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Skill Development for Generalist Practice
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Skill Development for Generalist Practice
Exercises for Real-World Application



March 2019 | 248 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

Skill Development for Generalist Practice offers an array of competency-building exercises addressing foundational social work knowledge as well as skills and values across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice. Designed to be actively used during class time, exercises embrace the diverse range of clients encountered by social workers in various practice settings and reflect a commitment to serving those who are the most vulnerable, at risk, disadvantaged, and marginalized from society.

 
Introduction for Students
 
Chapter 1: Introductory Exercises
Exercise 1.1: Defining Generalist Social Work Practice

 
Exercise 1.2: Why pursue social work?

 
Exercise 1.3: What will you bring to the class?

 
 
Chapter 2: The Purpose and Nature of Generalist Social Work Practice
Definition of Generalist Social Work Practice

 
Social Work: Key Concepts and Definitions

 
Exercise 2.1: Ways of Helping

 
The Eco-Map

 
Exercise 2.2: Creating an Eco-map

 
The Generalist Helping Process

 
Exercise 2.3: Understanding the Generalist Helping Process

 
 
Chapter 3: Working with Diverse Clients Using Cultural Competence and Humility
The NASW Standards

 
Exercise 3.1: An Exploratory Values Clarification Exercise Addressing [Vulnerable Population X]

 
Individuals With Disabilities

 
Exercise 3.2: An Exploratory Values Clarification Exercise Addressing Individuals with Disabilities

 
Exercise 3.3: Rank Order—A Values Clarification Exercise Addressing Disabilities

 
Exercise 3.4: Working With Individuals With Intersectional Identities by Employing Cultural Understanding and Cultural Humility: Three Case Analyses

 
 
Chapter 4: Understanding Values and Ethics
Definitions: Ethical Dilemma vs. Ethical or Clinical Challenge

 
Exercise 4.1: Discussion Questions

 
The Process of Values Clarification as Preparation for Practice

 
Exercise 4.2: Rank Order

 
Exercise 4.3: Exploring Your Values

 
Exercise 4.4: Operationalizing the Core Values of Social Work

 
Exercise 4.5: Values Application and Decision Making

 
Self-Determination vs. Paternalism

 
Summary of Ethical Decision-Making Guidelines

 
Exercise 4.6: The Ethics Debate

 
Exercise 4.7: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

 
 
Chapter 5: Communicating: Empathy and Authenticity
Key Concepts for Discussion

 
Exercise 5.1: Developing Empathy and Rapport

 
Exercise 5.2: “Of Course I Want To help You”

 
Exercise 5.3: Handling Challenges in Rapport Building: Content-to-Process Shifting

 
Technology and Communication

 
Exercise 5.4: Some Tech Play

 
 
Chapter 6: Communicating: Verbal Following/Active Listening Skills
Fundamentals of Communication and Feedback

 
Furthering, Paraphrasing, Closed-Ended Responses, and Open-Ended Responses

 
Exercise 6.1: Closed- vs. Open-Ended Interview

 
Seeking Concreteness, Summarizing, and Focusing

 
Exercise 6.2: Seeking Concreteness

 
Exercise 6.3: Blending Open-Ended, Closed-ended, Empathic, and Concrete Responses to Maintain Focus

 
Interpretation, Additive Empathy, and Confrontation

 
Exercise 6.4: Additive Empathy, Interpretation, and Confrontation

 
Engaging Clients With Mobile and Digital Technology

 
 
Chapter 7: Multidimensional Client Assessment
Key Concepts and Definitions

 
Exercise 7.1: Where Should We Start, Mr. M?

 
Exercise 7.2: The Assessment of Antonia

 
Exercise 7.3: Addressing Multidimensional Assessment, Mr. B

 
Identifying Skills and Strengths From a Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Perspective

 
Exercise 7.4: Creating a Culturally Relevant Multidimensional Assessment Eco-Map for Mr. B

 
Exercise 7.5: The Role of Culture in an Initial Assessments

 
Exercise 7.6: Screening for Depression and Suicide

 
Home Assessments and Safety: The Home Visit

 
Exercise 7.7: A Student’s First Solo Home Visit

 
Generalist Social Work Assessments

 
Exercise 7.8: Comparison of Generalist Assessments

 
 
Chapter 8: Developing and Negotiating SMART Client Goals And Formulating a Contract
Formulating and Negotiating Goals: Key Concepts and Definitions

 
Exercise 8.1: Specifying Global Goals

 
Exercise 8.2: Translating Goals Into Action

 
Exercise 8.3: Elements of the Plan Worksheet

 
Exercise 8.4: Goal or Objective Worksheet?

 
Formulating a Contract

 
Exercise 8.5: Going Beyond the Goals to Create the Contract

 
 
Chapter 9: Understanding Family Functioning
Definitions and Key Concepts

 
Exercise 9.1: Exploring Family Roles, Rules, Patterns, and Culture

 
Family Development: A Dominant Culture View of the Family Life Cycle

 
Exercise 9.2: Identifying Family Life Cycle Stages

 
Family Engagement and Interventions

 
Exercise 9.3: Analyzing an Initial Family Interview

 
Exercise 9.4: Exploring Family Patterns and Structure Using a Genogram

 
 
Chapter 10: Working with Groups
Definitions and Group Types

 
Group Life Cycle

 
Exercise 10.1: Group Type and Stage of Development

 
Group Leadership Skills and Behaviors

 
Human Services Teams and Interprofessional Practice

 
Technology Use with Groups and Teams

 
Exercise 10.2: Identifying Group Leadership Skills in Treatment Groups

 
Exercise 10.3: Identifying Group Leadership Skills in Task Groups

 
Exercise 10.4: A Therapeutic Process Group in Action

 
Exercise 10.5: Participating in a Task Group

 
 
Chapter 11: Working with Organizations
Key Concepts for Working with and in Organizations

 
Exercise 11.1: Design an Organization

 
Domain and Task Environment as a Basis for Organizational Assessment

 
Exercise 11.2: SWOT Analysis

 
Exercise 11.3: Employing Basic Communication and Advocacy Skills in An Organization

 
Interprofessional Practice

 
Exercise 11.4: Social Work’s Role on the Interprofessional Team

 
Exercise 11.5: Clinical Director Opening at New Hope Human Services

 
 
Chapter 12: Macro Practice: Community Development and Organizing
Key Concepts and Definitions

 
Exercise 12.1: A Fence or an Ambulance

 
Exercise 12.2: When Do Private Problems Become Public Issues?

 
Exercise 12.3: Alternative Use of the Cases

 
Exercise 12.4: Moving from Micro to Macro Practice

 
 
Chapter 13: Managing Barriers to Change and the Client–Social Worker Relationship
Threats to the Relationship between the Social Worker and the Client

 
Exercise 13.1: Responding to Relationship Barriers

 
Working With Involuntary Clients

 
Exercise 13.2: Engaging the Involuntary Client

 
The Role of Advocacy and Facilitating Client Empowerment

 
Exercise 13.3: Overcoming Organizational Barriers

 
Social Workers at Their Best: Self-Care Promotes Competent Care

 
Exercise 13.4: Exploring Self-Care

 
 
Chapter 14: Termination, Consolidating Gains, and Follow-Up
Tasks Embodied in Termination

 
Five Types of Termination

 
Consolidating Gains, Planning Maintenance Strategies, and Follow-Up

 
Evaluation of Practice

 
Exercise 14.1: Managing Termination

 
Exercise 14.2: Ms. W’s Last Appointment

 
Exercise 14.3: Judy’s Decision—A Nine-Month Relationship

 
Exercise 14.4: Kevin—An Unexpected Termination

 
Exercise 14.5: Ralph—An Unexpected Termination

 
Exercise 14.6: Managing Follow-Up With Mrs. Wilson

 
Exercise 14.7: Revisiting the Jones Family for Termination of Treatment

 
 
Chapter 15: Documentation
Elements of documentation

 
Exercise 15.1: Better Expression

 
Exercise 15.2: Draft a Document

 
Answer Key for Exercise 15.1: Document Commentary and Revisions

 
 
Chapter 16: In-Depth Case Analysis Exercises
Case 1: Not in My Backyard

 
Case 2: A Breach of Confidentiality

 
Case 3: The Case of Jane: Version 1

 
Case 4: The Case of Jane: Version 2

 
Case 5: A New Year’s Eve Crisis

 
Case 6: Neighborhood Conflict

 
Case 7: We Should Have Safety Personnel With Us

 
Case 8: A Crisis in Confidence

 
Case 9: What Do I Do Now?

 
 
Chapter 17: Real-World Experiential Exercises
Experiential Exercise Options

 
 
About the Authors
 
References
 
Index

"This is an excellent supplement to any direct practice class as each chapter would correspond to concepts discussed in class. The text provides a brief overview of important concepts which are essential to successfully tackle the expansive exercises in each chapter."

Lorri McMeel
University of St. Francis

"The simplified nature of this workbook will help students focus on what is most important in the chapters and advancing their social work practice knowledge, values, and skills in an accessible and easy-to-read format."

Elizabeth Russell
The College at Brockport

"This textbook has co-joined classroom instruction and practical skills and presented both to the student in a comprehensive and entirely relatable manner."

Tanya Johnson-Gilchrist
University of South Florida

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