief - considered radical at time
Primary mission of the Social Work Profession
-Enhance human well-being -Empower people who are vulnerable/oppressed/living in poverty -Focus on individual well-being in social context and well-being of society -Attention given to environmental factors that address problems in living -"to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty
Stage 5: Endings and Evaluation
-Even with ongoing groups, membership changes -Leadership can help prepare group members by talking about the group's termination ahead of time -Encourage the sharing of ending feelings and receive emotional support -Evaluating and summarizing the group's accomplishments
Other Processes for Engaging in Effective Social Work Practice
-Forming working relationships -Engaging individuals, groups and communities -Challenging values and assumptions -Listening -creative/resourceful problem-solving -seeking/accessing knowledge -Researching -Networking
Communities
-Geographic communities ---Share location ---Impact on residents' quality of life, accessible resources, available role models, life opportunities -Groups of people who have similar interests ---Professional social work community ---Scuba divers, bikers, hikers, Corvette clubs, Christmas ornament collectors, community theater groups -Could be based on sexual orientation -Could be spiritual/religious -Could be ethnic/racial/cultural
Global Poverty and Social Injustice
-Global problems shared by many countries necessitate mutual cooperation by many nations to solve them -Richer nations are those that are highly industrialized, are technologically more sophisticated, and have higher levels of income per person (New Zealand, Japan, U.S.) -Nations in the middle of the economic continuum are in the process of converting from an agricultural to an industrial focus (Mexico, Venezuela, Russian Federation, China) -Poorer nations have mainly agricultural economies, a minor industrial base, low levels of income per person, and fewer national resources (sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Haiti) -Some nations have provided grants to help individuals and families who are impoverished -Some nations have provided small grants to individuals to finance small business start-ups
Task-Oriented Group Leaders
-Goal oriented -Work is meaningful -Their reason for being comes from doing -3 approaches: 1. Adaptable to various group situations ---Get the job done 2. Initiating structure ---Leader organizes work, defines role responsibilities, and schedules work activities ---Pay great attention to detail and to technical aspects of getting goals accomplished 3. Having high expectations for group members' performance and accomplishment ---When expectations are high, performance is higher
Organizations Providing Social Services
-Goals: improving health, enhancing quality of life, increasing autonomy and independence, supporting families, helping people and larger systems improve functioning in the macro social environment -Include: counseling, child protection, residential treatment for emotional and behavioral problems, provision of financial resources, sheltered employment and assistance for people with disabilities, daycare, employment coaching, etc.
Stage 2: Beginnings
-Group members get to know each other and begin establishing the group's interpersonal dynamics -Begin addressing trust issues -Discuss group's purpose and goals and reaches consensus on reaching goals -Contracting to establish agreements about responsibilities -Goals, procedures, rolls, and basic arrangements such as when/where of meetings established
Practice behaviors
-Measurable actions that demonstrate the application of social work knowledge, skills, and values for effective social work practice -More specific and used to measure competency
Board of Directors
-Group of people authorized to formulate the organization's mission, objectives, and policies, in addition to overseeing the organization's ongoing activities -Has ultimate control over the agency's higher administration including its executive director or chief executive officer -Usually made up of respected volunteers recruited from the community on the basis of their power, status, and influence in the community; their expertise; and their representation of particular interest groups and constituencies Functions: --Serve as ambassadors to communicate the organization's mission, policies, programs, and services --Interpret and communicate to the organization the needs of the communities served by the organizations --Define the organization's position on public policies and serve as advocates --Protect the organization from inappropriate intrusions by government and special interests --Promote the organization to financial donors and potential donors
Treatment Conferences
-Groups that meet to establish, monitor, and coordinate service plans on the behalf of a client system -Allow a number of professionals, operating as a group, to collaborate and offer synchronized services -Can also be called case conferences, case staffings, treatment staffings, or staffings -May involve internal agency professionals and staff or professionals and staff from different agencies -Clients and their families are sometimes invited to attend all or a portion Differ from teams in 3 ways: --Group members might not have established a working relationship as a unit --Treatment conferences might be held infrequently preventing the bonding necessary to establish a team --Treatment conferences might involve a different configuration of participants at each meeting
therapy Groups
-Help members with serious psychological and emotional problems change their behavior -Emphasis on "remediation and rehabilitation" -Ex: treat depression, sexual difficulties, anxiety, psychosomatic disorders -Leader assists members in solving serious personal problems -Emphasis on alleviating psychological difficulties
Socialization Groups
-Help participants improve interpersonal behavior, communication, and social skills so that they might better fit into their social environment -Social activities and role plays often used -Ex: urban neighborhood's youth activities group, school-based group of shy teens, parents without partners group
Piety
-Helping role of faith community and churches -Church was the first institution to pick up functions of communal support for the poor after breakup of feudal estates -Poor cared for by the clergy with financial support from nobility -Major motivation was service to God -Charity - ensured a place in heaven -Today ---Jewish philanthropies ---Catholic charities ---many support government and service organizations that are more interested in poor numbers, efficiency, economy
Appropriate Humility
-Humility - a personal condition involving modesty and lack of arrogance -Confess when you don't know everything and admit mistakes -Not arrogant, bossy, or dictatorial
Staff Development Groups
-Improve, update, and refine workers' skills -Ultimate goal being to improve services to clients -Allows groups within an organization to work on skill enhancement together -Usually an internal agency program -Leaders have expertise in the topic addressed -Group members can confer about content, practice skills via simulations, and get feedback -May involve an agency unit of staff or might be new staff (orientation/training)
Dorothea Dix
-In early American Republic - poor, dependent children, mentally ill, frail aged - together in county jail, lunatic asylums, workhouse, poorhouse -headed movement for reform -States developed hospitals to treat mentally ill -1854 - President Franklin Pierce vetoed bill under which federal lands could have been used by the states to establish mental hospitals - believed responsibility fell on states, not federal government
Target of change
-Include individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities -The system that social workers need to change or influence in order to accomplish goals
Fixed Mindset
-Intelligence is static and doesn't change (unwilling) -Success is grounded in talent alone -Leads to avoidance of challenges, giving up easily and places limitation on learning -Ex: culture of poverty
Transactions
-Interactions when people communicate and interact with others -Active and dynamic -Something is communicated or exchanged -May be positive or negative
Social, Economic, and Political Forces
-Interplay of forces is complex and controversial -Powerful interest groups determine outcomes of policy deliberation ---Constituents ---Economic resources -Political and economic forces important to social issues: ---Advocacy groups, legislatures, government agencies and funders, consumers/beneficiaries, professional groups, community representatives, agency clients, administrators/staff of existing program
Human Diversity: Culture
-Involves a constantly changing integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of a racial, ethnic, religious, or social group -Evident in communities and organizations
Competence
-Involves people's sense that they have relevant skills or can get help from others -People are naturally motivated to affect their environment in order to survive
Social environment
-Involves the conditions, circumstances, and human interactions that encompass human beings -Includes the physical setting - home, work, money, laws -Includes individuals, groups, organizations, systems -Families, friends, work groups, organizations, communities, governments -Macro social environment - extends beyond individual's interaction with immediate friends, relatives, and others; configuration of communities, organizations, groups that are products of social/economic/political forces and social institutions
Promoting Group Functioning
-Involving and motivating group members -Attending and responding skills -Rephrasing - stating what another person says, but using different words than those used by that person -Clarification - making certain that what a group member says is understood; asking a question about a statement
UA - Charities and Settlements
-Late 19th century - WWI -Social movements pressing for recognition of social, political, and economic rights of working man -Abolitionism, christian temperance, trade unionism, charities and corrections, sexual hygiene, planned parenthood -Social Welfare: ---Charity Organization Societies ---Settlement Houses ---originated in England
Philanthropy
-Meet needs of community and provide funding -Charity (short term) -Philanthropy (long term) -18th and 19th centuries - landed gentry who benefited from the Acts of -Enclosure and the successful industrialists were able to amass great fortunes -Some established private charities whose function was to provide relief to the poor -Systems of giving through charities lacked systematic criteria -Private charities were more flexible and generous than local governments (residing in workhouse or poorhouse) -Private philanthropies until 1930s Today -Private sector - Family Service Association, United Way, Urban League - small but significant -50% of budgets comes from public funds -Growth of employer-provided social services (treatment of drug/alcohol dependency, benefits counseling, psychotherapy, child care, elder care) -Most are in private for-profit practice
Inspiring Others
-Members who have survived or overcome aspects of powerlessness can inspire and motivate others -Serving as a role model, providing emotional support, and sharing relevant skills and knowledge
Relationship-Oriented Group Leaders
-More interested in relating to others than in completing tasks -Find meaning in being rather than doing -Want to connect with people -Find meaning in the moment -Approaches: 1. Demonstrate concern for group members and try to be considerate ---Take interest in workers as humans ---Value uniqueness ---Give special attention to personal needs 2. Provide emotional support and encouragement ---Encouraging group members to participate in decision-making ---Providing frequent encouragement and praise 3. Openness to worker opinions ---Members participate actively in decision making -Treat members with dignity and respect, build relationships and help people get along, and make the work setting a pleasant place to be
Stage 1: Task Group Composition
-Must be a reason for participants to become group members -Task groups can be formal or informal ---Formal - require structured representation in membership such as delegate councils (groups of representatives from a series of agencies or units within a single agency), committees composed of elected representatives, and task forces appointed by administration ---Informal - groups where participants come together simply because of mutual interests; may be great diversity in membership Definition of the Group's Purpose -To determine who will be the most useful group members The Group's Context -Location and sponsorship -Perceptions held by others in external environment about the issue and group's purpose Group Size -Include enough people to generate ideas and get work done, but not so many that the group process becomes unmanageable -Members should reflect a broad enough range of abilities and perspectives to guarantee the generation of diverse ideas and problem-solving suggestions -As groups get bigger, become more formal and develop structures seen in large organizations ---Parliamentary procedure - a highly structured technique designed to make decisions and conduct business
NASW
-National Association of Social Workers -Code of Ethics
Energy
-Natural power of active involvement between people and their environments -Can take form of output/input
UA - Social Work as a Profession
-New, less developed, less prestigious, less status -Some refer to newcomers as "semiprofessions"
Barriers to Communication
-Noise and distractions, phones, outbursts, interruptions, whispering, etc. -Intents - what the sender wishes to convey -Impacts - what the receivers understand
Using Cooperation
-Ongoing communication and cooperation concerning the macro change process -Action group members can work together to adjust to changes in the environment, alter plans accordingly, and continue monitoring progress toward goals
Positive Verbal Communication in Effective Task Groups
-Open communication structure that encourages all members to participate - enhances productivity -Regularly seek out feedback about efficiency and success of their process and output -Members provide each other with feedback that is practical and useful - can help group achieve goals and provide info to members about improving their individual performance -Actually put to use both the internal and external feedback they receive
Sexual Orientation
-People having a sexual orientation toward the same gender are generally referred to as gay if they are male and lesbian if they are female -Gay can refer to both men and women -Older term referring to same-gender sexual orientation - homosexual -People having a sexual relationship towards persons of the opposite gender - heterosexual/striaght -People oriented toward either gender - bisexual -10% of society
Patronage
-People who serve in middle and close gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged -Based on ancient system of social exchange that predates almsgiving of the church and the system of social control instituted by English Poor Law -Patron - middleman, pivotal figure positioned to deal with 2 kinds of clients (members of society's social and economic elites and the upwardly mobile, ambitious, aggressive, and troublesome members of the lower class) -Patron's function is to control the movement of some members of lower social and economic classes into higher classes - selects those most likely to succeed -Best example today: Private foundations
Self-direction
-People's sense of having control over their lives, alongside taking responsibility for their actions while respecting others' rights -Self-determination
Interface
-Point where 2 systems (including individuals, families, groups, organizations, or communities) come into contact with each other, interact, or communicate -Must be clear to target appropriate interactions for change
Stage 4: Stabilization and Working
-Productive period -Order established -Stabilization process referred to as norming - group establishes some consensus regarding a role structure and group norms for appropriate behavior -How disagreements will be handled -Pay special attention to meeting preparation, clear designation regarding how and when tasks will be performed, empowering participants, enhancing motivation, minimizing conflict, keeping members on track, and evaluating the progress of both individuals and the entire group -Performing phase - focus on completing tasks
Empowerment by Group Leaders
-Promote communication among group members instead of structuring communication primarily between themselves and a member -Should seek members' input into the agenda for the meeting and the direction the group should take in future meetings -Should support group members who have natural leadership potential when they make their first, tentative attempts at exerting their own influence in the group -Should support attempts at mutual sharing and mutual aid among members (mutual aid - act of providing support, feedback, and information within a group context) -Should model and teach members selected leadership skills early in the life of the group -Encourage members to take leadership roles by bringing out their capacities, strengths, resiliencies, and the opportunities they have to solve problematic situations
Educational Groups
-Provide information to participants -Ex: parents of children with rare genetic disorder, teens receiving sex ed, presentation by an employment counselor to group of adults, group of older adults in nursing home requesting info about prescribed drugs -Include opportunities for group discussion to foster learning
UA - Emergence of Social Work as a Profession
-Public lacks clear sense of kind of expertise a professional social worker has -This occurs because the profession itself is unclear about its social mission and uncertain about the practice methodology that is best suited to carry out one or another mission -First specialists to emerge in less-developed societies were the medicine man, the priest, and the shaman -family/others in village took care of orphans, elderly, frail, disabled, intellectually disabled, mentally ill - responsibility of family -Feudalistic society was well structured and stable - highly stratified and hierarchical - all members had rights and responsibilities -Industrialization has been cause of social and economic change in era -As exchanges in society shifted, so did professional roles and responsibilities of helping -Social and economic life became less stable -Relationships based more on contract -Higher degrees of specialization -Professionalization of functions is a manifestation of specialization
UA - Charity Organization Societies
-Reverend Humphries Gurteen established first COS in Buffalo in 1877 -Fundamental law: Investigate -Motto: No relief (except in extreme cases of despair or imminent death) without previous and searching examination; Not alms, but a friend! -Axxiom: help the poor to help themselves -Today, equivalent is United Way -Primary functions: elimination of "indiscriminate giving" and "repression of mendicancy" -Screened applicants for charities
Social Action Groups and Empowerment
-Social action means pushing a macro system to change, moving against the mainstream, or making demands on scarce resources -Expenditure of output or effort requires adequate energy or strength
Social Institutions
-Social forces converge over time to form these -An established and valued practice or means of operation in a society resulting in the development of a formalized system to carry out its purpose -"Religion, the family, military structure, government, and the social welfare system" -Establish expectations and requirements for expected behavior governed through policies and laws -Communities provide macro environments for social institutions to be upheld -Organizations carry out policies and distribute services -Decision-making groups and administrators implement policies and distribute services -Example: Public education - right of all U.S. citizens to receive education until age of 18 -Intricate interconnections exist between social forces, social institutions, communities, organizations, and groups carrying out public directives ---All collectively intertwined to make up macro social environment
UA - Mary E. Richmond
-Social investigation to discover resources -Assignment of a "friendly visitor" - COS volunteer (middle and upper class women) -Established basic principles of social casework practice -Began career with COS of Baltimore in 1888 -Prepared profession for embrace of psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and psychotherapy -Began to lay out process of doing social investigation of applicants - "social diagnosis" -Social systems theory -Book - Social Diagnosis (1917) ---Catalog and classification of questions to ask person applying for charity -Established Home Service (after WWI, but disbanded) ---Arranging for income maintenance, hospital discharge, relocation
Groups to Serve Organization Purposes
-Social service organization's administration is expected to maintain effective agency functioning, hire staff competent to do their jobs effectively, plan for the future, provide supervision for employees, manage financial resources, monitor agency functioning, and evaluate the effectiveness of service provision -Types: administrative groups, committees, boards of directors
Macro Introduction
-Social workers practice in agency organizational settings to help clients who live in communities -A healthy organizational work environment allows social workers to function effectively -An unhealthy work environment interferes with performance and ability to assist clients ---Few resources, poor morale, policies not supportive of clients -Macro: large scale; affecting many people; emphasis on social, political, economic forces; focus on community -Responsibility of social worker to seek changes in macro environment to improve services, increase resources, and change policies for the better
Collecting and Assessing Information
-Soliciting necessary info from group members, synthesizing its meaning, and and analyzing its importance -In-service training program - a program provided by an employing agency, usually conducted by a supervisor or an outside expert, designed to help agency staff improve their effectiveness or better understand agency functioning -Help group summarize info and prioritize tasks
Advocacy
-The act of stepping forward on the behalf of the client system in order to promote fair and equitable treatment or gain needed resources -NASW policy: professional social workers value social justice, alleviating social ills and oppression at all levels of society. As such, they are uniquely qualified to provided advocacy at micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice
Describing Generalist Practice
-The application of an extensive and diverse knowledge base, professional values, and a wide range of skills to promote human well-being for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
Critical Thinking
-The art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with view to improving it -Self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking -Requires rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use -Critical thinking - careful scrutiny and analysis of: ---What is stated as true ---What appears to be true ---The answer to a question ---The solution to a problem ---One's opinion concerning an issue -Concentrates on "the process of reasoning" -Stresses how individuals think about the truth inherent in a statement or how they analyze an issue to formulate their own conclusions -Critical thinkers question what others take for granted -Focuses on questioning of beliefs, statements, assumptions, lines of reasoning, actions, experiences -Not taking facts at face value, but assuming the Triple A approach to examine validity -Critical thinking is important in social work education in order to make ethical decisions -Provides framework for making decisions grounded in ethical and effective practice -Processing personal values through critical thinking exercises (during your educational experience) prepares you to become more effective in the helping process, thus reducing harm to clients
Adaptation
-The capacity to adjust to surrounding environmental conditions -Ongoing process of change to function -Environments also adapt and react to people
Relatedness
-The capacity to form attachments -Can pose strengths
Intelligence
-The cognitive ability to think critically, to solve problems, and to make decisions -Leaders may have higher intelligence levels, but they shouldn't be so high that communication isn't good
Determination
-The desire to get the job done and includes characteristics such as initiative, persistence, dominance, and drive -Willing to persist in the pursuit of their goals despite barriers -Initiate action within the group without being told what to do
Relationships
-The dynamic interpersonal connection between two or more persons or systems that involves how they think about, feel about, and behave toward each other -May exist between systems of any size
Input
-The energy, information, or communication flow received from other systems -Ex: elected officials receive input from constituents; employees receive paychecks; injured person requires assistance; info received from CDC about flu mutations
Person-in-environment fit
-The extent to which the needs, capacities, behavioral styles, and goals of people or groups of people fit or match the characteristics of the environment -"Fit" - degree to which physical, social, and cultural needs are met
Gayphobia (homophobia)
-The irrational fear and hatred of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people -May suffer from overt victimization - obvious (verbal, physical attack) -Covert victimization - not obvious (discrimination) -May internalize and start believing it themselves
Cultural Competence
-The mastery of a particular set of knowledge, skills, policies, and programs used by the social worker that address the cultural needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities -Recognize existence of stereotypes, discrimination, and oppression
Equifinality
-The notion that there are many different means to achieve the same end -Alternatives exist
Niche
-The particular social position held by a person within the social structure of the habitat -Can be positive/supportive or negative/isolating
Self-Confidence
-The personal condition of having a positive self-concept and the belief in one's ability to get things accomplished -If it's deficient, could be due to lack of experience or poor self-concept -Self-concept: a person's overall positive or negative feelings about him- or herself
Habitat
-The physical and social settings of people -Home ranges, territory
Negative entropy
-The process of a system toward growth and development -Opposite of entropy
Homeostasis
-The tendency for the system to maintain a relatively stable, constant state of balance -Ex: members of Neighborhood Warriors on Trash maintain homeostasis -Maintaining the status quo - can be ineffective/inefficient/problematic
Growth Groups
-Those aimed at expanding self-awareness, increasing potential, and maximizing optimal health and well-being -Emphasize exploring hidden thoughts and emotions in addition to disclosing these to other group members for feedback -Ex: group of heterosexual singles exploring attitudes about opposite gender, values clarification group for adolescents, group of gay men focusing on gay pride issues
UA - Profession of Social Work Emerged in 20th Century
-Two-tiered profession -Publicly supported, means-tested, underfunded, poorly staffed programs for the poor and vested programs such as social security for the middle class -Middle class offered clinical programs on a private basis -Poor only receive means-tested, nonclinical, poorly staffed services and benefits, while middle-class people receive entitlement kinds of benefits and highly professional and psychotherapeutically based services
Skills that Promote Critical Thinking in Social Work
-Understanding theories, particularly those related to social work -Dividing theories into components (assumptions, concepts, etc.) -Assessing practice implications of theory (possible outcomes) -Developing and applying criteria for evaluating a theory (come up with plan to achieve desired outcome) -Identifying errors in reasoning (evaluating own thoughts)
Administrative Groups
-Various clusters of supervisors and managers organized to maintain and improve agency functioning -Decision makers in groups to communicate about things, make decisions, and coordinate leadership -Involve supervisors, directors, managers, department heads
Growth Mindset Strategies
-View challenges as opportunities -Prioritize learning over seeking approval -Focus on the process rather than the end result -Cultivate a sense of purpose -Understand and remind yourself that mistakes mean "not yet" rather than "not possible" -Accept constructive criticism as teachable moments -Persevere and have passion to pursue long-term goals -Everything takes time
Output
-What happens to input after it's gone through and been processed by some system -Form of energy going out of a person's life/taking something away from it -Ex: A Moose Lodge may "adopt a highway" and take responsibility for cleaning up 2 miles of a local road; paying money to purchase a car; progress made with a client -Pablo (worker), Astrid (client) ---Pablo provides input (time, energy, knowledge, skill, expertise), Astrid has output (attaining goal of finding job) ---Pablo's input (salary, ongoing skill development, help from supervisors), output (time, energy, knowledge, skill, expertise he exercises to achieve intervention goals) -Issue - is output worth all the input? -Difficult to measure input and output in equal units
task/work group
-a collection of people that applies the principles of group dynamics to solve problems, develop innovative ideas, formulate plans, and achieve goals within the context of an organization or a community -Concepts: communication, interpersonal interaction, norms, roles, group cohesiveness, and power and status
Status
-a concept closely related to power, is the relative rank assigned to members within the group -People with a higher status typically have more power, vice versa
NASW Code of Ethics
-based on professional values and provides guidelines for what practitioners should do when confronting a range of difficult situations -Most extensive portion is devoted to "Ethical Standards" - 155 specific principles clustered under 6 major categories
Boundaries
-borders/margins that separate one entity from another -Determine who is a member of a system and who isn't - limitations -Ex: national association of bungee jumpers, national rifle association, social work student club
Gender role
-culturally defined behaviors that are seen as appropriate for males and females, including the attitudes, personality traits, emotions, and even postures and body language that are considered fundamental to being male/female in a culture -Extend into occupations we choose, how dress/wear hair, how talk -Socially stipulated expectations based on the notion of opposites - anyone who moves away from one extreme must by definition move toward the other
Political forces
-current governmental structures, the laws to which people are subject, overall distribution of power among the population -Reflected in laws and public policies
Roles definition
-expected behavior patterns based on individuals' position or status within the group -May be formal/informal
Social Action Groups
-groups formed to engage in some planned change effort to shift power and resources in order to modify or improve aspects of the macro social or physical environment -May consist of professionals, clients, community residents, or some combo -Social workers can use these to connect people with services and resources, address and solve problematic situations, and alter conditions in the macro social environment to enhance quality of life Involve one of three dimensions: 1. Geographic -Group from a neighborhood, a town, a county, a state or even a whole region might band together and address issues of concern -Housing, education, recreation, employment, environmental issues, transportation, health care 2. Issue -Clean elections, tax reform, women's rights, environmental justice, older adult issues 3. Identity -Ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or physical/mental disability
Broad Practice Categories
-macro, mezzo (families/small groups), and micro (individuals) practice -Macro practice works with agencies, organizations, communities, and large groups of people -To be effective in any segment of social work, a social worker needs to be competent and continue to learn and develop to relate to others - they need to understand interconnectedness across all types of practice - heart of social work practice Examples: -Intervention with student (micro) -Intervention with parents (mezzo) -Petition state to assist members of community (macro) -Policy development (macro)
Social Agency/Social Services Agency Definition
-organization providing social services that typically employs a range of helping professionals, including social workers, office staff, paraprofessionals, and sometimes volunteers -Serve some designated client population experiencing some defined need -Services provided according to prescribed set of policies
Amos Warner
-poorhouses -Depressing -Abundant during Great Depression -Considered stigma -Associated with humiliation -"Over the Hill to the Poorhouse" by Will Carleton
Economic Forces
-resources that are available, how they are distributed, how they are spent ---How taxes spent at national level ---How salaries are distributed to agency's workers
Resiliency
-the ability of an individual, family, group, community, or organization to recover from adversity and resume functioning, even when suffering serious trouble, confusion, or hardship -Emphasizes the use of strengths to cope with adversity and survive, despite difficulties -Two dimensions: risk and protection
Empowerment Through Good Committee Leadership
1. Leader should clearly state the purpose of the meeting immediately at the beginning 2. An agenda for the meeting should be prepared in advance and distributed ahead of time 3. Ground rules should be clearly explained - voting procedures, formal motions 4. Committee members should get specific assignments so their understanding of what they need to do by the next meeting is understood 5. Leader should deal with any conflict emerging 6. Leader will periodically summarize the discussion throughout the meeting
Emotional intelligence
-the ability to do such things as understand one's feelings, have empathy for others, and regulate one's emotions to enhance one's quality of life -The ability to connect with people and understand their emotions -4 features: ---1. Self-awareness - ability to perceive one's own emotions and how they affect one's behavior (acknowledge strengths and weaknesses) ---2. Self-management - the ability to control troublesome emotions both in oneself and in others ---3. Social awareness - the ability to understand others and involves empathy ---4. Relationship management - the ability to work well with others, which is dependent on the other EI components - communicating, responding to emotions, handling conflict, and influencing others
Leadership in Task Groups
-the act of exerting influence on other group members to direct their behavior, activities, attitudes, or interaction -May be formally/informally established
Group Cohesiveness
-the extent to which group members feel close to each other or connected as group members -Doesn't occur immediately, but develops over time -Indicators include good attendance and punctuality, effort to maintain confidentiality and make each other feel safe, use of good listening skills and support, and a willingness to provide feedback and share perceptions
Human diversity
-the range of differences between people in terms of race, ethnicity, age, geography, religion, values, culture, orientations, physical and mental health, and other distinguishing characteristics -In U.S. - ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, age groups -We recognize the similarities that bind us together and respect the differences among cultures in our country
Interpersonal Interaction
-the result of verbal and nonverbal communication, expressed emotions and attitudes, and behavior between or among persons -Can reflect mutual respect, liking, dislike, resentment, admiration, encouragement, discouragement, approval, disapproval, or mistrust
Self-Disclosure
-the sharing of personal feelings and info -Can enhance group members' feelings of belonging and acceptance -More appropriate when group has been meeting for a while
Sociability
-the tendency to search out others and form congenial social relationships -Friendly, outgoing, courteous, tactful, and diplomatic -Good communicators and are perceptive about others' feelings and needs
Treatment Groups Types
-therapy -support -educational -growth -socialization
Cultural Competencies
1. Becoming Aware of One's own assumptions, values, and biases about human behavior 2. Understanding the worldview of culturally diverse clients ---Awareness of surrounding environment, social status, social roles, legal rights, economic status 3. Developing appropriate intervention strategies and techniques ---Systems intervention as well as traditional one-to-one relationships ---Build on strengths of community and empower them to help themselves ---Use intervention modalities and define goals that are consistent with the life experiences and cultural values of clients 4. Understanding organizational and institutional forces that enhance/negate cultural competence
Enhancing Your Self-Concept and Self-Confidence
1. Cultivate optimistic thoughts - emphasize strengths 2. If you catch yourself complaining or being negative in any way, stop and change to a positive attitude 3. Avoid negative people, especially any that make you feel negative about yourself 4. Set and achieve goals - give sense of being successful 5. Focus on your success; don't dwell on failure 6. Don't belittle your accomplishments or compare yourself to others 7. Accept compliments 8. Be a positive role model 9. When things go wrong and you're feeling down, do something to help someone who is worse off than you
step 1 of planned change
1. Engagement - process of establishing a positive professional relationship between the worker and the client; greeting; portraying appropriate verbal and nonverbal behavior; listening; discussing services; identifying client expectations
Core Values
1. Service: providing help, resources, and benefits so that people may achieve their maximum potential 2. Social justice: upholding the condition that in a perfect world, all citizens would have identical "rights, protection, opportunities, obligations, and social benefits" regardless of their backgrounds and membership in diverse groups 3. Dignity and worth of the person: holding in high esteem and appreciating individual value 4. Importance of human relationships: valuing the dynamic reciprocal interactions between social workers and clients, including how they communicate, think, and feel about each other, and behave toward each other 5. Integrity: maintaining trustworthiness and sound adherence to moral ideals 6. Competence: having the necessary skills and abilities to perform work with clients effectively
Concepts of Generalist Practice
1. The establishment of goals that target systems of any size for positive change ---Individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, macro system 2. Performance of work within an organizational structure ---Employed by social service agencies who have their own organizational structure involving job descriptions and responsibilities, policies, or rules that govern workers' activities, departments addressing various aspects of agency functioning, communication systems, and a management hierarchy ---Attend to prescribed professional role, demonstrate professional behavior, use supervision appropriately as they practice 3. Use of a structured planned change process going through seven steps: engagement, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, termination, and follow-up 4. Assumption of a wide range of professional roles 5. Application of critical thinking skills 6. Incorporation of research-informed practice ---Involves the use of approaches and interventions that research has determined is effective ---Social workers should employ research findings to improve practice, policy, and social service delivery ---Research is important because it can help social workers become more effective in their direct practice by choosing interventions that have been proven successful, getting better results and accumulated research builds a foundation for planning effective interventions
step 2 of planned change
2. Assessment - identification of the nature and extent of client needs and concerns, as well as critical info about client resources and supports and other environmental factors so a helping plan can be devised and implemented ---Most significant step
step 3 of planned change
3. Planning - process of identifying goals, rationally considering various ways to implement them, and establishing specific steps to achieve them
step 4 of planned change
4. Intervention - actual doing or implementation of the plan
step 5 of planned change
5. Evaluation - appraisal of the effectiveness of the plan and its implementation
step 6 of planned change
6. Termination - ending of the social worker-client relationship
step 7 of planned change
7. Follow-up - retrieval of info about a client's functioning after the intervention has been terminated; examines effectiveness
Professional Skill/Observing Professional Ethics
Understanding and guarding the boundary between feelings and behaviors
Coping
A form of adaptation where people respond to stress by expending effort to (1) change their own behavioral, cognitive, or emotional reactions; (2) the environmental conditions contributing to the stress; (3) the interaction between their own reactions and the environment; or (4) some combination of these responses
Treatment Groups
A group intended to help individual members solve personal problems, change unwanted behaviors, cope with stress, or improve the quality of life
Communities Definition
A number of people who have something in common that connects them in some way and that distinguishes them from others
Trustworthiness
A personal characteristic that inspires confidence and belief by others in one's honesty and dependability
Differentiation
A system's tendency to move from a simpler to a more complex existence
Mezzo system
Any small group
Growth Mindset
Carol Dweck - known for research on growth v. fixed mindset -Intelligence can be developed (willing) -Learning/intelligence grow with time and experience -Leads to a desire to learn -Extra time and more work is put forward because there's a core belief that effort has a positive impact on success -Effort, good strategies, and help results in growth -Having empathy (understand challenges others may be facing)
Team Empowerment
Effective teams empowered by having high degrees of 3 variables: 1. Empowered by members who actually feel the team is effective 2. Extent to which members feel their work and goals are valuable 3. Extent to which team members feel they have adequate autonomy and can exercise own judgment
Nonverbal Communication in Task Groups
Eye contact, facial expression, body positioning, posture
The Strengths Perspective
Focuses on client resources, capabilities, knowledge, abilities, motivations, experience, intelligence, and other positive qualities that can be put to use to solve problems and pursue positive changes Principles: -Every individual, group, family, and community has strengths -Trauma and abuse, illness, and struggle may be injurious, but they may also be sources of challenge and opportunity -Assume that you do not know the upper limits of the capacity to grow and change, and take individual, group, and community aspirations seriously -We best serve clients by collaborating with them -Every environment is full of resources -Caring, caretaking, and context are key
locality development definition
emphasizes community change pursued optimally through broad participation of a wide spectrum of people at the local community level in determining goals and taking action
Acclaim
enthusiastic public praise/approval
Informal networks
Friends, neighbors, workmates, people with same spiritual beliefs
An Overview of Macro Practice
Generalist practice intending to affect change in large systems
Task-Oriented vs. Relationship-Oriented Leadership: Which Is Best?
Good leaders are both
Providing Mutual Support
Group provides a medium of mutual social-emotional support for members in their struggle to cope with and bring about change in both the personal and political aspect of the problem
Systems Theory and Ecological Perspective Concepts in Both
Input Output Interface
Human Rights
Involves the premise that all people, regardless of race, culture, or national origin, are entitled to basic rights and treatment 3 facets: -Political and human freedoms similar to what U.S. citizens view as human rights - right to fair trial, freedom of speech and religion, freedom of movement and assembly, guarantees against discrimination, slavery, torture -Attempts to ensure each resident of a country an adequate standard of living based on the resources of that country - food, clothing, housing, medical care, social services, free education at elementary level -Rights among nations - everyone entitled to social and international order in which human rights can be fully realized - environmental protection and economic development, avoidance of exploitation by other countries
Possible Sources of Power in Groups
Legitimate power -That attained because of one's position and vested authority -Ex: police officers, judges, state governors Reward power -Held because of the ability to provide positive reinforcement or rewards to others -Ex: raises, "A's" on papers, allowances, promotions, days off, awards, and social praise Coercive power -That based on the capability of dispensing punishments or negative reinforcement in order to influence other members' behavior -Ex: reprimanding, imposing limitations, speeding tickets, restricting privileges Referent power -Held as a result of other group members' respect and high esteem -Ex: Military hero, famous actors/actresses, politicians, famous authors, well-known playwrights Expert power -Based on established authority or expertise in a particular domain -Ex: famous therapist or author, successful counselor
Types of Groups
Meet client needs -teams -treatment conferences -staff development serve organizational purposes -administrative groups -committees -boards of directors serve community needs -delegate councils -social action groups
Variations in the Expression of Gender: Intersex and Transgender People
Money proposes 9 factors of gender that more fully portray complexity of gender First seven are physical variables: 1. Chromosomal predisposition to gender 2. Presence of either ovaries/testes 3. Exposure to male/female hormones prior to birth 4. Presence of female/male internal reproductive organs 5. Exterior genital appearance 6. Brain differentiation resulting from hormones prior to birth 7. Production of either male/female hormones during puberty 2 psychological variables 8. Gender assigned at birth 9. Person's gender identity -1 out of every 1,500-2,000 babies born has some combination of physical characteristics of both sexes - pseudohermaphrodite or intersex
Types of distorted thinking
Outward appearance of science -A "fact" may be superficially cited in the context of scientific proof -Need to look at research and science to improve Absence of skeptical peer review -Has the fact been evaluated by credible professionals who support its validity? Reliance on personal experience and testimonials -Because an approach worked for one person, doesn't mean it will work for all Wishful thinking -Hoping that something is so can provide a powerful incentive to believe in it -Hope everything goes well without taking any action The "ancient wisdom" fallacy -"We've always done it that way so it has to be right" -Need advocacy to fix The popularity fallacy -"Everybody else is doing it, so it must be right"
Treatment Groups vs. Treatment Conferences
Primary difference between task and treatment groups -Task group's aim is to achieve a desired goal or to implement a change in the group's external environment, while treatment group's aim is to alter members' behaviors or attitudes in the internal group environment for therapeutic, educational, supportive, or social reasons -Treatment groups involve clients and establish treatment goals while task groups form goals to make changes or implement goals outside of the group Difference between treatment groups and conferences -Conferences are composed of staff and clients with the goal of externally monitoring the treatment process, while groups provide treatment internally and directly to clients
Ethical Dilemmas
Problematic situations where one must make a difficult choice among two or more alternatives where ethical standards conflict
Leadership Skills
Promoting group functioning, collecting and assessing information, and taking action
Formal service networks
Public and private agencies and institutions
UA - What were the projects and supporting philosophical structures of the organizations developed by Addams and Richmond?
Richmond -Prepared profession for psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and psychotherapy -Shaped friendly visiting -Laid out process of social diagnosis -Process records, intake forms -Developed social casework -Psychiatric social work Addams -Hull house - settlement house in working-class immigrant neighborhood -Offered clubs, activities, etc. -Fought for women's suffrage -Wanted to help immigrants maintain cultural and family ties -Organized community life -Brought forward consideration of the economic causes of low industrial standards
Personality Traits of Effective Group Leaders
Self-confidence, humility, intelligence, determination, trustworthiness, sociability, emotional intelligence, and flexibility
Ecological Perspective Concepts
Social environment Energy Adaptation Person-in-environment fit Stress, stressors, and coping Relatedness Habitat Nice Personal characteristics (competence, self-esteem, self-direction)
Consciousness Raising
Social workers can encourage group members to relate their personal problems and issues to what's happening around them in the macro social environment
6 categories in code of ethics
Social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients, to colleagues, in practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession, and to the broader society
Systems Concepts
System Boundaries Subsystem Homeostasis Roles Relationships negative/positive feedback Differentiation Entropy Negative entropy Equifinality
Barriers to Successful Teamwork and How to Address Them
The Myth of Good Intentions -Social workers sometimes assume good intentions and a cooperative attitude are sufficient to ensure effective team work -Instead, teamwork is a complex process where knowledge and skills for effective teamwork must be learned and defined Helplessness in the Face of Authority -Being in the minority surrounding by other professionals might discourage a social worker from speaking up and actively contributing on a team -Instead, should develop confidence in knowledge and skills and assertively contribute to team's process of goal achievement Professional Boundaries -Because of overlapping responsibilities, specific negotiation is required to avoid misunderstanding, conflict, and duplication of effort -Instead, teams benefit from recognition and use of members with special competence and clarification about who should do what within those common areas that overlap Professional Differences -Professionals from different disciplines may assume different perspectives on the "right" way to do something
Flexibility
The ability to adjust to different situations and change
Entropy
The natural tendency of a system to progress toward disorganization, depletion, and death
Stress
The resulting physiological and/or emotional tension produced by a stressor that affects a person's internal balance
Transsexuals
feel they are imprisoned in the physical body of the wrong gender; prefer to be referred to as transgender
Task-related approaches to leadership
focus more on adherence to procedures and accomplishment of goals
Stereotype
a fixed mental picture of a member of some specified group based on some attribute or attributes that reflect an overly simplified view of that group, without consideration/appreciation of individual differences
Gender identity
a person's internal psychological self-concept of being either a male/female, or possibly, some combination of both
Immigration status
a person's position in terms of legal rights and residency when entering and residing in a country that is not that person's legal country of origin
Disability
a physical/mental impairment [or ongoing health/mental health condition] that substantially limits one/more of the major life activities of an individual
social planning definition
a technical process of problem-solving with regard to substantive social problems, such as delinquency, housing, and mental health; call in experts or consultants to work
Culture
a way of life including widespread values (about what is good and bad), beliefs (about what is true), and behavior (what people do every day)
Practice-based research definition
focuses on collecting data and providing results directly related to the processes of social work practice
Group-directed approaches
allow group members to have greater control over what happens in the group ---Sometimes this approach can waste time
Gordon Hamilton
among most influential of social caseworkers from 1930s to 1950s
Ecological perspective
focuses on living creatures' interaction with and relationship to their environment
Discrimination
closely related to oppression; the act of treating people differently based on the fact they belong to some group rather than on their individual merit
ethics definition
concern principles that specify what is good and what is bad
Economic justice definition
concerns the distribution of resources in a fair and equitable manner
protection definition
concerns those factors that buffer, moderate, and protect against those vulnerabilities
Macro Social Environment
configuration of communities, organizations, and groups within the latter that are products of social, economic, and political forces and social institutions
Social action definition
coordinated effort to advocate for change in a social institution to enhance people's well-being, or correct unfairness; can be used to remedy imbalances of power
Charles Loring Brace
director of Society for the Prevention of Pauperism - work with "dangerous classes" - ignorant, destitute, untrained, abandoned youth, 'feeders' of criminals, sources of domestic outbreaks and violations of the law
Intersectionality
idea that people are complex and can belong to multiple, overlapping diverse groups
Positive feedback
informational input a system receives about what it is doing correctly in order to maintain itself and thrive
Leader-directed approaches
involve greater structure and control imposed by the leader
Values definition
involve what you do and do not consider important; involve judgments and decisions about relative worth
Professions
means by which people specialize in carrying out tasks that were once performed by the family
Self-oriented roles
members seek their own satisfaction and control, often without concern for other group members' well-being
Negotiator
one who acts to settle disputes and/or resolve disagreements, acting on the behalf of one of the parties involved
Manager
one who assumes some level of administrative responsibility for a social services agency or other organizational system
Initiator
one who calls attention to an issue or problem
Analyst/Evaluator
one who determines the effectiveness of a program or agency for an organization or community
Educator
one who gives info and teaches skills to other systems
Facilitator
one who guides a group experience
Mobilizer
one who identifies and convenes community people and resources and makes them responsive to unmet community needs
Broker
one who links a system of any size (individuals, families, groups, organizations, or communities) with community resources and services
integrator/Coordinator
one who oversees the process of assembling different elements to form a cohesive whole, product, or process and subsequently watches over its functioning to make sure it's effective
Mediator
one who resolves arguments or disagreements among micro, mezzo, or macro systems by assuming a neutral role
Advocate
one who steps forward on the behalf of the client system in order to promote fair and equitable treatment or gain needed resources
Theoretical stripping
only using parts of a theory that will apply to the client
Generalist practice
orderly process to get things done that stresses professional core values
UA - Modern Profession of social work based on what
patronage, piety, poor law, philanthropy
Transgenderism
people who appearance and/or behaviors don't conform to traditional gender roles; may feel that their biologically assigned gender is a false/incomplete description of themselves
Worldview
people's perceptions of the world around them and how they fit into that world
Religion
people's spiritual beliefs concerning the origin, character, and reason for being, usually based on the existence of some higher power or powers, that often involves designated rituals and provides direction for what is considered moral/right
class/social class
people's status/ranking in society with respect to such standards as relative wealth, power, prestige, educational level, or family background
Hermaphrodite
person born with fully formed ovaries and fully formed testes - extremely rare condition
Policy advocacy
policy practice that aims to help powerless groups
Populations-at-risk
populations/groups of people who share some identifiable characteristic that places them at greater risk of social and economic deprivation and oppression than the general mainstream of society
Empowerment definition
process of increasing personal, interpersonal, or political power so that individuals can take action to improve their life situations social workers striking to improve people's: -Positive sense of self-worth and competence -Ability to influence the course of one's life -Capacity to work with others to control aspects of public life -Ability to access the mechanisms of public decision making
Oppression definition
putting extreme limitations and constraints on some person, group, or larger system; one segment of the population acts to prevent another segment from attaining access to resources; dominating group tries to inhibit the other group's freedom or look for ways to devalue them
Reagan/Bush Safety Net
school lunches, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, general assistance programs of states and counties - small compared to enabling state programs
Sexual orientation
sexual and romantic attraction to persons of one/both genders
Gaysocialphobia
some heterosexual gayphobic people exhibit increased levels of gayphobia when attracted mentally, socially, or emotionally to members of the same sex - irrational fear that they are gay
Age
some period of time during a person's lifespan. Age is often considered an important aspect of human diversity for older adults, as they experience ageism, discrimination based on preconceived notions about older people, regardless of their individual qualities and capabilities
Feedback
special form of input where a system receives info about that system's own performance
Privilege
special rights/benefits enjoyed because of elevated social, political, or economic status
Relationship-related approaches to leadership
stress the importance of interaction, communication, cooperation, and group members' satisfaction
Risk definition
stressful life events or adverse environmental conditions that increase the vulnerability of individuals or other systems
Social Environment
sum total of social and cultural conditions, circumstances, and human interactions that encompass human beings
Negative feedback
system can choose to correct any deviations or mistakes and return to a more homeostatic state
Ethnicity
the affiliation with a large group of people who have common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background (people of) color - a collective term that refers to the major groups of African, Latino, and Asian Americans, and First Nations People [Native Americans] who have been distinguished from the dominant society by color
Sex
the biological aspects of being either male/female, including anatomical and genetic traits
Race
the category of people who share a common descent and genetic origin that may be distinguished by certain physical traits or interests, habits, or characteristics
Gender
the cluster of psychological, behavioral, social, cultural, physical, and emotional traits commonly linked with being a male/female
Marginalization
the condition of having less power and being viewed as less important than others in the society because of belonging to some group or having some characteristic
Poverty
the condition of not having enough money to buy things that are considered necessary and desirable
Communication
the exchange of info; the heart of the group -Verbal - spoken or written words -Nonverbal - any means by which info is conveyed not using spoken or written words
Alienation
the feeling that you don't fit in or aren't treated as well as others in the mainstream of society
Organizational structure
the manner in which an organization systematically arranges workers into groups (or departments) and then coordinates these various groups' activities and interactions
Gender expression
the manner in which we express ourselves to others in ways related to gender that include both behavior and personality
Power
the potential ability to move people on a chosen course to produce an effect or achieve some goal Ways power can be used in groups: -Power over - dominance -Power to - empowerment -Power from - resistance
Confidentiality definition
the principle that workers should not share info provided by or about a client unless they have the client's explicit permission to do so
Gender-role socialization
the process of conveying what is considered appropriate behavior and perspectives for males and females in a particular culture
Planned change
the process of developing and implementing a strategy for improving or altering "some specified condition, pattern of behavior, or set of circumstances in an effort to improve social functioning or well-being" steps: engagement assessment planning intervention evaluation termination follow-up
Norms
unwritten, collective rules and expectations held by group members concerning what is appropriate behavior within the group Communicated in 3 ways: 1. A group leader simply and explicitly states them 2. Group members discuss them among themselves and verbally identify them 3. Incidents occurring in the group's history shape them Examples of how events can mold norms: -Leadership "rotation" - one group member tries to take control, so they rotate to make it fair -The importance of "timeliness" and punctuality - a group misses an important deadline, then never misses one again or the group starts meetings without late members -Expectations for "loyalty" - confidentiality (the ethical principle that workers should not share info provided by/about a client unless they have permission) -The pursuit of "fairness" - rotate who gets reward Norms are not static - often change over time
Social justice definition
upholding the condition that in a perfect world, all citizens would have equal rights, protection, opportunities, obligations, and social benefits regardless of their backgrounds and membership in diverse groups
Social Forces
values and beliefs held by people in the social environment that are strong enough to influence people's activities, including how government is structured or restricted
Systems Theory
very broad perspective that can be applied to living and nonliving configurations of entities
Social Services Definition
work that social work practitioners and other helping professionals perform in organizations for the benefit of clients