Read more
The strengths perspective is a new focus in social work today, but until now little has been done to move this focus beyond the realm of theoretical discourse. In Resiliency Enhancement, Elaine Norman and her colleagues bridge the gap between theory and implementation to illustrate how resiliency enhancement -- strengthening an individual's ability to function competently even in the presence of major life stressors -- enables social workers to put the strengths perspective successfully into practice for their clients.
Resiliency is based on a common core of personality characteristics and dispositions that enable highly stressed persons to maintain a sense of competence and control in their lives. Two additional factors contribute to a successful individual's greater resiliency: the family interaction system and the work and community milieu. The contributors to this volume show how the social worker can use interventions to focus on enhancing those resiliency factors in a way that will accentuate the positive and put the strengths model to work for the client.
List of contents
A. Introduction
1. The Strengths Perspective and Resiliency Enhancement: A Natural Partnership, by Elaine Norman
B. Resiliency Enhancement and Specific Populations
2. The Legacy of Caretaking Among African American Women: A Mixed Blessing, by Eunice Mathews
3. Recognizing and Enhancing Natural Resiliency in Boys and Girls, by Sandra Turner
4. Resilience in Older Persons: A Paradigm for Practice, by Irene Gutheil and Elaine Congress
C. Resiliency Enhancement and Individual, Family, Couple and Group Practice
5. A Case Study of Resiliency Enhancement Interventions with an African American Woman, by Carol P. Kaplan
6. Women's Resilience at Midlife: What is it? How do you mobilize it?, by Sharon McQuaide
7. Grasping Life: Five stories of Will-Filled Men, by Ray Fox
8. Enhancing Couple Resiliency, by Howard Robinson
9. Strength and Resiliency Themes in Social Work Practice with Groups, by Michael H. Phillips and Carol S. Cohen
10. The Unitas Extended Family Circle: Developing Resiliency in Hispanic Youngsters, by Rosa Perez-Koenig
D. Resiliency Enhancement in Administration, Training and Prevention
11. The Workplace as Protective Environment: Management Strategies, by Sharyn J. Zunz and Roslyn H. Chernesky
12. The African American Professional's Resiliency, by Laura Lee
13. Introducing a Strengths/Resiliency Model in Mental Health Organizations, by Robert Chazin, Shari Kaplan and Stephen Terio
14. Capitalizing on Strengths: A Resiliency Model for At-Risk Youth, by Mary Ann Forgey
About the author
Edited by Elaine Norman
Summary
This book bridges the gap between theory and implementation to illustrate how resiliency enhancement enables social workers to put the strengths perspective successfully into practice for their clients. Contributors to this volume show how social workers can use interventions to enhance those resiliency factors.
