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Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.

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Print Price: $101.99

Format:
Paperback
616 pp.
235 mm x 156 mm

ISBN-13:
9780197666265

Copyright Year:
2024

Imprint: OUP US


An Introduction to Family Social Work

Fifth Edition

Donald Collins, Catheleen Jordan, Heather Coleman, Tara Collins and David Cory

An Introduction to Family Social Work celebrates social work's proud history as the first professional group to work with families. The #1 bestselling book on the market for family practice, this book is written for BSW and MSW students who are employed in agencies that do not offer traditional office-based family therapy. Many beginning and community-based social workers are employed in agencies that provide support, teaching, and concrete services to families experiencing a wide spectrum of needs and problems. These services are provided in the community and client's home, not in the office. Such settings include child welfare, women's shelters, family support, mental health, schools, and prisons.

An Introduction to Family Social Work provides an overview of initial work with families and multiple generations from a generalist perspective. This book draws from the rich theoretical base of family therapy literature and translates working with families into practical, hands-on, social work practice. It also incorporates a family-in-environment approach, so that social workers can tap into social environmental resources as needed.

Readership : Junior/Senior or 2nd year MSW

Reviews

  • "A major strength of this book is the integration of family diversity throughout the text which provides students with the opportunity to see inclusion in action and not the 'othering' of diversity when it is isolated to a 'special topic' chapter. This is a very strong introductory text to family social work."--Abigale Sprakes, Lakehead University
  • "Practical and applicable to entry-level education and professional settings, the text is appropriate for any entry-level human service professional. Content is relevant, practical, and reflective of 'real world' practice experiences."--Misti Silver, Mayland Community College
  • "Strengths and diversity woven through text [...] Examples and case situations, questions for students to ponder! [...] Great text to introduce students and other professionals to generalist approach and understanding of families! A house starts with foundation and this text is a start to empower the reader to build a home!"
    - Leanne Murray, Professor of Community Services at Sault College
  • "I am eagerly awaiting the new edition. I have looked at other texts and keep coming back to this one. [...] I really like this text. It is the foundation of the course. I look forward to the new edition. I have essentially everything I need in one text. [EL] The only limitation is being somewhat out of date. [EL] Complete, easy to read, practical, related to our undergraduate students. [...] I am ready to adopt for this summer!"
    - Jeanette Hoover, Clinical Instructor of Social Work at University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  • "Sources need to be updated throughout. [...] Add the content for the 5th edition as proposed. Everything that the authors propose are important and should be included in the next edition which will make the textbook more relatable and engaging to social work students. I wish the 5th edition was published already with the proposed changes so that I could use it the next term when I teach the course, Social Work with Families. The textbook provides the solid foundational knowledge, skills and values that students need to learn about when practicing as a family social worker. I look forward to the day I can adopt the 5th edition textbook!"
    - Kathryn Bonach, BSW Program Director at Carlow University

Contents
Dedication Preface
About the Authors
1. The Field of Family Social Work
2. What is Family?
3. Family Systems
4. Family Development and the Life Cycle
5. Family Strenghts and Resilience
6. Practical Aspects of Family Social Work
7. The Beginning Phase
8. Qualitative Family Assessment
9. Quantitative Assessment
10. Family Systems Interventions
11. The Intervention Phase
12. Interventions at the Child and Parental Levels
13. Interventions with Couples and Gender-Sensitive Intervention
14. The Termination Phase

There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.

Donald Collins is Professor Emeritus of Social Work at University of Calgary.

Catheleen Jordan is Professor Emerita of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Heather Coleman is Professor Emerita of Social Work at University of Calgary.

Tara Collins is an instructor of social work at University of Calgary.

David Cory is a licensed clinical social worker, former instructor of social work, and former president of the Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards, Inc.

Social Work Practice with Families - Mary Patricia Van Hook
Child and Family Practice - Shelley Cohen Konrad
Social Work with Families - Robert Constable and Daniel Lee

Special Features

  • The #1 bestselling book on the market for family practice
  • Offers a clear differentiation between family social work and family therapy
  • Diversity, inclusion, and anti-oppressive practice is woven throughout the text, including an emphasis on the importance of language and cultural humility
  • Takes a strengths perspective and resiliency approach
  • Robust pedagogical program
  • Incorporates the competencies identified in the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) articulated by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)