Urban Social Work An Introduction to Policy and Practice in the Cities

by Phillips, Norma Kolko; Straussner, Shulamith Lala

• ISBN13: 9780205290192
• ISBN10: 0205290191
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-11-12
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This book introduces readers to the profession of social work as it is practiced in the cities.The book utilizes a social systems perspective and helps readers to recognize the linkages between social welfare policy and social work practice within the context of urban social problems. Systems theory is important because it stresses direct practice, the role of the agency and social action. The book includes chapters on the cities and the urban origins of social work; the functions and structure of social work organizations; social work values and ethics; social work skills and diversity in social work.For anyone who is interested in an introduction to urban social work.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
SECTION I Understanding Social Work and Social Services in the Cities	1	(52)
Introduction	1	(2)
The Profession of Social Work	3	(17)
What Social Workers Do	4	(1)
The Purpose of Social Work	5	(1)
Characteristics of Professions	6	(1)
An Introduction to Some Special Characteristics of the Social Work Profession	7	(2)
An Interdisciplinary Knowledge Base: The Foundation of Social Work Knowledge	7	(1)
Focus on the Client-Worker Relationship: A Key Social Work Skill	7	(1)
Emphasis on Client Self-Determination: A Basic Social Work Value	8	(1)
Systems Theory and Its Application to Social Work	9	(3)
Three Components of Social Work: Client, Agency, and Policy Practice	9	(3)
The Interrelatedness of Client, Agency, and Policy Practice	12	(1)
Education for the Profession	12	(4)
Baccalaureate and Master's Social Work Programs	13	(1)
The Social Work Curriculum	14	(1)
Fieldwork	14	(1)
The MSW with Advanced Standing	15	(1)
Post-Master's Programs for Social Workers	15	(1)
Professional Credentials: Certification and Licensing	16	(1)
Professional Organizations	16	(1)
Opportunities for Employment	17	(1)
Choosing Social Work as a Career	18	(1)
Conclusion	18	(1)
References	19	(1)
Human Behavior in the Urban Environment---The Response of Social Work	20	(17)
Changes in Urban Populations	21	(1)
A Psychosocial Approach to Understanding Urban Communities	22	(2)
The Impact of City Life	23	(1)
Factors Contributing to the Pervasiveness and High Visibility of Social Problems in Urban Areas	24	(5)
The High Frequency of Occurrence of Social Problems	25	(1)
Widespread Discrimination and Institutional Oppression	26	(1)
Migration of People Unprepared for Urban Life	27	(1)
Inadequate Resources or Lack of Willingness to Address Social Problems	28	(1)
High Levels of Psychological Stress	28	(1)
Social Work Practice in the Cities	29	(2)
Issues Related to Multiculturalism	30	(1)
Fields of Practice	31	(4)
Fields of Practice Commonly Found in Urban Areas	32	(2)
Overlapping Fields of Practice	34	(1)
The Need for Comprehensive and Coordinated Social Services	34	(1)
Conclusion	35	(1)
References	35	(2)
From Social Welfare to Social Services: Functions and Structure	37	(16)
What Is Social Welfare?	38	(1)
Various Forms of Welfare	38	(4)
Fiscal Welfare	38	(2)
Occupational Welfare	40	(1)
Social Welfare	40	(1)
Other Forms of Government Welfare	41	(1)
Values and Functions of Social Welfare	42	(1)
The Value of Humanitarianism---Helping People in Need	42	(1)
The Value of Equality of Opportunity---Development of Programs for Oppressed Groups	42	(1)
The Structure of Social Services	43	(1)
Public Sector Benefits and Programs	43	(8)
The Private Sector	48	(3)
Social Services under Other Auspices	51	(1)
Conclusion	51	(2)
References	52	(1)
SECTION II Overview of the Development of Urban Social Welfare	53	(76)
Introduction	53	(2)
Origins of the Social Welfare System in England and the American Colonies	55	(17)
The Beginnings of Industrialization and the Growth of Cities in England	56	(2)
Breakdown of the Feudal System in England	56	(1)
Impact of Industrialization and the Enclosure Movement	56	(1)
Labor Shortages in the Cities Following the Bubonic Plague	57	(1)
Social and Economic Insecurity in England	58	(2)
Social Changes: The Relocation of Soldiers Returning from War	58	(1)
Economic Changes: The Introduction of a Wage-Based Economy	58	(1)
Religious Changes: The Loss of Charitable Aid through the Catholic Church	58	(1)
Demographic Changes: The Rise of Cities	59	(1)
New Problems Need New Solutions: Government Involvement with the Economic and Social Needs of People	60	(4)
The Statute of Laborers of 1349	61	(1)
The Act of 1531 and the Law of 1536	61	(1)
The English Poor Law of 1601	62	(1)
Amendment to the Poor Law: The Law of Settlement and Removal of 1662	63	(1)
The American Colonies and the Need for a Program of Public Social Welfare	64	(1)
The Need for Economic Assistance in the Colonies	64	(1)
The Growth of Cities and Their Social Problems	64	(1)
Features of the Colonial Poor Laws	65	(1)
Implementation of the Colonial Poor Laws	66	(1)
Issues of Social Justice and Oppression in Colonial America	67	(3)
Issues of Social Justice	67	(1)
Oppressed Population Groups	68	(2)
Conclusion	70	(1)
References	71	(1)
The Urban Roots of Social Welfare and Social Work in the United States	72	(19)
Immigration, Migration, Industrialization, and Urbanization: Driving Forces of the 1800s	73	(1)
The Growing Nation	73	(1)
Changes in Attitudes and Care of the Poor during the Pre-Civil War Period	74	(3)
The Movement from Local to Centralized Responsibility for the Poor	74	(1)
The Shift from Outdoor Relief to Indoor Relief	75	(1)
Social Reform during the PreCivil War Period: The Example of Dorothea Lynde Dix and Her Work for the Mentally Ill	75	(2)
Social Reform during the Civil War Period and Reconstruction	77	(2)
The Freedmen's Bureau	78	(1)
The Urban Roots of Voluntary Social Agencies: Responding to the Social Problems of the Cities	79	(8)
The Association for Improving the Conditions of the Poor	80	(1)
Charity Organization Societies	80	(2)
The Children's Aid Society	82	(1)
The Settlement House Movement	83	(3)
The Growth of Sectarian Agencies	86	(1)
Development of Social Work as a Profession	87	(2)
The Social Casework Approach---Helping Individuals and Families	87	(1)
The Social Reform Approach---Development of Social Group Work and Community Organization	88	(1)
Beginnings of Professional Education for Social Workers	88	(1)
Conclusion	89	(1)
References	89	(2)
The Development of the Public Sector	91	(15)
Social Welfare and the Great Depression	92	(3)
The Great Depression: Federal Involvement and the Public Sector of Social Welfare	92	(1)
Federal Work and Relief Programs of the New Deal	93	(1)
The Social Security Act of 1935	94	(1)
Social Work during the Great Depression	95	(1)
The Slow Movement toward Equality during the 1930s and 1940s	95	(2)
The Crises of the Cities Following World War II	97	(1)
Expansion of Federal Involvement with Social Welfare through the 1960s	98	(2)
Social Work during the 1960s	100	(1)
Important Social Legislation of the 1970s	100	(2)
Cutting Back: Retreat from Federal Involvement with Social Welfare during the Reagan and Bush Administrations	102	(2)
Conclusion	104	(1)
References	105	(1)
The Policy-Practice Connection	106	(23)
Urban Poverty and the Impact of Welfare Reform	107	(6)
Unemployment among the Poor in the Cities	107	(1)
The Current Policy Approach to Poverty: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)	108	(2)
Policy Practice: Advocacy for Policy Change	110	(1)
Agency Practice and the Provision of Services to the Poor	111	(1)
Client Practice with People Facing Poverty: The Case of Luba and Vadim	111	(2)
Substance Abuse: Contradictory and Confusing Policies	113	(7)
Substance Abuse in the Cities	114	(1)
Impact of Substance Abuse on Families	114	(2)
Policy Practice and Substance Abuse	116	(2)
Agency Practice: Lack of Availability of Treatment and Fragmentation of the Service Delivery System	118	(1)
Client Practice with Substance Abusing Clients: The Case of John	118	(2)
Health Care: The Lack of a Comprehensive National Policy	120	(7)
Policy Practice and Health Care	121	(4)
Agency Practice and Health Care Services	125	(1)
Client Practice and the Impact of Policies: The Case of Melissa	125	(2)
Conclusion	127	(1)
References	128	(1)
SECTION III Social Work Practice in the Cities	129	(96)
Introduction	129	(2)
Values and Ethics in Social Work Practice	131	(17)
Understanding Values	132	(2)
Values of Different Systems	132	(2)
Understanding Ethics	134	(6)
The Social Work Code of Ethics	135	(5)
Client Self-Determination and Confidentiality	140	(4)
Client Self-Determination	140	(1)
Privacy and Confidentiality	141	(3)
Value Conflicts and Ethical Dilemmas in Client, Agency, and Policy Practice	144	(3)
Value Conflicts and Ethical Dilemmas in Client Practice	144	(1)
Value Conflicts and Ethical Dilemmas in Agency Practice	145	(1)
Value Conflicts and Ethical Dilemmas in Policy Practice	146	(1)
Conclusion	147	(1)
References	147	(1)
Knowledge for Client, Agency, and Policy Practice	148	(27)
Application of the Systems Perspective to Social Work	149	(1)
``Open'' and ``Closed'' Systems	150	(1)
Knowledge for Client Practice: Human Behavior in the Social Environment	150	(9)
Biopsychosocial Understanding of Human Behavior	151	(8)
Knowledge for Client Practice: Assessment and Intervention	159	(6)
Assessment and Interventions with Individuals	160	(1)
Assessment and Interventions with Families	160	(4)
Assessment and Interventions with Groups	164	(1)
Assessment and Interventions with Communities	164	(1)
Knowledge for Agency Practice	165	(2)
Understanding the Nature of Social Agencies	166	(1)
Understanding Life Cycles Stages of Organizations	166	(1)
Application of Crisis Theory to Agency Practice	167	(1)
Knowledge for Policy Practice	167	(2)
Policy Analysis and Policy Changes	168	(1)
Political Social Work	169	(1)
Knowledge of Research and Evaluation for Social Work Practice	169	(3)
Quantitative Research	170	(1)
Qualitative Research	171	(1)
Protection of Human Subjects	172	(1)
Conclusion	172	(1)
References	173	(2)
Knowledge for Social Work Practice: Diversity of Urban Populations	175	(23)
Racial, Ethnic, Cultural, and Religious Diversity of Urban Communities	176	(4)
The Meanings of Race, Culture, and Ethnicity	176	(3)
Religious Diversity	179	(1)
Diversity among Immigrants in Urban Communities	180	(5)
Migration Status	180	(4)
Diversity of Language and Communication Styles	184	(1)
Discrimination Based on Race, Ethnicity, Culture, and Religion	185	(1)
The Impact of Discrimination on Immigrants	185	(1)
Diversity of Socioeconomic Status in Urban Communities	186	(1)
Diversity of Families	186	(2)
The Changing Role of Grandparents	187	(1)
Diversity of Gender Roles	188	(2)
Women and Men as Caregivers	188	(1)
Discrimination Based on Gender	188	(2)
Sexual Diversity: Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgendered Individuals in Urban Communities	190	(2)
Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation	190	(2)
Diversity of Mental and Physical Abilities	192	(2)
Developmental Disabilities	192	(1)
Mental Disorders	193	(1)
Stigma and Discrimination Due to Disability	194	(1)
The Need for Social Justice and Client Empowerment	194	(1)
Conclusion	195	(1)
References	196	(2)
Skills for Social Work Practice	198	(27)
Skills for Client Practice	199	(13)
Establishing a Professional Relationship	199	(2)
Social Work Roles and Related Skills	201	(3)
Skills of Observation, Communication, and Interviewing	204	(4)
Skills of Helping during the Different Phases of Intervention	208	(2)
Working with Mandated Clients	210	(1)
Issues Related to Self-Disclosure	210	(2)
Roles and Skills for Agency Practice	212	(4)
Understanding Organizational Power Structure	212	(4)
Roles and Skills for Policy Practice	216	(2)
Policy Analyst	216	(1)
Policy Developer	216	(1)
Policy Advocate	216	(1)
Lobbyist	216	(1)
Political Coalition Builder	217	(1)
Expert Witness	217	(1)
Legislative Aide/Advisor	217	(1)
Social Warner	217	(1)
Politician	217	(1)
Skills for Functioning as Part of Professional Teams and Coalitions	218	(1)
Participating in Teams	218	(1)
Participating in Coalitions	219	(1)
Skills in Self-Assessment and Service Evaluation	219	(1)
Conclusion	220	(1)
References	220	(2)
Epilogue	222	(3)
Appendix I Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers	225	(20)
Appendix II Community Building: Community Service Society of New York	245	(4)
Name Index	249	(1)
Subject Index	250	(2)
Index of Cases	252