Social Work Practice: A Generalist Approach

by Louise C. Johnson

This classic social work practice text blends ecosystems and strengths-based approaches along with diversity competent practice into a change process that social workers can use with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This classic text provides students with a solid foundation for generalist social work practice. It has a strong theoretical framework that reflects modern theory and methods used in social work practice today. The Ninth Edition builds on previous editions developing a client-centered empowerment approach to working with diverse populations with an emphasis on building and utilizing strengths and resources in the ecosystem.

496 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1988

Reviews

[Selmoore Codfish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a text book for an advanced level course in Social Work written by Johnson et. al. The book is an explanation of how to do the everyday work of the practice. The book assumes that the reader or student understands sociology, psychology, and social work through policy analysis. Other courses in biology or anthropology would also be useful. Despite these requirements, the text was not full of technical language. Any interested person should be able to understand a fair amount of the writing.
I am reviewing the Canadian version. The authors have adapted the book for use by readers in Canada by providing basic review of relevant aspects of culture, bringing up issues of bilingual speakers, and making it relevant to politics, policies and changes occurring in Canada.
Each chapter has several examples of client cases. This is the best part of the text. The cases are insightful and related to the themes of the chapters. A few of the cases follow through the chapters and between chapters. This builds understanding of how each case evolves.
Some disadvantages of text are that it is very repetitive and often rambling. The receptiveness is partly necessary as the authors look at several phenomena from many different perspectives. However , that makes the reading tiring. Many times while reading this I felt that the authors should get to the point more quickly rather than rambling. Also, at times it seemed like they were providing too many lists. Working the lists into the narrative more would help make the reading flow.
Lastly, I felt the authors were very open the contribution that faith and religion could have. They specifically mentioned how it could be valuable, and many times vaguely talked of how “natural” (meaning community) systems could help.

[Ehab Atef]

good