Reading Foucault for Social Work

by Laura Epstein (Editor), Adrienne Chambon (Editor), Allan Irving (Editor)

This is the first book-length introduction to the work of Michel Foucault in social work. The social work profession is being challenged today to adapt to changing societal and cultural conditions and to carve out a new societal niche. Foucault's work offers a particularly relevant entry point for revisiting social work's mission, activities, and objectives. A critical reexamination of its practices, institutional arrangements, and knowledge helps us to envision alternative social work practices and strategies for social change.

Each chapter emphasizes different notions from Foucault's writings. Contributions include conceptual, philosophical, and methodological considerations, and discussions from various fields and levels of practice. The book covers policy in child welfare and child protection; gay-lesbian youth services; grief work and the family; client-worker interaction in a welfare office; and the social movement of the elderly. It includes a rountable discussion with Foucault on social work and a glossary.

Genres: Social Work, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 1999

Reviews

[Andrew Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most valuable part of this book to me personally were actually the first few chapters which critiqued the professionalization of Social Work under a modernist worldview model and outlined the lessons postmodern perspective has for Social Work practice. At the time I read this I was not looking for another "Practice" book - I was seeking to understand the theoretical framework which would inform my practice on both macro and mico levels.

The subsquent chapters are valuable in that they get specific about a postmodern lens in social work practice, but practice was not my primary interest when reading. I would recommend this book to social workers, along with other books by Jan Fook or Bob Pease.

[Liberty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many chapters are genius. This is a great book to explode your ideas of what social work is and what it looks like. Pick it up when you're ready to start asking hard questions...and when you're ready to start asking YOURSELF hard questions.

[Jarron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, although I believe it gave unrealistic solutions to systemic-related social work issues.