Assessment of Families
Volume 3. Social Work Practice
II. Assessment and Intervention with Specific Populations
Robyn Munford,
Jackie Sanders,
Robyn Munford
Massey University, School of Health and Social Services, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorJackie Sanders
Massey University, School of Health and Social Services, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorRobyn Munford,
Jackie Sanders,
Robyn Munford
Massey University, School of Health and Social Services, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorJackie Sanders
Massey University, School of Health and Social Services, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This chapter is concerned with the assessment of families. The discussion presents a range of perspectives and explores key principles informing assessment in social work practice. The chapter explores how assessment is an integral part of good social work practice but is also a contested domain within practice and is constructed within diverse perspectives and contexts. Historical perspectives are discussed and the current knowledge about the assessment of families is presented within a framework that highlights the debates about what constitutes evidence and the processes informing decisions about how this evidence should be used in work with families. The chapter explores the practice of assessment at a number of levels. These include assessment at the micro level and in direct practice with families where social workers establish relationships with clients in order to discover the meaning of family life and to build a strong foundation for the change process. The discussion on the mezzo level includes exploration of assessment processes associated with organizations and communities and the discussion on the macro level moves to a wider focus on strategies for assessing how policy development and implementation can construct family life.
References
- Allan, J., Pease, B., & Briskman, L. (2003). Critical social work: An introduction to theories and practice. Sydney, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
- Beilharz, L. (2002). Building community: The shared action experience. Bendigo, Australia: St. Luke's Innovative Resources.
- Clegg, S. (2005). Evidence-based practice in educational research: A critical realist critique of systematic review. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 26(3), 415–428.
- Cooper, B. (2001). Constructivism in social work: Towards a participative practice viability. British Journal of Social Work, 31, 721–737.
- Corcoran, J. (2005). Building strengths and skills: A collaborative approach to working with clients. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Corwin, M. D. (2006). Culturally competent community-based clinical practice: A critical review. In A. Lightburn & P. Sessions (Eds.), Handbook of community-based clinical practice (pp. 99–110). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Dawson, K., & Berry, M. (2002). Engaging families in child welfare services: An evidence-based approach to best practice. Child Welfare League of America, 81(2), 293–317.
- Dei, G. J. S., Hall, B. L., & Rosenberg, D. G. (2000). Indigenous knowledges in global contexts: Multiple readings of our world. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: University of Toronto Press.
- Dolan, P., Canavan, J., & Pinkerton, J. (2006). Family support as reflective practice. London: Jessica Kingsley.
- Dominelli, L. (1996). Deprofessionalising social work: Anti-oppressive practice, competences, and postmodernism. British Journal of Social Work, 26, 153–175.
-
Dominelli, L.
(1998).
Anti-oppressive practice in context. In
R. Adams,
L. Dominelli, &
M. Payne (Eds.),
Social work: Themes, issues, and critical debates
(pp. 3–22).
Houndmills, England:
Macmillan.
10.1007/978-1-349-14400-6_1 Google Scholar
- Durie, M. (1995). Whaiora, maori health development. Auckland, New Zealand: Oxford University Press.
- Egan, G. (2002). The skilled helper: A problem-management and opportunity-development approach to helping. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
-
Ellis, K., &
Dean, H.
(2000).
Social policy and the body: Transitions in corporeal discourse.
Houndmills, England:
Macmillan.
10.1057/9780230377530 Google Scholar
- Ferguson, P., & O'Brien, P. (2005). From giving service to being of service. In P. O'Brien & M. Sullivan (Eds.), Allies in emancipation: Shifting from providing service to being of support (pp. 3–18). Melbourne, Australia: Thomson.
- Finn, J. L., & Jacobson, M. (2003). Just practice: Steps toward a new social work paradigm. Journal of Social Work Education, 39(1), 57–78.
- Fook, J. (2002). Social work: Critical theory and practice. London: Sage.
-
Fook, J.
(2003).
Critical social work: The current issues.
Qualitative Social Work,
2(2),
123–130.
10.1177/1473325003002002001 Google Scholar
- Gilligan, R. (2000). Family support: Issues and prospects. In J. Canavan, P. Dolan, & J. Pinkerton (Eds.), Family support: Direction from diversity (pp. 13–34). London: Jessica Kingsley.
-
Gilligan, R.
(2004).
Promoting resilience in child and family social work: Issues for social work practice.
Social Work Education,
23(1),
93–104.
10.1080/0261547032000175728 Google Scholar
- Healy, K. (2000). Social work practices: Contemporary perspectives on change. London: Sage.
- Healy, K. (2005). Social work theories in context: Creating frameworks for practice. New York: Macmillan.
- Holland, S. (2004). Child and family assessment in social work practice. London: Sage.
- Hughson, A. (2003). Evaluation research in social programmes: The centrality of families. In R. Munford & J. Sanders (Eds.), Making a difference in families: Research that creates change (pp. 171–192). Sydney, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
- Ife, J. (1997). Rethinking social work: Towards critical practice. Melbourne, Australia: Longman.
-
Ife, J.
(2001).
Human rights and social work: Towards rights-based practice.
Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
10.1017/CBO9781139164689 Google Scholar
- Johnson, L. C., & Yanca, S. J. (2004). Social work practice: A generalist approach. Boston: Pearson.
- Kretzman, J., & McKnight, J. (1997). A guide to capacity inventories: Mobilizing the community skills of local residents. Chicago: ACTA Publications.
- Lightburn, A., & Sessions, P. (2006). Community-based clinical practice: Re-creating the culture of care. In A. Lightburn & P. Sessions (Eds.), Handbook of community-based clinical practice (pp. 19–35). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Margolin, L. (1997). Under the cover of kindness. Charolottesville: University Press of Virginia.
- Masten, A., & Coatsworth, D. (1998). The development of competence in favourable and unfavourable environments: Lessons from research on successful children. American Psychologist, 53(20), 205–220.
- Mataira, P. J. (2002). Treaty partnering: Establishment of a charter for Maori community based programmes. Te Komako, Social Work Review, 14(2), 5–7.
-
McCartt Hess, P.,
McGowan, B. G., &
Botsko, M.
(2003).
Nurturing the one, supporting the many: The Center for Family Life in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
New York:
Columbia University Press.
10.7312/hess11594 Google Scholar
-
McNeill, F.
(2001).
Developing effectiveness: Frontline perspectives.
Social Work Education,
20(6),
671–687.
10.1080/02615470120089843 Google Scholar
- Milner, J., & O'Byrne, P. (2002). Assessment in social work. London: Macmillan.
- Morison Dore, M. (1993, November). Family preservation and poor families: When “homebuilding” is not enough. Families in Society, 545–556.
- Munford, R., & Sanders, J. (1999). Supporting families. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Dunmore Press.
- Munford, R., & Sanders, J. (2003). Making a difference in families: Research that creates change. Sydney, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
- Munford, R., & Sanders, J. (2005). Working with families: Strengths-based approaches. In M. Nash, R. Munford, & K. O'Donoghue (Eds.), Social work theories in action (pp. 158–173). London: Jessica Kingsley.
- Munford, R., & Sanders, J. (with Andrew, A., Butler, P., Kaipuke, R., & Ruwhiu, L.). (2001). Aotearoa/New Zealand: Working differently with communities and families. In C. Warren-Adamson (Ed.), Family centres and their international role in social action (pp. 146–162). Aldershot, England: Ashgate.
- Munford, R., & Walsh-Tapiata, W. (2000). Strategies for change: Community development in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Massey University.
- Munford, R., & Walsh-Tapiata, W. (2005). Community development: Principles into practice. In M. Nash, R. Munford, & K. O'Donoghue (Eds.), Social work theories in action (pp. 97–112). London: Jessica Kingsley.
- Nash, M. (2005). Responding to settlement needs: Migrants and refugees and community development. In M. Nash, R. Munford, & K. O'Donoghue (Eds.), Social work theories in action (pp. 140–154). London: Jessica Kingsley.
-
Norman, E.
(2000).
Resiliency enhancement: Putting the strengths perspective into social work practice.
New York:
Columbia University Press.
10.7312/norm11800 Google Scholar
- O'Hare, T. (2005). Evidence-based practices for social workers: An interdisciplinary approach. Chicago: Lyceum Books.
- O'Neil, D. (2003). Clients as researchers: The benefits of strengths-based research. In R. Munford & J. Sanders (Eds.), Making a difference in families: Research that creates change (pp. 113–129). Sydney, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
- Parton, N. (2000). Preface. In P. Stepney & D. Ford (Eds.), Social work models, methods and theories (pp. v–vi). Dorset, England: Russell House.
-
Parton, N., &
O'Byrne, P.
(2000).
Constructive social work: Towards a new practice.
Houndmills, England:
Palgrave.
10.5040/9781350363397 Google Scholar
- Roberts, A. R., & Yeager, K. R. (2006). Foundations of evidence-based social work practice. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Roberts, R. W., & Nee, R. H. (1970). Theories of social casework. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Saleebey, D. (2002). The strengths perspective in social work practice. White Plains, NY: Longman.
- Saleebey, D. (2006). A paradigm shift in developmental perspectives? The self in context. In A. Lightburn & P. Sessions (Eds.), Handbook of community-based clinical practice (pp. 3–18). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Sanders, J., & Munford, R. (2001). Heart work and hard mahi: A report on the first 18 months of the Highbury Whanau Resource Centre's Alternative Education Programme. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Massey University.
- Sanders, J., & Munford, R. (2003). Strengthening practice through research: Research in organizations. In R. Munford & J. Sanders (Eds.), Making a difference in families: Research that creates change (pp. 151–170). Sydney, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
- Sessions, P., & Lightburn, A. (2006). What is community-based clinical practice? Traditions and transformations. In A. Lightburn & P. Sessions (Eds.), Handbook of community-based clinical practice (pp. 3–18). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Stepney, P., & Ford, D. (2000). Social work models, methods and theories. Dorset, England: Russell House.
- Sullivan, M., & Munford, R. (2005). Disability and support: The interface between disability theory and support: An individual challenge. In P. O'Brien & M. Sullivan (Eds.), Allies in emancipation: Shifting from providing service to being of support (pp. 19–34). Melbourne, Australia: Thomson.
- Thompson, N. (2002). Building the future: Social work with children, young people and their families. Dorset, England: Russell House.
- Waldegrave, C. (1990). Just therapy. Dulwich Center Newsletter, 1, 6–47.
- Warren-Adamson, C., & Lightburn, A. (2006). Developing a community-based model for integrated family center practice. In A. Lightburn & P. Sessions (Eds.), Handbook of community-based clinical practice (pp. 261–284). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Zunz, S. J., & Chernesky, R. H. (2000). The workplace as a protective environment: Management strategies. In E. Norman (Ed.), Resiliency enhancement: Putting the strengths perspective into social work practice (pp. 157–176). New York: Columbia University Press.
Citing Literature
Comprehensive Handbook of Social Work and Social Welfare
Browse other articles of this reference work:
