DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL WORK SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (H/C)

SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT IS ONLY RECENTLY THAT THESE IDEAS HAVE BEEN EXPLICITLY APPLIED TO SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE. THE RESULT IS THAT A NEW AND DISTINCTIVE APPROACH TO SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE KNOWN AS DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL WORK HAS EMERGED. DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL WORK EMPHASIZES THE ROLE OF SOCIAL INVESTMENT IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. THESE INVESTMENTS MEET THE MATERIAL NEEDS OF SOCIAL WORK'S CLIENTS AND FACILITATE THEIR FULL INTEGRATION INTO THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY. DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL WORKERS BELIEVE THAT CLIENT STRENGTHS AND CAPABILITIES NEED TO BE AUGMENTED WITH PUBLIC RESOURCES AND SERVICES IF THOSE SERVED BY THE PROFESSION ARE TO LIVE PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING LIVES. ALTHOUGH DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL WORK IS INSPIRED BY INTERNATIONAL INNOVATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, IT HIGHLY RELEVANT TO PRACTICE IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN NATIONS. IN THE FIRST BOOK TO LAY OUT A CLEAR FRAMEWORK FOR D