Generalist Practice and Introductory TheoryIntroductionSlide 3IntroductionNeed for a Theoretical FrameworkSlide 6FrameworkSlide 8Introductory Inner and Outer Forces ParadigmSlide 10Life Cycle and the Inner and Outer Forces ModelEight Stages of the Life CycleSocial FunctioningLevels of Social FunctioningSlide 15A Base for Generalist Social Work PracticeGeneralist Practice and Generalist Practice and Introductory TheoryIntroductory TheoryChapter 4Chapter 4IntroductionIntroductionThe profession was actually founded The profession was actually founded on a generalist premise that social on a generalist premise that social workers needed to consider and work workers needed to consider and work with both the individual and the with both the individual and the environment as they attempted to environment as they attempted to improve the life quality and improve the life quality and functioning of individuals, groups, functioning of individuals, groups, and communities.and communities.IntroductionIntroductionWhen a person comes into a social worker’s When a person comes into a social worker’s office requesting help or when the social worker office requesting help or when the social worker visits an individual in a homeless shelter, the visits an individual in a homeless shelter, the purpose of the meeting is to enhance the purpose of the meeting is to enhance the person’s well-being or social functioning.person’s well-being or social functioning.When the social worker meets with a state When the social worker meets with a state legislative committee or a local school board, legislative committee or a local school board, the professional purpose is to help them design the professional purpose is to help them design programs that will alleviate poverty and programs that will alleviate poverty and oppression and meet the basic human needs.oppression and meet the basic human needs.Introduction Introduction Social workers don’t pick and choose what Social workers don’t pick and choose what problems and issues they would like to problems and issues they would like to address. They see a problem, even a very address. They see a problem, even a very difficult problem, and try to help people difficult problem, and try to help people solve it. They must prepare themselves to solve it. They must prepare themselves to help people with individualized personal help people with individualized personal problems on the one hand and very broad problems on the one hand and very broad problems that affect whole organizations problems that affect whole organizations and communities on the other. (Kirst-and communities on the other. (Kirst-Ashman and Hull)Ashman and Hull)Need for a Theoretical Need for a Theoretical FrameworkFrameworkCSWE has required that schools teach a series CSWE has required that schools teach a series of classes under the title of Human Behavior of classes under the title of Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE).and the Social Environment (HBSE).HBSE sequence has been a basic mechanism HBSE sequence has been a basic mechanism to help the professional focus on the to help the professional focus on the perspective of the person and the perspective of the person and the environment with a proper understanding of environment with a proper understanding of the important interaction that goes on the important interaction that goes on between people and the context in which they between people and the context in which they live.live.Need for a Theoretical Need for a Theoretical FrameworkFrameworkDual perspective: assists the social Dual perspective: assists the social worker to incorporate theories into worker to incorporate theories into practice that explain how individuals grow practice that explain how individuals grow and develop socially, biologically, and develop socially, biologically, emotionally, and spiritually.emotionally, and spiritually.The dual perspective has encouraged an The dual perspective has encouraged an understanding of social structures, understanding of social structures, systems, and cultural norms that play systems, and cultural norms that play such an important part in the lives of all such an important part in the lives of all people.people.Framework Framework In the early days of social work the interactive In the early days of social work the interactive perspective was evidenced in the Charity perspective was evidenced in the Charity Organization Societies (COS) and the Organization Societies (COS) and the Settlement House Movement (SHM).Settlement House Movement (SHM).The COS focused on changing the individual, The COS focused on changing the individual, while the SHM chose to change social systems.while the SHM chose to change social systems.An important shift occurred when social work An important shift occurred when social work adopted Freud’s psychodynamic model placing adopted Freud’s psychodynamic model placing a greater emphasis on the individual (medical a greater emphasis on the individual (medical model approach).model approach).Framework Framework Since the l970’s the profession has added the Since the l970’s the profession has added the systems and ecological models as a way of systems and ecological models as a way of again stressing the importance of balancing the again stressing the importance of balancing the focus of social work practice between the focus of social work practice between the “person” and the “environment”.“person” and the “environment”.Systems theories addresses the impact that Systems theories addresses the impact that organizations, policies, communities, and groups organizations, policies, communities, and groups have on individuals.have on individuals.Ecological theory is a subset of systems theory Ecological theory is a subset of systems theory that makes some important contributions to that makes some important contributions to social work, (micro, mezzo, macro perspectives).social work, (micro, mezzo, macro perspectives).Introductory Inner and Outer Introductory Inner and Outer Forces ParadigmForces ParadigmThe inner and outer forces paradigm attempts The inner and outer forces paradigm attempts to explain why people seem to act at times in to explain why people seem to act at times in strange and unpredictable ways.strange and unpredictable ways.The basic assumption in the inner and outer The basic assumption in the