Integrated Practice: An Advanced Generalist Curriculum to Prepare Social Problem Specialists

Abstract

While social work historically concerned itself with social problems, assisting victims of these problems may receive greater attention than viewing the problems themselves as appropriate targets for change efforts. Social work education has reflected this emphasis and traditionally focused more on practice methods than on solving social problems.

The authors contend that there is a need for an “integrated practitioner” who is, by design, prepared as a social problem specialist. This paper examines central issues in developing a curriculum geared expressly to preparing such practitioners.