Diversity, Oppression, and Social Functioning: Person-In-Environment Assessment and Intervention (2nd Edition)

Using the “Person-In-Environment” (PIE) theoretical framework, this diversity practice text teaches students how to think about their personal reactions and assumptions about diversity and what constitutes cultural competent “assessment” and “intervention” when working with a broad range of diverse populations.

The diverse populations presented in the text are described within an ecological, strengths perspective. The authors’ thesis is that, in order to work effectively with diverse populations, it is necessary to take into consideration the complex dynamics of social functioning and social oppression. The “Person-In-Environment” theoretical framework provides a basis for analysis of the social, economic, and political reality of these diverse populations. The text presents an affirmative practice approach and builds on the available diversity practice literature.

This text can be used in diversity practice courses, courses on working with oppressed populations, and other practice courses (such as advanced practice) that focus on diversity issues.

Overview:

This diversity practice text teaches students how to work with a broad range of diverse populations, using the “Person-In-Environment” (PIE) theoretical framework.

This text can be used in diversity courses, courses on working with oppressed populations, or any practice course that deals with diversity issues.

The diverse populations presented in the text are described within an ecological, strengths perspective. The authors' thesis is that, in order to work effectively with diverse populations, it is necessary to take into consideration the complex dynamics of social functioning and social oppression. The “Person-In-Environment” theoretical framework provides a basis for analysis of the social, economic, and political reality of these diverse populations. The text presents an affirmative practice approach, and builds on the available diversity practice literature.

What Reviewers Are Saying:

Gary Villereal, University of Texas-Pan American
The text offers valuable content that is applicable to keeping the importance of diversity and oppression at the forefront of assessment, intervention, and treatment for social work family practice.

Michael Coconis, Ohio Dominican College
Because of the wide framework and inclusive content and focus on issues of oppression (and therefore the other side of the coin “empowerment” or liberation), it provides a lens useful for any discipline that purports to work for the improvement of the human condition through human rights and social justice.

What makes this [book] superior is the way that diversity issues are connected to the more abstract notion of oppression/empowerment, and then, how these are related to thinking about and working with issues of social functioning in the PIE perspective. This is the essence of this text, which, in my opinion, distinguishes it from the many other similarly-focused or intended books available for teaching such content.