Supporting Families

From time to time all families face predicaments, and use their own resources to overcome them. However, sometimes these resources are insufficient, or the difficulties faced completely overwhelming; in these instances, outside help is required to prevent the situation from deteriorating. This important text argues for an inclusive, interpersonal approach to helping families: one that takes the focus away from the individual and towards a collaborative method of support, involving each member of the family as well as other professionals working with them.Through the use of richly detailed practice examples and case studies, this comprehensive book clearly and succinctly examines the knowledge, skills and attitude that social workers require in order to engage with and help families experiencing strain in a multitude of different situations. Taking a strongly ecological stance, it outlines the variety of external stressors that can push families into difficulty and provides a thorough examination of the ways in which social workers can understand, help and support them.Concise and accessible, Supporting Families is an essential sourcebook for students interested in working with families, as well as practitioners seeking a fresh source of reference.