Book review of Howard Karger and Joanne Levine, The Internet and Technology for the Human Services, NewYork: Longman, 1999. $27.19 paperback

Pittman, Sharon

English

ScholarWorks at WMU

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare 
Volume 27 
Issue 2 June Article 12 
June 2000 
Review of The Internet and Technology for the Human Services. 
Howard Karger and Joanne Levine. Reviewed by Sharon Pittman, 
Andrews University 
Sharon Pittman 
Andrews University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw 
 Part of the Social Work Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Pittman, Sharon (2000) "Review of The Internet and Technology for the Human Services. Howard Karger 
and Joanne Levine. Reviewed by Sharon Pittman, Andrews University," The Journal of Sociology & Social 
Welfare: Vol. 27 : Iss. 2 , Article 12. 
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol27/iss2/12 
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. 
190 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare
of health and education systems areimplicated. Schwartz and
Fishman are correct: Congress, having tackled welfarereform,
should now have the political will to reform child welfare and
relate it to thesebroader issues.
Sherrill Clark
University of California, Berkeley
Howard Karger and Joanne Levine, The Internet and Technology for
the Human Services, NewYork: Longman, 1999. $27.19 paper-
back.
Many have felt that human services and technology are
strange bedfellows. Yet ourprofessional future depends on our
comfort in adopting a full range of technological tools forimprov-
ing services and interventions. Few human service book authors
have invested thepersonal and/or publishing resources on this
fluid and rapidly transforming phenomenon. Kargerand Levine
take on this risky endeavor and make a notable contribution to
helping both theneophytes and the technologically savvy move
toward the new millennium.
Experts note that the Internet is one of the fastest growing
technologies of all time. Themetastasis of web sites, services,
and sales creates multiple challenges for human serviceproviders.
Tackling the nearly impossible, the authors successfully provide
a comprehensiveresource for navigating the white water of tech-
nological advances.
Appropriately, Karger and Levine lay the framework for their
discussion in Part I bypresenting an overview of the Internet that
addresses the historical context of cyberspace. Withinthis venue,
they also give a caveat to the ethical dilemmas human service
administrators face asthey grapple with technology policy and
the corresponding legal implications as they haveemerged in the
Information Age.
In Part II of their presentation, the authors make the practical
application of the Internet tothe human services milieu. They
discuss the use of the Internet for multi-cultural exchange, net-
working, on-line counseling, and advancing telemedicine. They
also provide readers with amyriad of resource ideas for using the
Internet to conducting research.
Book Reviews 191
How to prepare for accessing the Internet is the main focus of
Part III. Both hardwarerequirements and dial-up software issues
are addressed. Suggestions are made for selecting thebest Internet
service provider.
Discussion turns from more theoretical to how to and practical
in Part IV. This section isespecially helpful to those with limited
Internet experience. Karger and Levine present the basicsof ne-
tiquette, and how to perform web searches. The steps for down-
loading files andcommunicating with e-mail are also presented.
They discuss on-line security issues andcomplete this section by
presenting expert advice on the use of listservs and newsgroups.
Finally, the most advanced applications are presented. While
the terms such as Plug-ins,Telenet, MUD, MOO, MUCKs, and
MUSHs are decoded for the lay reader, the discussion inPart V
is a refreshing challenge to the more advanced user. The ideas
and insights presented forweb site design and publishing pre-
sented are useful. Even with minimal computer skills, one isgiven
enough resources through this discussion to craft a personal
cyberstop site. Karger andLevine hedge their largest bets when
they tackle the futuring of human services technology. Theyven-
ture scenarios of what problems will need to be addressed and
what systems will bedeveloped to enhance treatments, training,
consultation, research, community work, andeducation for the
21st Century. Only time will tell how close they come in their
predictions.
Among the especially helpful resources that they present are
the key terms given at thebeginning of each chapter, leveling the
playing field for the novice reader. Also significant is thethor-
ough integration and presentation of the ethical considerations
that are critical to ourprofessional values orientation through-
out the book. The web resources shared are helpfulwhether one
is a student or a professional. The comprehensive research ef-
forts that went into thedevelopment of this manuscript are ev-
ident in the voluminous resources that are shared withreaders.
These include a marvelous appendix that opens a limitless cyber-
world for addressingthe broad range of human service interests.
The exercises and case examples provided easilyfacilitate prac-
tical learning opportunities for either individual or classroom
applications.
192 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare
The downside of this book is the hard copy, text-based
medium in which it is presented. It is very difficult to update and
keep current when the content presented is so fluid. Notsurpris-
ingly, some of the web-site resources shared were either down or
changed when I triedthem, though most were fully operational.
The shelf-life of this book would be greatly enhancedif it were
published on-line. Maybe that time is not far off!
In The Internet and Technology for Human Services, Karger
and Levine haveaccomplished the impossible. They have filled
a void in the technologically diverse humanservices literature
to professionally enlighten those with techno deprivation. I'm
not as certainabout their contribution to those of us who need
balance and recovery for our hypertechaddictions. I know this
book has enabled me be more assertive and competitive with my
childrenand graduate assistants for equal access to Internet time.
It just might do the same for you.
Sharon Pittman
Andrews University
June Gary Hopps and Elaine Pinderhughes. Group Work with
Overwhelmed Clients. New York: The Free Press, 1999. $29.95
In an earlier work, The Power to Care, the authors of this book
examined the evidence for effective ways of helping clients whom
they described as overwhelmed by personal, socioeconomic, and
environmental problems. In that publication they reported that
the interventions that produced good outcomes included group
treatment. Yet such treatment was not offered to clients to the
degree one might anticipate. This led them to investigate the
barriers to offering group services, especially in view of their
conviction that group experiences can be very empowering to
clients. Their desire to promote group services was, consequently,
a major motivation for the writing of this book.
The infrequency with which agencies offer groups for clients
conducted by competent group workers is not new information
to many of us who have worked to rectify this situation. One
of the most important contributions of this book, nevertheless,
is its demonstration that group services can be offered in many
different settings and take a variety of forms. Specifically, the


Review of \u3cem\u3eThe Internet and Technology for the Human Services.\u3c/em\u3e Howard Karger and Joanne Levine. Reviewed by Sharon Pittman, Andrews University

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare Volume 27 Issue 2 June Article 12 June 2000 Review of The Internet and Technology for the Human Services. Howard Karger and Joanne Levine. Reviewed by Sharon Pittman, Andrews University Sharon Pittman Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw  Part of the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Pittman, Sharon (2000) "Review of The Internet and Technology for the Human Services. Howard Karger and Joanne Levine. Reviewed by Sharon Pittman, Andrews University," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 27 : Iss. 2 , Article 12. Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol27/iss2/12 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Social Work at ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact maira.bundza@wmich.edu. 190 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfareof health and education systems areimplicated. Schwartz andFishman are correct: Congress, having tackled welfarereform,should now have the political will to reform child welfare andrelate it to thesebroader issues.Sherrill ClarkUniversity of California, BerkeleyHoward Karger and Joanne Levine, The Internet and Technology forthe Human Services, NewYork: Longman, 1999. $27.19 paper-back.Many have felt that human services and technology arestrange bedfellows. Yet ourprofessional future depends on ourcomfort in adopting a full range of technological tools forimprov-ing services and interventions. Few human service book authorshave invested thepersonal and/or publishing resources on thisfluid and rapidly transforming phenomenon. Kargerand Levinetake on this risky endeavor and make a notable contribution tohelping both theneophytes and the technologically savvy movetoward the new millennium.Experts note that the Internet is one of the fastest growingtechnologies of all time. Themetastasis of web sites, services,and sales creates multiple challenges for human serviceproviders.Tackling the nearly impossible, the authors successfully providea comprehensiveresource for navigating the white water of tech-nological advances.Appropriately, Karger and Levine lay the framework for theirdiscussion in Part I bypresenting an overview of the Internet thataddresses the historical context of cyberspace. Withinthis venue,they also give a caveat to the ethical dilemmas human serviceadministrators face asthey grapple with technology policy andthe corresponding legal implications as they haveemerged in theInformation Age.In Part II of their presentation, the authors make the practicalapplication of the Internet tothe human services milieu. Theydiscuss the use of the Internet for multi-cultural exchange, net-working, on-line counseling, and advancing telemedicine. Theyalso provide readers with amyriad of resource ideas for using theInternet to conducting research.Book Reviews 191How to prepare for accessing the Internet is the main focus ofPart III. Both hardwarerequirements and dial-up software issuesare addressed. Suggestions are made for selecting thebest Internetservice provider.Discussion turns from more theoretical to how to and practicalin Part IV. This section isespecially helpful to those with limitedInternet experience. Karger and Levine present the basicsof ne-tiquette, and how to perform web searches. The steps for down-loading files andcommunicating with e-mail are also presented.They discuss on-line security issues andcomplete this section bypresenting expert advice on the use of listservs and newsgroups.Finally, the most advanced applications are presented. Whilethe terms such as Plug-ins,Telenet, MUD, MOO, MUCKs, andMUSHs are decoded for the lay reader, the discussion inPart Vis a refreshing challenge to the more advanced user. The ideasand insights presented forweb site design and publishing pre-sented are useful. Even with minimal computer skills, one isgivenenough resources through this discussion to craft a personalcyberstop site. Karger andLevine hedge their largest bets whenthey tackle the futuring of human services technology. Theyven-ture scenarios of what problems will need to be addressed andwhat systems will bedeveloped to enhance treatments, training,consultation, research, community work, andeducation for the21st Century. Only time will tell how close they come in theirpredictions.Among the especially helpful resources that they present arethe key terms given at thebeginning of each chapter, leveling theplaying field for the novice reader. Also significant is thethor-ough integration and presentation of the ethical considerationsthat are critical to ourprofessional values orientation through-out the book. The web resources shared are helpfulwhether oneis a student or a professional. The comprehensive research ef-forts that went into thedevelopment of this manuscript are ev-ident in the voluminous resources that are shared withreaders.These include a marvelous appendix that opens a limitless cyber-world for addressingthe broad range of human service interests.The exercises and case examples provided easilyfacilitate prac-tical learning opportunities for either individual or classroomapplications.192 Journal of Sociology & Social WelfareThe downside of this book is the hard copy, text-basedmedium in which it is presented. It is very difficult to update andkeep current when the content presented is so fluid. Notsurpris-ingly, some of the web-site resources shared were either down orchanged when I triedthem, though most were fully operational.The shelf-life of this book would be greatly enhancedif it werepublished on-line. Maybe that time is not far off!In The Internet and Technology for Human Services, Kargerand Levine haveaccomplished the impossible. They have filleda void in the technologically diverse humanservices literatureto professionally enlighten those with techno deprivation. I'mnot as certainabout their contribution to those of us who needbalance and recovery for our hypertechaddictions. I know thisbook has enabled me be more assertive and competitive with mychildrenand graduate assistants for equal access to Internet time.It just might do the same for you.Sharon PittmanAndrews UniversityJune Gary Hopps and Elaine Pinderhughes. Group Work withOverwhelmed Clients. New York: The Free Press, 1999. $29.95In an earlier work, The Power to Care, the authors of this bookexamined the evidence for effective ways of helping clients whomthey described as overwhelmed by personal, socioeconomic, andenvironmental problems. In that publication they reported thatthe interventions that produced good outcomes included grouptreatment. Yet such treatment was not offered to clients to thedegree one might anticipate. This led them to investigate thebarriers to offering group services, especially in view of theirconviction that group experiences can be very empowering toclients. Their desire to promote group services was, consequently,a major motivation for the writing of this book.The infrequency with which agencies offer groups for clientsconducted by competent group workers is not new informationto many of us who have worked to rectify this situation. Oneof the most important contributions of this book, nevertheless,is its demonstration that group services can be offered in manydifferent settings and take a variety of forms. Specifically, the

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Review of \u3cem\u3eThe Internet and Technology for the Human Services.\u3c/em\u3e Howard Karger and Joanne Levine. Reviewed by Sharon Pittman, Andrews University

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