Social Work Theories in Action

This wide-ranging collection of essays explores how social work theories are applied to practice and offers insights into the cultural issues involved in social work. The authors discuss the challenges faced by indigenous populations and ethnic minority groups and how they can gain control over their situations, and offer valuable guidance on cross-cultural work. The authors present the key principles of four theoretical approaches frequently used in social work - ecological systems, community development, strengths-based approaches and attachment theories. They explain how each of these can be applied in a wide range of contexts, including mental health care, trauma counselling and child protection. Drawing on the experience of community development work, they suggest how these approaches can also be used in work with migrants and refugees.

“'This edited collection from a New Zealand perspective makes an important contribution to understanding the complex issues involved in working with ethnic minority groups and indigenous First Nation people. Whist it draws on New Zealand and Australian case material, the themes and debates addressed in the book are relevant to all social workers. This is a text I will be drawing on in my teaching of social work interventions on an undergraduate social work degree programme, as it demonstrates in a clearly written and powerful way how social work theories and methods can be applied in practice settings in the promotion of anti-oppressive social work practice.'- British Journal of Social Work'This is a book I would recommend for anyone wanting to explore a range of theoretical issues and their implications for practice.' - Community Care'Written by experts in social work, the book recognises the importance of drawing on the strengths of families, individuals and communities and offers theoretical perspectives that can be applied in every day work situations. It is essential reading for social and community workers, mental health professionals and social work students'.- Educational Book Review”

This edited collection from a New Zealand perspective makes an important contribution to understanding the complex issues involved in working with ethnic minority groups and indigenous First Nation people. Whist it draws on New Zealand and Australian case material, the themes and debates addressed in the book are relevant to all social workers. This is a text I will be drawing on in my teaching of social work interventions on an undergraduate social work degree programme, as it demonstrates in a clearly written and powerful way how social work theories and methods can be applied in practice settings in the promotion of anti-oppressive social work practice. -- British Journal of Social Work
This is a book I would recommend for anyone wanting to explore a range of theoretical issues and their implications for practice. -- Community Care
Written by experts in social work, the book recognises the importance of drawing on the strengths of families, individuals and communities and offers theoretical perspectives that can be applied in every day work situations. It is essential reading for social and community workers, mental health professionals and social work students'. -- Educational Book Review

Mary Nash is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Massey University in New Zealand. She is co-editor of Spirituality and Social Care, also published by Jessica Kingsley, and has published on social work fields of practice, social work history, and feminism and spirituality. Robyn Munford is Head of the School of Sociology, Social Work and Social Policy at Massey University. She has published widely on social and community work and disability studies, and her research on families has gained international recognition. Kieran O'Donoghue is Lecturer in Social Work at Massey University. He has worked in probation and community mental health services, and was Programme Coordinator for the Diploma of Social Work at Waitako Institute of Technology, New Zealand.

This wide-ranging collection of essays explores how social work theories are applied to practice in Australia and New Zealand and offers insights into the cultural issues involved in social work. The authors discuss the challenges faced by indigenous populations and ethnic minority groups and how they can gain control over their situations, and offer valuable guidance on cross-cultural work.The authors present the key principles of four theoretical approaches frequently used in social work - ecological systems, community development, strengths-based approaches and attachment theories. They explain how each of these can be applied in a wide range of contexts, including mental health care, trauma counselling and child protection. Drawing on the experience of community development work with Maori and Tongan populations, they suggest how these approaches can also be used in work with migrants and refugees.Social Work Theories in Action emphasizes the importance of drawing on the strengths of families, individuals and communities, and will inspire practitioners to incorporate a variety of theoretical approaches into their work. This text is essential reading for social workers, mental health professionals and social work students.

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