What role can and should social work play in child welfare services? Responding to what many consider a crisis in the child welfare system, Critical Issues in Child Welfare is a comprehensive overview of the policies, programs, and practices that define the field, with an emphasis on the role of social work. Joan Shireman looks at the community context of child welfare, noting changes over time, and the role of social work in the development of services to children and families. Next, she establishes a framework for child welfare services and examines the complexities of the system and its relationships to public and voluntary agencies and the judicial system. Finally, the book surveys core services, including supportive services to families, child protection, foster care and other out-of-home care, adoption, and services to at-risk youth. Each chapter concludes with a section identifying and exploring a critical issue in child welfare services, such as family violence, permanency planning, racism in the system, child care, and the recruitment, education, and retention of child welfare workers
Strengthening Family Coping Resources (SFCR) uses a skill-building, multi-family group framework to teach constructive resources to families who have a high exposure to stress and trauma. As an intervention for high-risk families, SFCR can cause a reduction in symptoms of traumatic distress and behavior problems and help families demonstrate higher functioning. The SFCR manual is based on a systemic, family approach and uses empirically-supported trauma treatment that focuses on family ritual, storytelling, and narration, which improves communication and understanding within family members. The manual is organized into three accessible parts: Part... More info
52 exercises for a full year of weekly group sessions with adolescents This updated edition of Susan Carrell's best-seller provides a practical, concise overview of group work with adolescents, including dos and don’ts for group leaders, as well as potential pitfalls and hazards and how to avoid them. Ideal for therapists, school counsellors, spiritual leaders, and other helping professionals, the manual addresses a wide range of today's hot issues for adolescents, including sex, alcohol, drugs, values and ethics, family dynamics, self-esteem, management of difficult emotions, peer relationships, and spirituality. Avoiding the usual... More info
This practical handbook helps adults to understand, manage and reflect constructively on children’s anger. Featuring a wealth of familiar and easy-to-learn game, it is designed to foster successful anger management strategies for children aged 5–12. The book covers the theory behind the games in accessible language, and includes a broad range of enjoyable activities: active and passive, verbal and non-verbal, and for different sized groups. The games address issues that might arise in age-specific situations such as sharing a toy or facing peer pressure. They also encourage children to approach their... More info
