Evidence-based Interventions in Social Work: A Practitioner's Manual

Evidence-based Interventions in Social Work: A Practitioner’s Manual centers on the factorial complexity of planning interventions with major client groups. Monumental economic and political forces are reshaping the way medical, mental health, and social services are delivered in the United States. By focusing on the role of the social worker in the evolving systems of care, the book addresses the following critical questions that have been generated by the empirical practice research: Who should deliver the intervention to whom? What intervention is the most effective with which clients? Where and at what level should the intervention take place? When should the intervention occur? How long should the intervention continue? And how is behavior change maintained (relapse prevention, medication)? Short-term goals, long-term interventions, and short-term outcomes are detailed as are long-term goals, long-term interventions and long-term outcomes, and the interaction between these variables and medication. Each chapter includes a case study for illustration purposes, as research indicates that picking one appropriate, attainable goal will help ensure the participation of the client. An evidence-based approach to social work practice is not only economically demanded in this day of managed care but also ethically imperative. The authors endorse this approach and provide to readers the latest of practice research findings. Each chapter is geared toward enabling social work practitioners to incorporate these findings to provide competent and timely evidence-based services.