Main description:

Social work practice has evolved to meet the needs of the time, the problems that are present, and the knowledge and skills available. Given the more recent rapidly changing stressful environments, political, economic, demographic, sociocultural, and ideological change has affected how practice is defined. Now it is even more essential for there to be innovative theoretical concepts and intervention strategies to support current practice. This textbook addresses today's context of social work practice that needs to deal with the complexity of personal and social relationships, the continuing historical flux of the times, and the constant anxiety or "threats and pulls" of daily life.
The text is based on the idea that social work practice requires a research and theoretical base that allows practitioners to build on a client's ability to persist in the face of life's challenges and to proceed positively with life events. The Resilience-Enhancing Stress Model (RESM) is an outgrowth of the profession's interest in strength-based person-environment approaches - grounded in generalist social work practice that offers a range of intervention practice methods with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. RESM was developed to provide the skill set for working with clients and constituencies across the individual-family-community configuration during times of distress. It also can be a welcomed addition to social work practice with people undertaking life transitions and overcoming disruption to individual, family, and community function.
Topics explored include:

An Evolving Resilience-Enhancing Stress Model
Interviewing to Promote Resilience Among Marginalized Populations
Co-creating a Grand Narrative: The Intersection of Individual, Family, and Community Practice
Connecting Communal Living, Ecology, and Resilience

A Resilience-Enhancing Stress Model: A Social Work Multisystemic Practice Approach is a timely text for human behavior and practice methods at the generalist or advanced generalist levels in social work. It can also be used at the doctoral level of social work education depending on the professor's attention to the depth of theoretical concepts. Practitioners in the field may find the contents useful to their professional enrichment.

Contents:

Part I RESM Research and Theoretical Background

1 Research-Informed Social Work Practice.........................................................................

1.1 Theoretical Background............................................................................................

1.1.1 Risk and Resilience Theory...........................................................................

1.2 Methodology.............................................................................................................

1.2.1 Open-Ended Questionnaire...........................................................................

1.2.2 Diverse Sample..............................................................................................

1.2.3 Demographics of Participants........................................................................

1.2.4 Data Analysis.................................................................................................

1.3 Findings: Themes by Ecological Level.....................................................................

1.3.1 Societal Level: Oppression and Reconciliation.............................................

1.3.2 Sociocultural Level........................................................................................

1.3.3 Interpersonal Level........................................................................................

1.3.4 Personal Level...............................................................................................

1.4 Conclusion.................................................................................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

2 An Evolving Resilience-Enhancing Stress Model.............................................................

2.1 Theoretical Background on Resilience......................................................................

2.1.1 A Person-Environment Perspective..............................................................

2.1.2 Theory in an Age of Uncertainty...................................................................

2.1.3 Resilience in an Age of Technology..............................................................

2.1.4 Resilience in an Age of Social Division........................................................

2.2 Theory and Model Development...............................................................................

2.2.1 Theory............................................................................................................

2.2.2 Metatheory.....................................................................................................

2.3 Risk and Resilience Theory.......................................................................................

2.3.1 Philosophical Roots.......................................................................................

2.3.2 Concepts and Terms.......................................................................................

2.3.3 Theoretical Assumptions...............................................................................

2.3.4 Implications for Practice................................................................................

2.4 Ecological Theory......................................................................................................

2.4.1 Philosophical Roots.......................................................................................

2.4.2 Concepts and Terms.......................................................................................

2.4.3 Theoretical Assumptions...............................................................................

2.4.4 Implications for Practice................................................................................

2.5 Systems Theory..........................................................................................................

2.5.1 Philosophical Roots.......................................................................................

2.5.2 Concepts and Terms.......................................................................................

2.5.3 Theoretical Assumptions...............................................................................

2.5.4 Implications for Practice................................................................................

2.6 Narrative Theory........................................................................................................

2.6.1 Philosophical Roots.......................................................................................

2.6.2 Concepts and Terms.......................................................................................

2.6.3 Theoretical Assumptions...............................................................................

2.6.4 Implications for Practice................................................................................

2.7 The RESM.................................................................................................................

2.8 Conclusion

References.............................................................................................................................

Part II The RESM Method: Narrative Interviewing

3 Interviewing: The Four Phases of the Resilience-Enhancing Stress Model...................

3.1 Developing Practitioner Readiness...........................................................................

3.1.1 Self-Awareness..............................................................................................

3.1.2 Exercising Reflection....................................................................................

3.1.3 Not Knowing.................................................................................................

3.1.4 Knowing-in-Action........................................................................................

3.1.5 Self-Management...........................................................................................

3.2 Forms of Interviews...................................................................................................

3.2.1 Incorporating Traditional Social Work Interview Skills...............................

3.3 The RESM: A Client-Centered Interview.................................................................

3.3.1 Augmenting the Narrative Interview.............................................................

3.3.2 Conducting Culturally Sound Narrative Interviews......................................

3.4 A Summary of an Interactive Four-Stage Process.....................................................

3.5 Engagement: An Interview in the Third Space.........................................................

3.5.1 Displaying Transparency and Anchored Understanding..............................

3.6 Assessment: Cocreating a Narrative..........................................................................

3.6.1 Defining Traditional Assessment..................................................................

3.6.2 RESM Assessment........................................................................................

3.7 Intervention: Narratives as a Preferred Story............................................................

3.7.1 Incorporating Traditional Social Work Intervention.....................................

3.7.2 Applying RESM Interventions......................................................................

3.7.3 Adopting Skills for Narrative Recreation......................................................

3.8 Evaluation..................................................................................................................

3.9 Conclusion

References.............................................................................................................................

4 Interviewing to Promote Resilience Among Marginalized Populations.........................

4.1 Practitioner Readiness...............................................................................................

4.1.1 Addressing Difference, Stigma, Marginalization, and Power Differentials..

4.2 Engagement...............................................................................................................

4.2.1 Cultivating Linguistic Skills..........................................................................

4.2.2 Establishing a Dialogue Through Language.................................................

4.2.3 Forming a Third-Space Relationship.............................................................

4.2.4 Reaching an Anchored Understanding.........................................................

4.3 Assessment................................................................................................................

4.3.1 Defining Culture............................................................................................

4.3.2 Seeking Help.................................................................................................

4.4 RESM Assessment: Risk and Protective Factors......................................................

4.5 Intervention...............................................................................................................

4.5.1 Intervening During the Four Phases of the RESM........................................

4.5.2 Encouraging Youth Activism........................................................................

4.6 Evaluation..................................................................................................................

4.6.1 Making Choices.............................................................................................

4.6.2 Evaluating Client's Resilient Behavioral Outcomes.....................................

4.7 Conclusion.................................................................................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

5 Using the RESM Narrative Method to Map Assessment Content..................................

5.1 Practitioner Readiness: Forming a Personal RESM Practice Approach...................

5.1.1 Choosing an Assessment Framework............................................................

5.1.2 Developing an Assessment Plan....................................................................

5.2 Assessment: Frameworks and Tools for Organizing the Life Story.........................

5.2.1 Exploring White's Mapping of Narrative Practice........................................

5.2.2 Applying Bronfenbrenner's Model of Development....................................

5.2.3 Exploring Greene's Developmental Resilient Path.......................................

5.2.4 Applying Greene's Risk-Protection and Resiliency Questionnaire..............

5.2.5 Charting Greene's P-E Dimensions: Questions and Prompts.......................

5.2.6 Alexander's P-E Assessment Chart...............................................................

5.2.7 Alexander's Risk and Protection Assessment Profile...................................

5.3 Intervention...............................................................................................................

5.3.1 Core Intervention Strategies..........................................................................

5.4 Evaluation: Engaging in Self-Evaluation..................................................................

5.5 Conclusion.................................................................................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

Part III RESM Multisystemic Applications

6 Co-creating a Grand Narrative: The Intersection of Individual, Family, and Community Practice...............................................................................................................................................

6.1 Practitioner Readiness...............................................................................................

6.2 Section I. Katie Referred...........................................................................................

6.2.1 Engagement...................................................................................................

6.2.2 RESM Assessment........................................................................................

6.3 Section II. A Meeting With Katie's Family...............................................................

6.3.1 Defining Family Practice...............................................................................

6.3.2 The Family as a System.................................................................................

6.3.3 Understanding System Change......................................................................

6.3.4 An Interview With Katie's Family................................................................

6.3.5 Practice Example Analysis: Steps Taken......................................................

6.4 Section III. Community Decline................................................................................

6.4.1 Connecting Human Rights Violations to Chester Residents.........................

6.4.2 Practice Example Analysis: Steps Taken......................................................

6.4.3 Grand Narrative Assessment Chart and Highlights.......................................

6.4.4 Risk and Protection Assessment Profile........................................................

6.4.5 Interventions With Katie...............................................................................

6.4.6 Larger Scale Interventions With the Hill Family and Chester Community..

6.5 Conclusion.................................................................................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

7 Enhancing Resilience and Functioning Among Older Adults and Their Caregivers...

7.1 Traditional Caregiving as Care Sharing....................................................................

7.2 Section I. John's Competence as Functional Age.....................................................

7.2.1 Engagement...................................................................................................

7.2.2 Assessment....................................................................................................

7.3 Section II. A Meeting With John's Family................................................................

7.3.1 Understanding the Family as a System.........................................................

7.3.2 Exploring Family Development....................................................................

7.3.3 Appraising Family Meaning..........................................................................

7.3.4 Family Engagement.......................................................................................

7.3.5 Assessing the Lewis Family's Response to Adversity..................................

7.4 Section III. Community Social Supports...................................................................

7.4.1 Practice Example Analysis: Steps Taken......................................................

7.4.2 Grand Narrative Assessment Chart and Highlights.......................................

7.4.3 Risk and Protection Assessment Profile........................................................

7.4.4 Traditional Interventions...............................................................................

7.4.5 Intervention...................................................................................................

7.4.6 Evaluation......................................................................................................

7.5 Conclusion.................................................................................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

8 Fostering Resilience Among Returning Military Personnel and Their Families..........

8.1 Section I. Family Adjustment...................................................................................

8.1.1 Practitioner Readiness...................................................................................

8.1.2 Engagement...................................................................................................

8.1.3 Assessment: Mapping Family Concerns.......................................................

8.1.4 A Military Family's Developmental Path.....................................................

8.1.5 Assessment Risk and Protection Profile........................................................

8.1.6 Family Intervention.......................................................................................

8.2 Section II. Group Processes.......................................................................................

8.2.1 Practitioner Readiness...................................................................................

8.2.2 Engagement...................................................................................................

8.2.3 Assessment....................................................................................................

8.2.4 Group Intervention........................................................................................

8.2.5 Evaluation......................................................................................................

8.3 Conclusion.................................................................................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

9 Resilience Practice Strategies for Urbanized Societies.....................................................

9.1 Practitioner Readiness...............................................................................................

9.1.1 Defining Urban Resilience.............................................................................

9.1.2 Outlining the Development Field..................................................................

9.1.3 Distinguishing Cities, Communities, and Neighborhoods............................

9.2 Engagement: Making Contacts.................................................................................

9.2.1 Identifying and Recruiting Stakeholders.......................................................

9.2.2 Developing Trust, Transparency, and a Community Vision.........................

9.2.3 Practice Example Analysis: Steps Taken......................................................

9.3 Assessment................................................................................................................

9.3.1 Beginning a Community Assessment............................................................

9.3.2 Achieving a RESM Community Assessment................................................

9.3.3 Assessment Profile........................................................................................

9.3.4 Miami-Dade Community Person-Environment Chart..................................

9.3.5 Risk and Protection Assessment Profile........................................................

9.4 Intervention...............................................................................................................

9.4.1 Exploring Global Resilience Initiatives.........................................................

9.4.2 Examining a RESM Community Practice Intervention................................

9.4.3 Reconstructing a Community Grand Narrative.............................................

9.5 Evaluation..................................................................................................................

9.6 Conclusion.................................................................................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

10 Connecting Communal Living, Ecology, and Resilience.................................................

10.1 Practitioner Readiness...............................................................................................

10.1.1 Acquiring Assumptions and Terms...............................................................

10.1.2 Sustainability.................................................................................................

10.2 Engagement...............................................................................................................

10.2.1 Practice Example Analysis: Steps Taken......................................................

10.3 Assessment................................................................................................................

10.3.1 Lake Hula and Bronfenbrenner's Human Development Framework............

10.3.2 Lake Hula and Greene's Developmental Resilient Path...............................

10.3.3 Grand Narrative Assessment Chart and Highlights.......................................

10.3.4 Risk and Protection Assessment Profile........................................................

10.4 Intervention...............................................................................................................

10.4.1 Environmental Activism................................................................................

10.4.2 Work in International Organizations.............................................................

10.5 Evaluation..................................................................................................................

10.6 Conclusion: Combating Ecological Systems Risks...................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

11 Using the RESM in Work With Forced Migrants............................................................

11.1 Forced Migration.......................................................................................................

11.2 Practitioner Readiness: Forming a Personal RESM Practice Approach...................

11.3 Engagement...............................................................................................................

11.3.1 Achieving Anchored Client Understanding..................................................

11.4 Assessment................................................................................................................

11.4.1 Examining the Developmental Resilient Path...............................................

11.4.2 Applying Bronfenbrenner's Model of Development....................................

11.4.3 Grand Narrative Assessment Chart and Highlights.......................................

11.4.4 Risk and Protection Assessment Profile........................................................

11.5 Intervention...............................................................................................................

11.5.1 Constructing Meaning-Making......................................................................

11.5.2 Externalizing Problems..................................................................................

11.5.3 Deconstructing and Reconstructing the Story...............................................

11.6 Evaluation: Engaging in Self-Management...............................................................

11.7 Conclusion.................................................................................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

Epilogue: An Assessment by a Master Practitioner at an Inordinately Stressful Critical Event

Practitioner Readiness for Acute Critical Events..................................................................

Increasing Client Agency..........................................................................................

Practice Example Analysis: Steps Taken..................................................................

References.............................................................................................................................

Appendix..........................................................................................................................................

Skill Dictionary......................................................................................................................

Glossary of Terms..................................................................................................................

Index. ...............................................................................................................................................