Family Assessment Handbook

Book excerpt: THE FAMILY ASSESSMENT HANDBOOK is a basic practice guide for social work students and beginning human service professionals of "how to" do a family assessment for case intervention. It is based on person-environment, or family systems, theory, drawing from evidence-based research for guiding practice decisions. This practical book presents the interplay of social work concepts, values, and skill dilemmas presented using case studies from the author's practice experience. By developing a "family journal," students can apply family systems thinking, theory, and concepts. The book is conceptualized as three teaching and learning units. Part One addresses the family systems assessment model. Part Two focuses on self-assessment and critical thinking through exploring the student's family system. Part Three includes four case studies.