Social Work 2211

Key concept of D&Y

-Influence of western thought -white and Eurocentric

(e.g., dead white men)

-Different ways of knowing are key to development

(e.g.,Barbie land.. Some sees as perfect, other will not want to live there (biases))

-Science has been used to colonize; we need toguard against continuing the harm

(e.g.,who is included in research)

-Use science with critical thinking and curiousity to undo domination

(e.g., Cindy bladstock; addresses moral courage idea, need to challenge dominant beliefs, stick up for those who have less 'power')

Ontology

beliefs and assumptions

-way of being

-how do we know something is?

-determining what's real & whats not real

-e.g., for some folks think bigfoot is real, some don't

-who dictates bigfoot is real or not?

-different for different folks

Epistemology

-knowledge/undertsanding

-ways of knowing.. How do we know what we know?

-gut feeling.. Common sense

-sociology places a big role

-generational as well.. How i know something is different than what grandma thinks

-everyone's worths are different

theory

making sense/explaining

-an explanation of facts.. because theories are always developing and changing.

-what we dictate as solid facts are evolving

-a method to explain WHY

-an attempt to make predictions.. An attempt to describe why we are here, what happens next, what will happen.

-a series of ideas accepted by a community. I.e; need to have a group of people to accept these series of ideas to call it a theory.

practice approach

what we "do" (act/react)The pandemic experience and the extreme perspectives

e.g.,-the pandemic experience and extreme perspectives

-some wear masks/stay home

-some in middle

-some in freedom convoy

praxis

-a very deliberate reflection of what theory to use, how to use it, what action do I take?

-process you take to the table using theory

-there may be profs who struggle to put things into practice

-field instructors may do action and not reflect on theory

-Policies and procedures may not be flexible to theories, will be a hurdle into your practice

why is praxis important in social work

ocial work involves a lot of self reflection

-capitalism vs feminism

-where does it fit and who does it fit for

-folks you work with arent static beings, forever evolving

-you need to be fluid with them

-need to pivot and recognize

-a cycle ... theory > action > theory >action

Questioning assumptions (critical thinking)

assumptions about the world that we don't think about/not aware of

-why do i believe this/where does it come from

-Social workers need to be objective to see other points of view

description (matrix)

gathering information and naming issues

Explanation (matrix)

explaining the problem anddeveloping an understanding of its causes

Prediction/Control (matrix)

actions and potentialoutcomes of actions

Critical thinking Walsh (2010)

Questioning assumptions

Working towards elusive objectivity

Imagining exploring alternatives

Considering the cultural and social aspects of human experience

Distinguishing between questions and fact of values

Using caution with inferring causality and generalizations

discourse

system of meanings through which phenomena are constructed and understood.◦ Language practices that shape our thoughts, actions and identities◦ How we understand and talk about issues

-e.g., older folks not understand they/them

-discourse around sexuality and gender that assumes there is a binary

discourse v theory

-Discourse tends to privilege specific knowledge and is a shared perspective

-SW theory is specific to the profession and sometimes to the field of practice

-Discourse shapes what counts as knowledge, needs and action

-Theories for practice provide options for understanding and action and responds to context

-e.g., -biomedical model in hospitals

-as a social worker you need to understand the language of biomedical discourse

-social workers use a lot of psychological/sociological theories

Dynamic model of practice

-social; rural communities are different from urban when working

-institutional context; places we work, places that employ us

-professional; why we are here. Values and codes of ethics

-frameworks; procedure and policies in the workplace, e.g., risk work in child protection.

-service users; so much is dependent on this. Agency and work with wonderful skills, someone else may struggle

-self determination. being able to accept people's choices without agreeing

Theory use

-debates > value of theory. Some social workers will not use theory

-disconnections between theory and practice. Some see theory as not related to work their doing. Not connected.

-positivism> evidence based. Not caring about needs of service user

Theory matter

-helps improve services

-why we do what we do

-where we are coming from and reflect

Options for using theory

-Randomized control trials

-research being objective.. You cannot be objective

-evidence/med research often done on white middle class men done on univeristy student

-not as general as people think

-reflective approach; do something and figure out if its good or bad

-continuous learning cycle

-reflexive, one of focuses

Dominant discourses

-biomedical approach, neoliberalism. Psych and sociology and alt discourses (citixen rights, critical approach)

- shape practice thru laws and policy

-associated with 'elite' and powerful groups

-impacts sw practice many ways

Biomedical

-medical model

-social diagnosis approach as being connected to this model.

-how to figure out what's wrong/how to fix

-very little consideration of cultural differences

-if you go to get treatment, you don't get much attention to class, race, gender. Everything done for white men

-e.g., heart disease more popular in women than men

biomedical Influences on science

-doctors make decisions on things they're good at/or their not

-social implications.. Idea of people get testing on genetics when pregnant and aborting if they have a disability

biomedical Uses and Problems

-Prescriptions for everything

-Oppression happens. Assumptions made on people based on gender, race, class

-careful consideration of ethics

Neoliberal Discourse

-reaction of social programs in 60s

-strength of unions in 70s

-people who were rich and had power decided that wasn't good

-in came free market/trade, individual liberty, individual responsibility, small government, globalization, privatization

-slave labor being used in developing countries

-globalization caused shortage of toilet paper.. Nothing is local anymore

-a lot more richness in a very small group of people

-e.g., how rich jeff bezos is and how little he pays workers

neoliberalism Implications

-private business and health care

-caused more deaths in seniors home but had higher profit

-Higher housing crisis, the government used to build homes. When they pulled out in 80s caused where we are

-Union busting, firing employees and hiring private.

-contributes to inequality of wages

- quantifies stiff that can't be quantified

-developing policies not including people with experience

"Psy" and sociological ideas

-social work as applied science

-diversity in psy and sociology

-both help us understand and intervene

-some ideas are ingrained in mainstream society - "Psychobabble" (people who think their expertsz)

Psychology and Social Work

-psychodynamic theory

-helps understanding of humans

-Cognitive behavioral theory > impact of brain development

-psych doesn't always consider the diversity of human experience'

-people who are empathetic were not effective "too friendly"

-need boundaries with empathy

Sociological Ideas

-social origin of problems.. Collective v individual

-"more money you make the longer you live"

-can add 15 years to your life being wealthy and educated

-social construction of ideas > thinking about ego and superego, it is created by someone. We created it. The way we understand it is influenced by medical discourse

-sociology challenges

sociological Implications

-makes a difference when studying society

-also highlights conflict between building knowledge & taking action

-social work is more taking action

Alt discourses

-citizen rights

-idea that its a new movement that looks at disability as a structural/social problem

-idea that somebody is different is not their own problem

-also focuses on capacity of issue

-deinstitutionalization

order and conflict perspectives

-Sets of assumptions about the world

Human existence•

Society•

Relationship between the two•

Nature of social problems

Exists as a continuum, not a binary concept•

Helps us to understand theory and social problems

critical social work

broad range of practice perspectives, from radical to anti-oppressive

Macro approach to examine structures and institutions

treatment of groups•

explains social problems•

offers a political process to address problems• alternatives to mainstream theory•

focused on groups who are oppressed•

Goal is to end domination and control•

Marx - class domination•

practical intent

Order perspective

Humans are competitive and individualistic• Leads to "disorder" in society•

Need for regulations and coordination•

Imposing order is necessary to maintain stability

• Social control through social institutions•

When social influence fails confinement is forcedon people•

The dominant/majority in society have control andmanage expectations•

The "control" role of social work

Order and social problems

Individual deficits•

Family deficits

• Subculture - Poverty example•

Solving problems means helping the "troubled" people or groups

Addressing social disorganization - fix parts of society that are problematic -create employment programs/community centres•

Help people fit into the mainstream

Conflict perspective

Humans are cooperative and social

• Society is a system of interrelated parts withopposing interests•

The dominant group controls society to its ownadvantage•

Competition and capitalism is privileged•

Structural inequality creates vast inequity and leadsto conflict•

The social nature of humans is denied•

Radical change is needed - goal is equality

Conflict view of social problems

Result from the oppression of non-dominantgroups•

The structure of society creates problems•

Institutional deficits•

A normal consequence of the way society isorganized• A transformation of society is required toaddress problems

"The personal is political"

Conventional: order- based perspectives

-personal change focus

Psychodynamic

• Behavioural•

Client centred

• Psycho-social

• Family therapy

Conventional: order- based perspectives

-Person in environment focus

• General systems

• Ecological

• Life model

• Problem-solving

• Strengths

Progressive - conflict based

Fundamental social change focus

Feminist

• Marxist

• Radical

• Structural

• Anti racist

• Anti- oppressive

• Critical post modern

systems theory

-placed first to reflect their historical position as the first set of theories that social workers adapted specifically for use in practice.

-Related to person in environment perspective

-Seen as addressing the dual focus of sw -micro and macro

-A way to use scientific methodology in social work

concepts of general systems theory

-biological terminology in sw

-Transactions between person and environment

-Homoeostasis - steady state

-Entropy - move towards disorder/uncertainly

-Equifinality - multiple ways to intervene to achieve similar goal

-negative leads to improvements

• positive leads to increased dysfunction

general concept theory

potential to provide scientific credibility to the profession and develop an integrated theatrical foundation that would 'capture the central elements in social work practice in all its varied forms'

-challenged individualistic focus

general concept theory criticism

-Mechanistic language

-Lack of attention to larger social systems

-Blaming the "system" for individualactions

-No intervention strategies

***Mullaly says it is not a theory

Ecosystems

- Person:Environment

Based on systems concepts - transactions within and acrosssystems

• Complex and nonlinear

• Focus more on living than mechanical systems

• Problems a result of poor fit between person and environment

• Unique to social work

• Goal to enhance the transactions and create a better fit

• Guides assessment and direction for interventions

• No specific interventions (equifinality)

-use ecology as a metaphor for encouraging sw to focus on transactions within and across systems and to seek sustainable, not only short term, change.

life model

characterized by three stages - initial, ongoing and ending

initial phase

-getting started

-for the social worker and service user to establish an active partnership based on 'mutuality and reciprocity'.

-relationship building (partnership) and initial assessment

Ongoing phase

-working towards goals

-promote adaption in the person: environment relationship

• using assessment to set goals and plan interventions

• Cooperative process of data collection and planning

• using ecomap to explore systems (micro, miso, macro)

promoting change in the systems to address the need

• means of intervention depends on person capacities and needs

macro

society, major institution

meso

schools, services

micro

home, community

ending phase

planned from beginning, processed and evaluated

micro

home and family

complex systems theories

Chaos theory

• Butterfly effect

• Knowledge and understanding is limited

e.g.,use inductive approaches to consider how phenomena contribute to evaluation to larger complex systems.

Eco social work

Including the natural living environment• Political (conflict perspective?)

e.g., recognizing psychological impacts of natural disasters and climate change on communities,

Anti-Oppressive Practice

-draws on critical social science

theories and is informed by humanistic and social

justice values, taking account of the experiences

and views of oppressed people

-multiple theories are required to guide our practice and to provide us with the strongest strategies in pursuit of social

justice

principles of Anti Oppressive practice

1. Critical Reflection on Self in Practice

2.Critical Assessment of Service Users' Experience of Oppression

3.Empowering Service Users

4.Working in Partnership

5.Minimal Intervention

Three-Dimensional Model of Oppression- PCS Analysis

1, personal (compromises personal thoughts, feelings and attitudes of S.U & interpersonal relationship of provider and S.U)

2. cultural (interests & influence of society as reflected in social norms we internalize)

3. structural (systemic and societal structures w/ capitalism, patriarchy & imperialism that add and interact w/ personal & cultural levels of oppression)

Components of Walsh's Critical Thinking (Six Points)

- Questioning assumptions.- Working towards elusive objectivity.- Imagining and exploring alternatives.- Considering the cultural and social aspects of the human experience.- Distinguishing between questions of fact and questions of value.- Using caution with inferring causality and generalizations.

Key Concepts from Dumbrill and Yee (Four Points)

- Influence of Western thought (white and Eurocentric).- Different ways of knowing are key to development.- Science has been used to colonize; we need to guard against continuing harm.- Use science with critical thinking and curiosity to undo domination.

Discourse (Three Points)

- A system of meanings through which phenomena are constructed and understood.- Language practices that shape our thoughts, actions, and identities.- How we understand and talk about issues.

Debates of Theory Use

- Value of theory.- Disconnect between theory and practice.- Positivism versus caring.

Why Theory Use Matters (Four Points)

- Accountability. - Improving services.- Advancing the theoretical base.- Helps us understand our actions.

Reflective Practice

Action research and practice wisdom action; reflection revised action and further reflection.

Reflexive Practice

Critical questioning of knowledge; practice and the practitioner.

Dominant Discourses (Three Points)

- Shape practice through laws and policy.- Associated with "elite" and powerful groups.- Impacts social work practice in many ways.

Biomedical Discourse (Six Points)

The medical model.- Social diagnosis approach.- The individual needs treatment or to change.- Issues can be explained by biological processes.- Universal application.- Neutral and objective practice.

Biomedical Discourse's Influence on Practice (Four Points)

- Advances in science.- Medical experts.- Requirement for social workers to have knowledge.- Social implications of advances in genetic testing.

Uses and Problems of Biomedical Discourse (Five Points)

- Much progress; increased lifespan.- Conflicts with holistic approach to health.- Medicalization; prescription for everything.- Oppression.- Ethics.

Neoliberal Discourse (Six Points)

Free market/free trade.- Individual liberty.- Individual responsibility.- Small government.- Globalization.- Privatization

Implications of Neoliberal Discourse (Five Points)

Private business in healthcare.- Housing crisis.- Union busting.- Deserving and undeserving.- Expertise (risk assessment instruments have less professional judgement; policy that does not include those with lived experience).

Implications of "Psy" and Sociological Discourse (Four Points)

- Help us understand the person in environment.- Guides work to change systems.- Guides critical thinking about our profession and institutions.- Conflict; building knowledge and taking action (many variables, complexities of the personal versus systemic issues).

Citizen Rights Discourse

(Four Points)- Disability as a structural or cultural problem.- Celebrate difference.- Focus on capacity versus pathology.- Right to independence and community.

Fundamental Social Change Focus (Seven Points)

- Feminist.- Marxist.- Radical.- Structural.- Anti-racist.- Anti-oppressive.- Critical post modern.

Criticisms of General Systems Theory (Five Points)

- Mechanistic language.- Lack of attention to larger social systems.- Blaming the "system" for individual actions.- No intervention strategies.- Mullaly says it is not a theory.

Application of PCS Analysis to Scenario (personal)

-work to sustain broader patterns of discrimination.

Application of PCS Analysis to Scenario (cultrual)

-Collective interests of certain groups in society; share common values and define what is socially acceptable or "normal".

Application of PCS Analysis to Scenario (structural)

-the macro-level structures that represent how oppression is manifested in societal institutions.

Limitations of Anti-Oppressive Practice

-oncerns about using this approach in high-risk situations, such as in scenarios with a risk of death or injury to the service user.

-causes challenges for social workers to act in high-risk situations and does not take into account conflicting needs of service users where the needs of one individual should be prioritized over another.

-intervention that is considered oppressive by an aggressor might not be seen as oppressive by the individual experiencing hurt.

-iew that social workers either seek to defy oppression or reinforce it, there is no inbetween. ie., enemies or allies

where did strength based social work first emerge & origniate

-among social workers in North America practising in mental healthcontexts, mainly with people diagnosed with severe and chronic psychiatric conditions

-n the United States which is very strongly aligned with the professionsof psychiatry and psychology

what does strength based SW draw on

broad scope of theoretical knowledge and empirical research in the social sciences and social work. Strongly aligned with solution-focused and empowerment approaches

Key assumptions of strength perspectives

In summary:

1. People have strengths, capacities, and resources.

2. People often show resilience rather than pathology in the face of adversity.

3. Service users can determine what's best for them without needing professionals to define their interests.

4. Human service professionals often focus on users' problems and deficits, overlooking their strengths.

5. Collaboration between professionals and service users can enhance service users' capacities, but professionals may resist true partnership and prefer to maintain professional power.

Practice Principles of Strength Based

(Adopt a Hopeful, Optimistic Attitude)

question labels that portray service users as incapable, encourages them to identify and leverage clients' strengths and resourcefulness, and emphasizes the importance of conveying belief in clients' ability to overcome immediate challenges while using language that separates the person from the problem.

Practice Principles of Strength Based

(Focus Primarily on Assets)

attentive listening for signs of capacity and resourcefulness rather than just focusing on problems and deficits, aiming to uncover existing strengths that may have been overlooked, while still considering evidence of risk and interpretations from service users and providers.

Practice Principles of Strength Based

(Collaborate with the ServiceUser)

partnership model aligns with social work values, enhances the development of more beneficial solutions for service users, and emphasizes the importance of engaging all perspectives and capacities, including emotional and spiritual aspects, to foster creative problem-solving through collaborative and interpersonal relationships.

Practice Principles of Strength Based (Work Towards the Long-TermEmpowerment of Service Users)

acknowledging and affirming service users' resilience and capacities, working toward outcomes that enhance their ability to improve their quality of life using existing strengths and resources while also developing new ones, and empowering service users by uncovering their hopes for the future and achieving practical outcomes.

Principles of Strength Based

(Create Community)

emphasizes the importance of community belonging for individuals who seek recognition and value as responsible citizens. community support can tap into service users' capacities to help both themselves and others, prompting social workers to actively connect service users with existing community networks or, if absent, contribute to building such networks.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy-SFBT

Both the Strength Perspective and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy share a common emphasis on service users' strengths and capacities. They both believe that service users already have the knowledge and skills necessary to address their problems, and change is achieved by focusing on solutions, creating an expectation of change, and using various questioning strategies to support this shift.

Difference between Strengths Perspective and Solution-FocusedBrief Therapy

The key difference is that the Strengths Perspective assesses and focuses on individuals' strengths first, while in SFBT, individuals set their goals and then identify their strengths to achieve those goals, with the Strengths Perspective often applied in community social work and SFBT being more individualistic.

advantages of Strengths Based Theory and Solution Focused Brief Therapy

acknowledges the impact of optimism and hope in facilitating positive changes in a service user's life, encourages self-reflection on how attitudes and language can empower or disempower, and challenges prevailing discourses in social work while promoting collaboration between workers and service users.

disadvantages of Strengths Based Theory and Solution Focused Brief Therapy

While Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes client strengths, it may risk overlooking the management of weaknesses, lacks a long history of research-backed practice but has shown effectiveness in completed research, and faces challenges in achieving conceptual clarity as the definition of strength can vary across interventions.

The Strengths Based Theory stands as a valuable and empowering method in practice, some reasons include:

-Ethical Practice

-Goal Driven

-You work on what is most important to the client

-It is client- centered

-Encourage the client

Social Order

Society is maintained through rules and expectations, taught from childhood by various institutions, and individuals who disrupt social order are reeducated through institutions like jails to restore the societal equilibrium and deter others from breaking the rules.

Social Conflict Continuum

This perspective aligns with critical theory, which highlights how social problems result from unequal power dynamics and favored ideologies, with society seen as a battleground among competing groups for resources and influence, ultimately leading to inequalities in socioeconomic status.

relationship based practice

Relationship-based practice integrates various concepts like psychoanalysis, attachment theory, systems theory, politics, and sociology, emphasizing the importance of emotional involvement and building genuine relationships between social workers and service users, challenging the customer-focused neoliberal discourse.

(Draws on the notion that the relationship between service user and social worker are at the core of practice)

relationship based critical analysis of key elements

-Relationship-based social work, incorporating psychodynamic concepts like the "holding relationship," offers emotional safety for service users, as demonstrated by adolescents in residential care who view their care workers as a "secure base," emphasizing the importance of such relationships in providing emotional security and trust.

-Relationship-based practice centers on the core belief that the relationship between service users and social workers is paramount, as evidenced by the value children place on these relationships, which offer them a sense of belonging and comfort.

usefulness of R-B practice in SW

useful when providing a client-centered process centered in strengthening the client through their relationship with their support systems.

Comprehensive comprehension- RB

RBP helps social workers promote the holistic understanding of their client (focuses on the whole person and their intersecting factors).

application of social conflict in order perspective (RB)

Focuses on the perspective that humans are competitive and individualistic which leads to disorder in society. This maintains the need for regulation and control.

application of social conflict in conflict perspective (RB)

focuses on the perspective that humans are cooperative and social, the dominant group has controls society to its advantage. Radical changes are needed to meet equality.

how does assigned theory fit criteria in social order/conflict

emphasizes building trust and the power of control between social workers and service users to maintain social order and help individuals or groups integrate into mainstream society, while also playing a crucial role in the development of social programs and centers addressing social disorganization.

concepts of solution focused

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) shares common features and assumptions with the Strength-Based Perspective, centering on the service user's strengths and capabilities. It emphasizes the service user's capacity to address personal challenges, with the social worker's role being to help them uncover their power, and it shifts focus away from the problem to concentrate on solutions.

'Miracle Question

identifying what the service users lifewould be like if the problem was solved