Includes bibliographical references (p. 490-520) and indexes.

Most chapters conclude with Looking Forward. I. SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE PERSPECTIVES. 1. Generalist Social Work Practice. Social Work Values and Purpose. Generalist Social Work. Social Work Functions and Roles. 2. The Ecosystems Perspective. The Knowledge Base of Generalist Practice. Key Perspectives for Empowering Practice. The Ecosystems Perspective. Human Systems. Ecosystems: A Conceptual Framework for Practice. 3. Values and Multicultural Competence. Frames of Reference. Professional Values and Practice Principles. Personal Values and Resources. Multicultural Competence. A Generalist View of Cultural Competence. 4. Strengths and Empowerment. Strengths Perspective. Empowerment. Empowerment-Based Practice. 5. An Empowering Approach to Generalist Practice. Elements of an Empowering Generalist Approach. Phases and Processes of Empowering Practice. Processes in Action: Practice Examples. Maintaining Flexibility in Application. II. THE DIALOGUE PHASE: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND DESCRIBING SITUATIONS. 6. Forming Partnerships. Collaboration and Partnership. Making Initial Contacts. Qualities of Professional Partnerships. Constructing Empowering Relationships. Respecting Confidentiality. 7. Articulating Situations. Empowering Dialogue. Proactive Responding. Exchanging Information. Assessing the Client's Perspective. Responding to Thoughts. Responding to Feelings. Special Issues in Responding. Responding to Larger Client Systems. 8. Defining Directions. Transforming Challenges into Directions. Considering Client Motivation. Collaborating with Clients Who Resist. Cooperating with Mandated Clients. Taking Priority Actions. III. THE DISCOVERY PHASE: ASSESSING RESOURCES AND PLANNING CHANGE. 9. Identifying Strengths. Infusing a Strengths Perspective. Highlighting Strengths in General Functioning. Solution-Focused Dialogue. Recognizing Culture.

The Fourth Edition of this innovative text continues to emphasize a generalist, empowerment-oriented approach, along with practice strategies and techniques for working toward individual client and social change. The Fourth Edition updates the contemporary themes of social work practice into an integrated practice process. New resources extend the research base, add breadth and depth, and position this book as a defining work for articulating an empowerment-based method of social work practice.