Introduction to Child and Family Services

Introduction to Child and Family Services
Assessment Item 2: Annotated Bibliography
EXAMPLE OF ENTRY

Collins, D., Jordan, C. & Coleman, H. (2010). An introduction to family social work (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Brookes / Cole. Ch 1: The field of family social work.
In this chapter the authors explain the purpose and nature of family social work. They identify central objectives such as reinforcing family strengths and facilitating ‘concrete changes’ (p.3). They give a brief history of work with families, noting how family systems ideas have evolved since the foundational work of Mary Richmond (p.6). They concisely explain differences between family social work and family therapy (p.7). They articulate core assumptions underpinning work with families, such as a family-centred philosophy, belief in the ‘teachability’ of families (p.14), and an interest in meeting in the family home (or ‘starting where the family is’ as Elliot, Mulroney and O’Neil (2000, p.3) would say).
Of particular interest for me waslearning about differences between therapeutic and social work / human services [SWHS] interventions. Collins et al. discuss how SWHS takes a broader view of families. That is, rather than just looking at individuals, workers locate the family in the context of multilayered social systems (p.7). Family workers are therefore not just interested in building individual ability to problem solve but are also alert to when family problems require access to concrete services or supports (such as training or rehab) or the development of community assets.
I would like to work in a neighbourhood centre and the kinds of interactions I might have with families in that context really fit with the idea that we should take an ‘ecological approach’ (pp.15-17). We hear a lot about this approach and I think it is important in family work because families tend to come to services in crisis (p.13) and it could be easy to view them as somehow at fault for their predicament. Collins et al. describe this focus on internal family functioning as ‘limiting’, and a ‘common error’ (p15). Costello’s (2009) advice on understanding and using power has been helpful in reflecting on how I promote social justice while helping families deal with complex and problematic situations.
320 words

Reference list
Collins, D., Jordan, C. & Coleman, H. (2010). An introduction to family social work (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Brookes / Cole.
Costello, S. (2009). Reconstructing social work practices with families. In J. Allan, L. Briskman&B. Pease (Eds.), Critical social work: theories and practices for a socially just world (pp.117 – 131). Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
Elliot, B., Mulroney, L., & O’Neil, D. (2000). Promoting family change: The optimism factor. St. Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin.