Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T07:38:32.505Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The place of social justice in strengths-based social welfare work

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Elizabeth C. Reimer  and
Dianne Nixon
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper attempts to unpack strengths-based practice in social welfare in order to reveal the location of social justice within such an approach. Firstly, this paper will briefly explore the origins of a strengths approach, including historical development of the approach, mentioning some specific practice theories. The paper will then investigate the concepts, using Jim Ife's (1998) model of a social justice perspective in community development to achieve this.

The two approaches will then be discussed in terms of how they should be used together to support not only positive casework, but effective social action, using the work of UnitingCare Burnside as examples.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , 2004 , pp. 14 - 19
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian (2002) 3 December, Time and Tide/Obituaries.Google Scholar
Ben-Zion, C. (1999) ‘Intervention and supervision in strengths social work practice’, Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 80(5), 460–466.Google Scholar
Blundo, R. (2000) ‘Learning strengths practice: Challenging our personal and professional frames’, Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 82(3), 296–304 Google Scholar
Butler, I. & Williamson, H. (1994) Children Speak: Children, trauma and social work, Longman, United Kingdom.Google Scholar
De Jong, P. & Berg, I.S. (1998) Interviewing for Solutions, Brooks/Cole, USA.Google Scholar
Early, T.J. & GlenMaye, L.F. (2000) ‘Valuing families: Social work practice with families from a strengths perspective’, Social Work, 45(2), 118–130.Google Scholar
Etchison, M. (2000) ‘Review of narrative therapy: Research and utility’, Journal of Family Studies, Jan, 61–66.Google Scholar
Ife, J. (1998) Community development: Creating community alternatives – visions, analysis and practice, Longman, South Melbourne.Google Scholar
James, A. & Christensen, P. (eds) (1999) Conducting Research With Children, Falmer, London.Google Scholar
Little, C. & Mondy, L. (1996) Having a Say: How Burnside created a voice for its young people in residential care, unpublished paper, UnitingCare Burnside.Google Scholar
McGrath Morris, P. (2002) ‘The capabilities perspective: A framework for social justice’, Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 83(4), 365–373.Google Scholar
Macintyre, S. (1985) Winners and losers: The pursuit of social justice in Australian history, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.Google Scholar
Macintyre, S. (1995) ‘After social justice’, in: Social policy and the challenges of social change, Proceedings of the National Social Policy Conference, Sydney, 5-7 July.Google Scholar
Parton, N. & O'Byrne, P. (2000) Constructive Social Work: towards a new practice, MacMillan Press, UK.Google Scholar
Rawls, J. (1999) A Theory of Justice, revised edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.Google Scholar
Reisch, M. (2002) ‘Defining social justice in a socially unjust world’, Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 83(4), 343–354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saleebey, D. (ed) (1992) The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice, Longman, New York.Google Scholar
Saleebey, D. (1996) ‘The strengths perspective in social work practice: Extensions and cautions’, Social Work, 41(3), 296–305.Google ScholarPubMed
Scott, D. (2000) ‘Embracing what works: Building communities that strengthen families’, Children Australia, 25(2), 4–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weick, A., Rapp, C., Sullivan, P. & Kisthardt, W. (1989) ‘A strengths perspective for social work practice’, Social Work, 34, 350–354.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, M. (1999) Virtual Reality: Children as constituents in social welfare and social policy constructions, paper presented at conference Taking Children Seriously (UWS, Sydney, Childhood & Youth Policy Research Unit).Google Scholar