Understanding Generalist Practice

Kirst-Ashman (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) and Hull (University of Utah) offer an expanded focus on the strengths perspective, empowerment, and the concept of resiliency in this fourth edition of a text for an introduction to generalist social work practice or for a course stressing micro-level skill development. There is expanded material on lesbians and gays, spirituality and religious beliefs, and working with people of other national origins, as well as greater attention to health care issues affecting social workers. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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New edition of a text that provides a framework for social work students to view the world from a generalist perspective. Emphasizing a core of micro-skills, Kirst-Ashman (U. of Wisconsin-Whitewater) and Hull (U. of Utah) present 16 chapters that discuss relationship- building, interviewing, and problem-solving abilities necessary for working with individual clients. They also orient students to think not only in terms of individual needs but also of group and community needs. New focus points include cultural competency, empowerment of people with disabilities, interviewing children in the context of abuse, updated information on substance abuse, and confidentiality with respect to electronic record-keeping. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Karen K. Kirst-Ashman is a professor and former chairperson in the Social Work Department at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She has written six social work textbooks and numerous publications, articles, and reviews on social work and women's issues. She also has served as a consulting editor on many social work journals. Dr. Kirst-Ashman was a board member of the CSWE from 1998 through 2001 and has served as a member of several CSWE accreditation site teams. She is certified as a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Wisconsin and has been the recipient of the University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater Roseman Award for Excellence in Teaching. She earned her BSW degree in 1972 and MSSW degree in 1973 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Ph.D. in Social Work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Grafton Hull is professor and director of the University of Utah's BSW Program. He has over 30 years of teaching experience at the undergraduate, master's and doctorate levels. His practice experience includes work in human service agencies providing mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice programs. He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology, a master's degree in social work, and a doctorate of education (counseling, guidance, and personnel services). Hull is the co-author of seven texts and numerous articles in social work journals. He has served on the CSWE Board of Directors, Commission on Accreditation, and as president of the Baccalaureate Program Directors (BPD). He holds a license as Independent Social Worker in the State of Wisconsin.