Readings in Social Work: Changing Perspectives and Practices of a Profession

Contents: Section I: Working with Individuals and Groups. 1. Social casework: a method in social work. 2. Values and principles of casework. 3. Casework process: study, diagnosis and treatment. 4. Casework practice in school setting. 5. Social group work: its definition and as a method in social work. 6. Group work practice in orphanages, old age homes and community centres. 7. Casework and group work practice in industries. Section II: Working with Communities and Society. 8. Community: definition, meaning and characteristics. 9. Community organization: definition and scope. 10. Community organization as a method in social work: principles of community organization. 11. The role of social worker in community development: application of social work methods. 12. Peoples participation in development programmes. 13. Leadership types: the significance and the role of community leadership in community development. 14. Social reformation and social revolution. 15. Creating awareness for social action. 16. Financing social action: sources and methods. 17. Social legislation: drafting a bill. 18. Social legislation: role of social worker in its enactment and enforcement. Section III: Working with Families. 19. Emerging family structure: interventions and strategies. 20. Family structure: emerging trends and marital counselling. 21. Interface between family courts and counselling agencies. Section IV: Professional Social Work: Changing Perspectives and Practices. 22. Social work ethics: concept, philosophy and goals. 23. Professional social work: indigenous base and emerging trends in India. 24. Social policy for social justice: strategies for social work intervention. 25. Synergy and networking of schools of social work and other professions. 26. Children in difficult circumstances: challenges for social work profession. 27. Urban ecology: environment pollution and social work intervention. 28. Social exclusion status of tribal women: strategies for empowerment. 29. Professional social work: futuristic trends. Section V: Gandhian Social Work. 30. Ethical values of social work profession and Gandhism. 31. Relevance of Gandhiji s constructive programme from social work perspective. 32. Gandhian ideology: its relevance to contemporary social work practice. 33. Conflict between labour and capital: trusteeship as an alternative. 34. Gandhian principles of management: their relevance to contemporary society. This comprehensive volume is an outcome of the quintessence of the lifetime work of the author during his long career of over five decades, having a wide coverage of the discipline of social work, dealing with methods and fields of social work, application of the methods in various settings, such as families, schools, communities and the larger society. The book covers a wide range of topics like social casework, social group work, community organization, social action, application of the methods of social work in various settings, i.e. family social work, school social work, medical and psychiatric social work, community development, family courts, family counselling agencies, etc. The book also covers various issues of contemporary relevance like leadership in community development, social action as a method, forms, principles and strategies, mobilization of resources, sources and methods of financing social action, legislation, drafting a bill and allied topics. The author has further added a new dimension to social work education and practice by including a section on Gandhian Social Work.…