In this article, findings from a national survey of social service managers are described. Respondents were asked to identify theories and models of management that influenced their administrative activities. The results indicate that many of the respondents used an empowerment-oriented approach to management. Respondents were more likely to…

This article presents a systematic review of the effectiveness of wraparound, a value-guided, widely used service planning process and philosophy of care originally developed for children with serious emotional disturbance and their families. In contrast to conventional systematic reviews, which concentrate on the empirical literature, this…

The focus of this article is on illustrating how the differences between the paternalistic and empowerment approaches embedded within social work have unnecessarily evolved into competing approaches to practice. Tracing the historical evolution of both paternalistic and empowerment approaches, the article posits that social work is more amenable…

Intergenerational kinship and multigenerational families (three or more generations) have been a source of strength for African Americans. This article presents a culturally responsive intergenerational practice model for working with African American families that draws on this legacy. The model looks at intergenerational kinship and…

Calls clinical hypnosis valuable treatment modality that deserves to be more widely used by social workers. Presents overview of hypnosis, distinguishing between directive, Ericksonian, and permissive hypnosis. Presents characteristics of hypnotic trance and differing capacities of individuals in trance. Describes how permissive hypnosis is used…

Although many in the social work profession have written about empowerment, few have offered a description of the empowerment process from the perspective of clients and workers in high-risk communities. This qualitative study presents a model of empowerment practice from the perspective of frontline workers, the challenges they faced, and the…

Article discusses what receiving knowledge (as opposed to sharing in producing or generating it) means for the practice of social work, which is supposedly committed to the social work values of human dignity and social justice. Presents and discusses the experiences that led to the author's work on empowerment-based practice. (Author/GCP)

Describes author's experiences after his own diagnoses of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Related Complex (ARC) and AIDS itself. Discusses six ways for social workers to provide empowerment to persons with AIDS, which focus on the positive, the healing power of caring, reconnections, direction, victim mindset, and advocacy. (ABL)

This study examined how consumers and social workers conceptualize empowerment. The findings show that there are important differences in how these groups understand empowerment. Implications for the conceptualization of empowerment, as well as social work education and practice are discussed. (Contains 52 references and 2 tables.) (GCP)

Explores concept of empowerment-based social work practice and its application in public child welfare. Uses organizational theory to identify characteristics of child welfare agencies that impinge on empowerment-based practice and suggests strategies for staff to become more powerful in their dealings with the agency and community. (Author/ABL)

Study reviews documents and conducts focus groups with clients and staff of a public psychiatric hospital to identify barriers to empowerment and the conditions that must be present for client empowerment to occur through treatment planning. For empowerment to occur, clients need psychiatric stability and decision-making skills. (Contains 40…

Describes effects of leukemia diagnosis and treatment for preadolescents and adolescents. Discusses strategies for social workers to assist these cancer patients in participating actively in the day-to-day management of their own care. (ABL)

Notes growth in number of self-help groups/agencies for mental health clients. Examines self-help perspective in relation to problems with traditional mental health services and need for client-run services. Goal of article is not to endorse self-help perspective but to use it as basis for raising research questions that will further mental health…

Provides set of research strategies that would help bridge gap between research concerning care and treatment of people with severe mental illness and consumer empowerment. Argues that research should attend to context of research, vantage point, process of formulating research questions, selection of interventions tested, selection of outcomes…

Describes an approach to multicultural social work research that is values based and process oriented. Such research is defined as a reflective and collaborative process. Several key challenges to and benefits of multicultural research are presented. Strategies are recommended to support the development of multicultural research. (RJM)