Chapter 8

SOCIAL WORK HELPING MODELS AND APPROACHES

Helping approaches Proponents and principles/Key Processed/Phases/Activities Target Client

Concepts
THE DIRECT PROVISION MODEL: Schniederman: the goal of this model is Helping Process : APIET A family who’s want
Involves the direct administration of existing the enhancement of client social Activities: to take advantage of
programs of material aid. This should not be functioning through the direct 1. Case by case involvement of the client in the government’s
equated with dole out. Other refers to this as functioning through the direct the study and evaluation process Balik Probinsya
Resource Provision, where resources may be provision of material and useful in (determination of need and forms of Program
mobilized, created, directly furnished where eliminating or reducing situational need-meeting)
the client may be advised and counseled in deficiencies. 2. A determination of eligibility within the
making optimal use of them. administering agency’s terms of
reference
3. A judgment that the provision of the
service or benefits will promote the
clients best interest
4. Recruiting, selecting, training,
supporting, collaborating with personnel
offering direct care (e.g. Homemakers,
foster parents, adoptive parents, helath
personnel, trainers, day care workers)

INTERCESSION-MEDIATION MODEL: Schneiderman: the utilization of non- Helping Process: APIET Working women are

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Involves the process of negotiating the service consensual strategies such as direct Activitiess: Social Workers may need to argue defined labor benefits
jungle for clients, whether singly or in groups. confrontation, administrative appeal, debate, bargain, negotiate and manipulative the by their employers,
The worker connects the client to need services and the use of judicial and political environment on behalf of the client. juvenile offenders who
in the system until he has availed of them systems, as an appropriate. are arrested, the illegal
Social Worker takes partisan interest in the detained, neglected
client and his cause. Advocacy efforts of the prisoners who should
social worker are frequently directed towards already qualify for
securing benefits to which the client is legally parole privileges, slum
entitled. dwellers who are
having illegally
evicted.
CRISIS INTERVENTION APPROACH Crisis is defined as an upset in a state, Naomi Golan a treatment offers a treatment Sexually abused child,
-is a Process for actively influencing the an emotional reaction on the part of an model that is rooted in the problem-solving battered wife and
psycho-social functioning of individuals and individual, family or group to a theory of casework and developed as part of the victim of calamity etc.
groups, during the period of acute threatening life event. short-term, task centered approach to practice.
disequilibrium. Involves crisis-oriented, time
limited work, usually 2 or 6 weeks in duration. The Crisis theory is based on the idea 1. Assessment of the situation invoves
To be really effective, it should be available that there is no such thing as a mainly an evaluation of 5 components:
within 24 to 72 hours after application or problem-free state and life is a series of a. The hazardous event
referral for assistance. recurring development crisis b. The vulnerable or upset state
c. Precipitating factors or event
d. The state of active crisis and
e. The state of reintegration or
reorganization
2. Implementation of treatment )the middle
phase) is about setting up and working
out specific tasks

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 a. Material arrangement tasks
b. Psycho-social tasks
Lydia Rapoport Goals for this Some techniques:
approach: a. Sustaining techniques reassurance and
 Relief of symptoms encouragement to lower anxiety, guilt
 Restoration to the optimal pre- and tension, provide emotional support.
crisis level of functioning b. Direct influence procedures giving
 Understanding of the relevant advice, advocating a particular course of
precipitating events that action, warning clients of the
contribute to state of consequences of maladaptive resolution
disequilibrium of the situation
 Identification of remedial c. Direct intervention- used in extreme
measures that can be taken by situation such a threats of or attempts at
the client and the family suicide
 Recognition of the connection d. Reflective discussion techniques- used as
between the current stress and the client becomes more integrated
past life experiences and e. Eclectic orientation- behavioral
conflicts modification techniques like positive
 Initiation of new models of reinforcement, shaping, modeling and
perceiving thinking and feeling desensitization.
and development of new 3. Termination emphasizes on the tasks
adaptive and coping Reponses accomplished, the adaptive coping
Jacobson Two Treatment Approaches patterns developed and the ties build with
persons and resources in the community.
 Generic: does not require
Stance of the worker: active, purposive,
assessment of the
committed, will to take risks.
psychodynamics of the
individual in crisis. Can be done
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PROBLEM SOLVING APPROACH
- it is always the person is being helped in problem solving approach
relation to what is focused to be stressful. The
goal is to help a person cope as effectively as
possible with problems in carrying on social
tasks and relationship which are perceived, felt
as stressful and found insuperable without
outside help.
by paraprofessional, a non-
mental health professional, or a
community care giver
 Individual: emphasizes
assessment of the interpersonal
and intrapsychic process,
deisgned for use by mental
health professionals.
Helen Harris Perlman Elements of the The process: There is no special
 Identification of the problem target group that is
 The person- a product of  Identification of the person’s subjective addressed by this
inherited and constitutional experience of the problem. model. Does not
make up in continuous  Idenfication of the causes and effects of distinguish between
transaction with potent persons the problem and its import and influence treatment of
and forces in life experiences. upon the person in life space environmental
Seen as a product in process of  Search for the possible means and modes problems for
becoming. Personality is an of solution must be initiated and psychological
open system continuously considered problems.
responsive to input and  Choice and decision must be made as a
feedback from outside itself. result of thinking and feeling through
Partialization is the recognition  Action taken on the bases of these
that the person is not just living considerations will test the validity and
whole; he also has a biological workability of the decision.
psychological social system.
 The problem- is simply a Diagnosis focuses on:
problem in the current life 1. The person’s motivation, capacity and
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 situation of the help-seeker, opportunity including as assessment of
which disturbs or hurts the latter what factors and forces deter or thwart
in some way. these;
 The place- the particular 2. The persons in the client’s problematic
organization, agency or social role network.
situation, the purposes of which
define its functions, services,
and its areas of social concern.
 The process- steps of Study,
Diagnosis and Treatment
(Perlman)

TASK-CENTERED MODEL: Laura Epstein, Professor Emeritus and Start up: clients referred by an agency or client Client who lacks the
A technology for alleviating specific target William Reid. applies independently and voluntarily motivation and interest
problems perceived by clients, that is, Step 1: Client Target problems identified in continuing his
particular problems clients recognize, This model is Step 2: Contract, plans, target problem priorities, studies.
understand, acknowledge and want to attend 1.Brief and time limited goals, practitioner tasks, duration, schedule,
to. 2.Intervention is concentrated on participants
A task is what the client is to do to alleviate the alleviating specific problems, which the Step 3. Problem Solving

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problem, which makes the task both an client and the worker expressly contract Step 4: Termination
immediate goal, and at the same time the to work to
means of achieving the goal alleviating the 3. Work on the problem is organized
problem. around tasks for problem solving Task Centered model with groups
actions the client agrees to carry out. Preliminary interview – problems are
explored, clarified elicited in individual
Features of the model: interviews
1. Assessment
2. Case planning Group Composition- SW decides who should
3. Implementation be in a particular group, and the size of the
4. Tasks group.

Group Formation- The members share the

problems that they will seek to reduce or
eliminate by formulating and accomplishing
agreed-on tasks

Group processes for task accomplishments-

SW works with the group so they can help each
other to accomplish the tasks within the time
frame agreed upon.
PSYCHO-SOCIAL APPROACH Mary Richmond, Marion Kenworthy, Initial phase: understanding the reasons for
Referred to organismic approach and Bersey Libbey, Gordon Hamilton, contract, establishing, engaging the client in the
diagnostic school of thought Lucille Austin and Florence Hollis treatment, beginning treatment itself (treatment
begins in the first interview) psychosocial study
A systems theory approach concerned both 6 Procedures of Intervention (Hollis) (gathering the information needed for the
the inner realities of human beings and the 1. Sustaining (supportive remarks) psychological diagnosis and guidance of the

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social context in which they live.
The person being helped is seen in the context
of interactions or transaction in the internal
worlds and effort are taken to understand the
segment of the external world with which the
person is in the close interaction.
Treatment is differentiated according to the
client’s needs, hence the term differential
treatment.
The worker must engage in fact-gathering and
come with a professional opinion called
diagnosis or assessment. The help provided in
this approach will enable change to occur in
the person or in the situation or both.
2. Direct Influence (suggestion treatment)
and advice)
3. Catharsis and ventilation Assessment of the client in His Situation;
(discharge of pent-up feelings consists of a critical scrutiny of a client-situation
and emotionally charged complex and the trouble concerning which help
memories) is sought or needed.
3 types of diagnosis
4. Reflective consideration of the  Dynamic: Examination aspects of the
current person-situation client’s personality interact to produce
configuration his total functioning, interplay between
5. Encouragement of client to the client and other systems, dynamics of
reflect on dynamics of his family interaction.
response patterns or tendencies  Etiology the cause or origin of the
difficulty usually multiple factors in the
person-situation configuration
 Classificatory: classifies various aspects
of the clients functioning and his place in
the world including, if possible, a clinical
diagnosis (refers to classify based on
personality disturbance) classifying
individuals according to socio economic
class, race, ethnic background and
religion.
Treatment
 Indirect treatment: the worker intervenes
directly in the environment of their client
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BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION
APPROACH
An Approach intended to approve the social
functioning of individuals, families, groups
and organizations by helping them learn new
behaviors and eliminating problematic ways
of behaving
Usually used in group work to shape stabilize, people behave as they do
modify, or alter clients’s behavior with the use
of certain techniques such as reassurance,
reinforcement etc.
Wilheim Wundt, John Watson, Ivan
Pavlov, Clark Hull, Edward Tolman,
B.F. Skinner, Joseph Wolpe, Albert
Bandura and Hans Eysenck
Decisions that guide the change process
are made on the basis of data, not on
the basis of assumption about why
Focus
by obtaining needed resources and
modifying the client’s situation when
change in his situation is necessary
 Direct treatment involves direct work
with the client himself or what Hollis
describes as the influence of mind upon
mind
1. Initial phase- background information
problem identification and goal setting
2. Implementation phase- plan
implementation based on the contract and
the commitment of the worker and the
client
3. Evaluation and termination Phase-
usually periodic evaluation and monitor
the phase the helping process
4. Termination
 Upon observable responses
 More on the fundamentally classes of
behavior: Emphasizes Observation, data
collection and careful measurement
before, during and after the intervention

FUNCTIONAL APPROACH Ruth Smalley, Virginia Robinson, Otto Initial phase establish whether the client seems
- a method for engaging the client through Rank, Jessie Taft to be able to use the agency services and try to
relationship essentially one to one in the use of help him/her to use it

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a social service toward his her own and the The effectiveness of the SW process is
general social welfare enhanced by the worker’s conscious Beginning phase partilization of problem for
use of time phases in the process. work. To find common base for worker and
client to work together toward a common
purpose
The purpose of the service being offered helps The use of agency function gives focus, Middle phase- characterized by others taking
to give sharpness and focus to the diagnosis or content and direction to helping responsibility. Deepening on the relationship
the understanding needed for the particular process. involved
pathological condition for which a type of
treatment is defined in order to achieve an To be effective, the SW Process Ending Phase- termination of the helping process
environment goal. requires the practitioner’s use of
relationship to engage the client in The client and the worker will agree on what the
making and acting on choices or former can do with the service that is being
decisions as central to the made available.
accomplishment of a client- identified
purpose within the context of agency
function

FAMILY CENTERED APPROACH Virginia Satir. Salvador Minuchin, jay Identification of the problem- involves data Family-focused
- a process of achieving better child and family Haly, Murray Bowen, Nathan gathering and answer the question what and treatment is
well-being outcomes. It is an approach to child Ackeman, Carl Whitaker, Michael why? undertaken with on the
welfare social work in which the family is seen White, Gregory Bateson, Donald individual family
as the primary unit of attention. Respecting, Jackson, john Weakland, William Fry, The treatment planning stage- includes members with the
strengthening and supportin the family- while paul Watzlawick and Ross Speck. diagnostic assessment (the How), and interview- family members

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guaranteeing child safety- are hallmarks of this
method. It is also referred to as family Families are diverse and have the right
casework. Safety of the child is the first to be respected or their special cultural,
concern and the family is the fundamental racial, ethnic and religious traditions.
resource for the nurturing children.
There may be some inner resources
member which can be mobilized and
used to improve family and home
conditions for the benefit of the
member experiencing difficulty and the
family a whole
PRACTICE COMMUNITY
SOCIAL PLANNING
VARIABLES DEVELOPMENT
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involves planning the treatment setting up the involved in the help a
goals and objectives which must be based on the process, individually
worker’s knowledge on the nature of the and pairs or as group
problem, resources for modifying it, and the
motivation and capacities of those involved in it.
Evaluation and termination evaluation starts as
soon as some gains have been made as a result of
the treatment taking place. Termination of work
with families takes place after some services
have been reached.
Treatment modifies or change the barriers in
managing the life tasks of the family and its
members
SOCIAL ACTION
1. GOAL CATERGORIES

2. ASSUMPTIONS
REGARDING
COMMUNITY
STRUCTURE AND
PROBLEM CONDITIONS
3. BASIC CHANGE
STRATEGY

4. CHARACTERISTICS
CHANGE TACTICS AND
TECHNIQUES

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5. PRACTITIONER ROLES
AND MEDIUM OF
CHANGE

6. ORIENTATION TOWARD Power structure is included within an

POWER STRUCTURE all embracing concept of community

7. BOUNDARY It is usually geographic entity such as

DEFINITION OF a city, neighborhood, or village, as the
client system
COMMUNITY CLIENT
SYSTEM

8. ASSUMPTION Reconcilable and responsible and

REGARDING INTEREST responsive to the influences of rational
persuasion, communication and good
OF COMMUNITY
will
SUBPARTS

9. CONCEPTION OF THE It has rationalist-unitary concept of

PUBLIC INTEREST public interest. Structure broad cross
section of community groups, focused
on the general welfare

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10.CONCEPTION OF THE
CLIENT POPULATION/
CONSTITUENCY

11. CONCEPTION OF THE

CLIENT OR THE
CONSTITUENT ROLE

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