What is social case work? A practical guide to helping people grow through better social relations.
Social Case Work explains a method for supporting individuals by improving their relationships with family, neighbors, and community. It presents the idea that personality develops through meaningful, well‑managed social ties, and that case work aims to help people participate more fully in life and in plans that affect their welfare. The book also situates case work alongside other forms of social effort, showing how practitioners learn from education, medicine, and reform to serve personality in concrete, real‑world settings. This edition frames how case workers assess and respond to diverse life situations—from home life to schools, hospitals, and courts—while emphasizing collaboration with families, groups, and agencies. It provides a clear description of the field’s goals, methods, and ethical considerations, with attention to the effects of environment, culture, and individual differences on outcomes.
- Foundations of social case work: its purpose, scope, and core principles
- How case workers build lasting change by coordinating with families and communities
- Practical approaches to individual differences, environment, and personality growth
- Relationships with other social forms, such as group work, social reform, and research
Ideal for readers seeking a clear overview of the field, its history, and its practical application in helping individuals achieve healthier, more autonomous lives.