The actions social workers take are aimed at helping people, communities, and societies attain a sense of mastery, become or remain competent, and achieve or retain a sense of well-being. Such a broad scope of practice necessitates a theoretical foundation that is anchored in the concept of human competence. This text explores the concept of competence, and shows how it is expressed in a variety of theoretical frameworks, including traditional models and emerging theoretical approaches. This approach toward human behavior focuses on mutually beneficial interactions between people and society, and emphasizes the connections between individuals and various systems that influence their lives. It enables the social worker to conduct multilevel client assessments, gaining an understanding of how clients function within their total environment, and plan a range of helpful interventions. The volume is organized around the competency-based approach to social work education, adopted by the Council on Social Work Education. Written by leading analysts in the field, Competence is essential reading for the field of social work.

The actions social workers take are aimed at helping people, communities, and societies attain a sense of mastery, become or remain competent, and achieve or retain a sense of well-being. Such a broad scope of practice necessitates a theoretical foundation that is anchored in the concept of human competence.

This text explores the concept of competence, and shows how it is expressed in a variety of theoretical frameworks, including traditional models and emerging theoretical approaches. This approach toward human behavior focuses on mutually beneficial interactions between people and society, and emphasizes the connections between individuals and various systems that influence their lives. It enables the social worker to conduct multilevel client assessments, gaining an understanding of how clients function within their total environment, and plan a range of helpful interventions.

The volume is organized around the competency-based approach to social work education, adopted by the Council on Social Work Education. Written by leading analysts in the field, Competence is essential reading for the field of social work.

As American society becomes increasingly diverse, social workers must use a variety of human behavior frameworks to understand their clients' culturally complex concerns. This text applies specific human behavior theories to diversity practice. They show how human behavior theory can be employed in interventions in the life problems of diverse client populations at the individual, group, social network, and societal levels.

Several groups are examined. They include: minority groups; ethnic groups; women; older adults; members of certain social classes affected by economic and educational (dis)advantage, especially those living in poverty; people with developmental disabilities, people of varying sexual and gender orientations, and religious groups.

Case studies that illustrate social work practice in the area are highlighted. The case studies include Social Work Practice within a Diversity Framework; The Social Work Interview; Symbolic Interactionism: Social Work Assessment, Meaning, and Language; Erikson's Eight Stages of Development; Role Theory and Social Work Practice; A Constructionist Approach; Risk, Resilience and Resettlement; Addressing Diverse Family Forms; Small Group Theory; Natural Social Networks; Power Factors in Social Work Practice. This volume will be a fundament resource for practitioners and an essential tool for training.

As American society becomes increasingly diverse, social workers must use a variety of human behavior frameworks to understand their clients' culturally complex concerns. This text applies specific human behavior theories to diversity practice. They show how human behavior theory can be employed in interventions in the life problems of diverse client populations at the individual, group, social network, and societal levels.

Several groups are examined. They include: minority groups; ethnic groups; women; older adults; members of certain social classes affected by economic and educational (dis)advantage, especially those living in poverty; people with developmental disabilities, people of varying sexual and gender orientations, and religious groups.

Case studies that illustrate social work practice in the area are highlighted. The case studies include Social Work Practice within a Diversity Framework; The Social Work Interview; Symbolic Interactionism: Social Work Assessment, Meaning, and Language; Erikson's Eight Stages of Development; Role Theory and Social Work Practice; A Constructionist Approach; Risk, Resilience and Resettlement; Addressing Diverse Family Forms; Small Group Theory; Natural Social Networks; Power Factors in Social Work Practice. This volume will be a fundament resource for practitioners and an essential tool for training.