Social Work with Families

Social Work with Families, originally published in 1975, offers a valuable exploration of the experiences and perceptions of twenty-seven families involved with a Family Service Unit, alongside insights from their social workers. This work serves as a significant contribution to understanding consumer opinions regarding social services during that era. It highlights the factors that are essential for evaluating social work practices and defining what constitutes success in the field.

Through a series of excerpts from tape-recorded interviews, family members candidly share their experiences of facing challenges and seeking help. They provide a personal perspective on what it means to be a 'client' in the social services system, detailing the support they received and identifying the qualities and actions of social workers that they found beneficial and appropriate. This firsthand account sheds light on the emotional and practical aspects of navigating social work services.

The insights presented in this book are particularly valuable for social workers, students of social work, and individuals involved in social policy and administration. It not only serves as a historical document reflecting the attitudes and experiences of families in the 1970s but also offers timeless lessons on the importance of understanding client perspectives in social work practice. As such, Social Work with Families remains relevant for those looking to grasp the complexities of family dynamics and the role of social services in providing support.