Roland G. Meinert, John T. Pardeck and William P. Sullivan (Eds.) Issues in Social Work: A Critical Analysis. Westport, CT: Auburn House, 1994. $49.95 hardcover

Wronka, Joseph

English

ScholarWorks at WMU

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare 
Volume 22 
Issue 2 June Article 10 
June 1995 
Review of Issues In Social Work: A Critical Analysis. Roland G. 
Meinert, John T. Pardeck, and William P. Sullivan (Eds.). Reviewed 
by Joseph Wronka, Springfield College. 
Joseph Wronka 
Springfield College. 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw 
 Part of the Social Work Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Wronka, Joseph (1995) "Review of Issues In Social Work: A Critical Analysis. Roland G. Meinert, John T. 
Pardeck, and William P. Sullivan (Eds.). Reviewed by Joseph Wronka, Springfield College.," The Journal of 
Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 22 : Iss. 2 , Article 10. 
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol22/iss2/10 
This Book Review is brought to you by the Western 
Michigan University School of Social Work. For more 
information, please contact wmu-
scholarworks@wmich.edu. 
Book Reviews
Roland G. Meinert, John T. Pardeck and William P. Sullivan
(Eds.) Issues in Social Work: A Critical Analysis. Westport, CT:
Auburn House, 1994. $49.95 hardcover.
This book attempts to critically examine major issues in so-
cial work, a profession that many argue is currently struggling
with its identity. Then, it proposes solutions. It succeeds ex-
tremely well on both levels, resulting in a uniquely scholarly
work that is truly a state-of-the-art account of the profession.
Consisting of ten chapters, R. Meinert first discusses the
book's rationale and method for determining the most salient is-
sues in social work, humbly, yet correctly, admitting in the final
analysis that some subjectivity may be involved. J. Billups then
elaborates on "The social development model as an organiz-
ing framework for social work practice," elucidating how social
work can concertedly deal with remedial, as well as, develop-
mental or system-changing approaches to intervention. Tradi-
tionally, its emphasis has been on remediation. D. Bardill and
J. Hum in the following chapter discuss "Direct practice: Model
framework for the past, present and future." Briefly, this model
builds upon the person-in-situation paradigm, which remains a
viable organizing framework for social work. The authors fur-
ther delineate concepts from the family systems perspective,
which can enhance this paradigm. These concepts are: differen-
tiation, life situations, person-in-environment, and psychosocial
ecology.
In chapter 4, J. Murphy in "A postmodern justification for
holism in social work practice," argues that, although holism
has been "de rigueur" for the profession, more work is nec-
essary to theoretically justify holistic, thus contextually sensi-
tive, interventions in practice. Postmodernism, which breaks
with western intellectual traditions, particularly dualism, could
successfully support such an approach. B. Thyer in "Assessing
competence for social work practice: The role of standardized
tests" meticulously documents legal regulations, professional
associations, and credentialing programs to assess social work
132 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare
competence, noting weaknesses, such as demonstrably poor ev-
idence in regard to validity of standardized tests and suggesting
steps for improvement like providing credible evidence that the
social worker has helped at least one client.
In chapter 6, "Breaking away: The potential and promise of
a strengths-based approach to social work practice," W. Sulli-
van and C. Rapp cogently assert the need for an approach that
is different than a medically based model of helping or logical-
positivist approach to inquiry which social work has generally
adopted. A strengths based approach, for instance, would es-
chew expert/client models in favor of helping processes based
on collaboration. H. Karger and D. Stoesz in "Toward a polit-
ically acceptable reformulation of the American welfare state"
examine the development of the American welfare state, propos-
ing five principles, which pertain to productivity, the family, so-
cial cohesion, community, and social choice, that are necessary
for real welfare reform.
M. Dinerman in "Issues in social work education," discusses
essentially master's level education, entertaining such timely
topics as controversies over foundation courses, advanced con-
centrations, and the fit between graduate study and employ-
ment. She calls for more rigorous examination of the issues
and planned experimentation, as the social work curriculum has
been largely the same for 50 years. J. Pardeck in "An exploration
of factors explaining the distinction and achievement levels of
social work editorial boards" notes in essence that many social
work editorial boards tend to lack the critical characteristics
needed to appropriately evaluate manuscripts. These boards, as
well as, the general status of social work programs at univer-
sities will only improve when the profession makes a greater
commitment to scholarship and research.
Finally, J. Midgley in "Transnational strategies for social
work: Toward effective reciprocal exchanges" examines why,
despite social work's historical engagement in international ac-
tivities and commitment to cultural diversity, it is generally
characterized by pervasive parochialism. He calls in essence
for the profession to more critically examine, for instance, how
western methodologies may be inappropriate for some cultures
Book Reviews 133
and how to promote dialogue and transfer practice innovations
among countries.
Overall, the book is humanistic in tone. The writers are
able to criticize in scholarly and meaningful ways that are not
derogatory, but on the contrary, invite the reader to creatively
explore avenues to improve the profession. They also do not
merely criticize; they articulate alternatives, often a far more
arduous exercise.
There appear no demonstrable weaknesses, though this au-
thor feels that social work's current emphases on clinical work
appears mainly due to the availability of employment in this
area, a point which generally, the authors do not seem to fully
appreciate. Perhaps social work professional and other orga-
nizations ought to find ways to incorporate holistic, develop-
mental, and other strategies to enhance social justice into job
descriptions. Despite this apparent minor weakness, the book
is an excellent contribution and must reading for those wishing
to understand and improve upon critical issues in social work.
Joseph Wronka
Springfield College
Richard P. Barth, Mark Courtney, Jill Duerr Berrick and Vicky
Albert, From Child Abuse to Permanency Planning: Child Wel-
fare Services Pathways and Placements. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine
de Gruyter, 1994. $41.95 hardcover; $19.95 papercover.
Nora S. Gustavson and Elizabeth A. Segal, Critical Issues in Child
Welfare. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1994. $17.95
paperback.
The timing is perfect for the publication of these books, as
child abuse reports and foster care placements continue to in-
crease. Both books examine some of the critical issues facing
child welfare agencies, and thus the social work profession, in
the 1990s; but they represent very different perspectives on the
issues.
From Child Abuse to Permanency Planning examines the "stall"
of the permanency planning movement in recent years and asks


Review of \u3cem\u3eIssues In Social Work: A Critical Analysis.\u3c/em\u3e Roland G. Meinert, John T. Pardeck, and William P. Sullivan (Eds.). Reviewed by Joseph Wronka, Springfield College.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare Volume 22 Issue 2 June Article 10 June 1995 Review of Issues In Social Work: A Critical Analysis. Roland G. Meinert, John T. Pardeck, and William P. Sullivan (Eds.). Reviewed by Joseph Wronka, Springfield College. Joseph Wronka Springfield College. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw  Part of the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Wronka, Joseph (1995) "Review of Issues In Social Work: A Critical Analysis. Roland G. Meinert, John T. Pardeck, and William P. Sullivan (Eds.). Reviewed by Joseph Wronka, Springfield College.," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 22 : Iss. 2 , Article 10. Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol22/iss2/10 This Book Review is brought to you by the Western Michigan University School of Social Work. For more information, please contact wmu-scholarworks@wmich.edu. Book ReviewsRoland G. Meinert, John T. Pardeck and William P. Sullivan(Eds.) Issues in Social Work: A Critical Analysis. Westport, CT:Auburn House, 1994. $49.95 hardcover.This book attempts to critically examine major issues in so-cial work, a profession that many argue is currently strugglingwith its identity. Then, it proposes solutions. It succeeds ex-tremely well on both levels, resulting in a uniquely scholarlywork that is truly a state-of-the-art account of the profession.Consisting of ten chapters, R. Meinert first discusses thebook's rationale and method for determining the most salient is-sues in social work, humbly, yet correctly, admitting in the finalanalysis that some subjectivity may be involved. J. Billups thenelaborates on "The social development model as an organiz-ing framework for social work practice," elucidating how socialwork can concertedly deal with remedial, as well as, develop-mental or system-changing approaches to intervention. Tradi-tionally, its emphasis has been on remediation. D. Bardill andJ. Hum in the following chapter discuss "Direct practice: Modelframework for the past, present and future." Briefly, this modelbuilds upon the person-in-situation paradigm, which remains aviable organizing framework for social work. The authors fur-ther delineate concepts from the family systems perspective,which can enhance this paradigm. These concepts are: differen-tiation, life situations, person-in-environment, and psychosocialecology.In chapter 4, J. Murphy in "A postmodern justification forholism in social work practice," argues that, although holismhas been "de rigueur" for the profession, more work is nec-essary to theoretically justify holistic, thus contextually sensi-tive, interventions in practice. Postmodernism, which breakswith western intellectual traditions, particularly dualism, couldsuccessfully support such an approach. B. Thyer in "Assessingcompetence for social work practice: The role of standardizedtests" meticulously documents legal regulations, professionalassociations, and credentialing programs to assess social work132 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfarecompetence, noting weaknesses, such as demonstrably poor ev-idence in regard to validity of standardized tests and suggestingsteps for improvement like providing credible evidence that thesocial worker has helped at least one client.In chapter 6, "Breaking away: The potential and promise ofa strengths-based approach to social work practice," W. Sulli-van and C. Rapp cogently assert the need for an approach thatis different than a medically based model of helping or logical-positivist approach to inquiry which social work has generallyadopted. A strengths based approach, for instance, would es-chew expert/client models in favor of helping processes basedon collaboration. H. Karger and D. Stoesz in "Toward a polit-ically acceptable reformulation of the American welfare state"examine the development of the American welfare state, propos-ing five principles, which pertain to productivity, the family, so-cial cohesion, community, and social choice, that are necessaryfor real welfare reform.M. Dinerman in "Issues in social work education," discussesessentially master's level education, entertaining such timelytopics as controversies over foundation courses, advanced con-centrations, and the fit between graduate study and employ-ment. She calls for more rigorous examination of the issuesand planned experimentation, as the social work curriculum hasbeen largely the same for 50 years. J. Pardeck in "An explorationof factors explaining the distinction and achievement levels ofsocial work editorial boards" notes in essence that many socialwork editorial boards tend to lack the critical characteristicsneeded to appropriately evaluate manuscripts. These boards, aswell as, the general status of social work programs at univer-sities will only improve when the profession makes a greatercommitment to scholarship and research.Finally, J. Midgley in "Transnational strategies for socialwork: Toward effective reciprocal exchanges" examines why,despite social work's historical engagement in international ac-tivities and commitment to cultural diversity, it is generallycharacterized by pervasive parochialism. He calls in essencefor the profession to more critically examine, for instance, howwestern methodologies may be inappropriate for some culturesBook Reviews 133and how to promote dialogue and transfer practice innovationsamong countries.Overall, the book is humanistic in tone. The writers areable to criticize in scholarly and meaningful ways that are notderogatory, but on the contrary, invite the reader to creativelyexplore avenues to improve the profession. They also do notmerely criticize; they articulate alternatives, often a far morearduous exercise.There appear no demonstrable weaknesses, though this au-thor feels that social work's current emphases on clinical workappears mainly due to the availability of employment in thisarea, a point which generally, the authors do not seem to fullyappreciate. Perhaps social work professional and other orga-nizations ought to find ways to incorporate holistic, develop-mental, and other strategies to enhance social justice into jobdescriptions. Despite this apparent minor weakness, the bookis an excellent contribution and must reading for those wishingto understand and improve upon critical issues in social work.Joseph WronkaSpringfield CollegeRichard P. Barth, Mark Courtney, Jill Duerr Berrick and VickyAlbert, From Child Abuse to Permanency Planning: Child Wel-fare Services Pathways and Placements. Hawthorne, NY: Aldinede Gruyter, 1994. $41.95 hardcover; $19.95 papercover.Nora S. Gustavson and Elizabeth A. Segal, Critical Issues in ChildWelfare. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1994. $17.95paperback.The timing is perfect for the publication of these books, aschild abuse reports and foster care placements continue to in-crease. Both books examine some of the critical issues facingchild welfare agencies, and thus the social work profession, inthe 1990s; but they represent very different perspectives on theissues.From Child Abuse to Permanency Planning examines the "stall"of the permanency planning movement in recent years and asks

https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2246&amp;context=jssw

Review of \u3cem\u3eIssues In Social Work: A Critical Analysis.\u3c/em\u3e Roland G. Meinert, John T. Pardeck, and William P. Sullivan (Eds.). Reviewed by Joseph Wronka, Springfield College.

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