Introduction to Social Work Practice

Herschel Knapp, PhD, MSSW has more than 20 years of experience as a health science researcher; he has provided project management for innovative implementations designed to improve the quality of patient care throughout the Veterans Health Administration via multisite, health science implementations. In addition to full-time work at the VA, he teaches masters-level courses at the University of Southern California; he has also taught at the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Knapp has served as the lead statistician on a longitudinal cancer research project and managed the program evaluation metrics for a multisite, non-profit children's center. His clinical work includes emergency/trauma therapy in hospital settings. The author of numerous articles in peer-reviewed health science journals, he is also the author of Introductory Statistics Using SPSS (SAGE, 2013), Therapeutic Communication: Developing Professional Skills, Second Edition (SAGE, 2014) and Introduction to Social Work Practice: A Practical Workbook (SAGE, 2010). Dr. Knapp is currently involved in developing and implementing innovative telehealth systems, utilizing videoconferencing technology to facilitate optimal healthcare service delivery to remote patients, and to coordinate specialty consultations among healthcare providers including interventions to diagnose and treat people with HIV and hepatitis, with special outreach to the homeless.

Preface Overview of Exercises PART I: DEFINING THE PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP 1. What Does a Social Worker Do... and Not Do? Social Work Diversity Social/Emotional Factors Professionalism Self-Disclosure Exercises PART II: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING 2. Fundamentals of Communication Principles Skills Emotional Aspects Exercises PART III: THE PROCESS 3. Step I - Assessment: Where Is the Client Now? Before Meeting the Client After Meeting the Client Exercises 4. Step II - Goal: Where Does the Client Want to Be? Rationale for Setting a Goal Problems Versus Goals Intrinsic Versus Extrinsic Goals Fundamental Attributes of a Goal: SMART Supplemental Attributes of a Goal Additional Techniques for Identifying a Goal Simplification Exercises 5. Step III - Objectives: How Does the Client Get From Here to There? Definitions Objectives in Detail: The Strategic Plan Specifying Resources: Brainstorming Demonstrated Alternate Sources for Assembling Strategies Serial and Parallel Planning Client Perspective Exercises 6. Step IV - Activation: Moving From Intention to Implementation Five Stages of Change Laying the Groundwork for Change Social Support Homework Evaluation Identifying and Resolving Problems in Activation Exercises 7. Step V - Termination: Continuing the Mission Independently What Is Termination? When Does Termination Happen? How Does Termination Happen? Termination Need Not Be Forever Types of Termination Progressive Termination Mutual Emotional Aspects of Termination Consolidating Gains Posttermination Planning Exercises Appendix A. Sample Mental Status Exam (MSE) Appendix B. Diagnostic Terminology Appendix C. Documentation, Symbols, and Abbreviations References Index About the Author