Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- BRIEF CONTENTS -- DETAILED CONTENTS -- Preface -- About the Authors -- CHAPTER 6 Social Work Practice with Families: Engagement, Assessment, and Planning -- Familiar Perspectives and Some Alternatives -- Historical Antecedents for Family Social Work -- Family as a Functioning Unit -- Family as a System -- Change in One Component Affects All Other Components -- Subsystems and Boundaries -- Family Norms -- Implications of Systems Theory for Generalist Practice with Families -- Family Structure -- Intergenerational Patterns -- The Contemporary Context for Family Social Work -- Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Couples and Families [EPAS 1] -- Parenthood -- Single-Parent Families -- Families of Multiple Racial and Ethnic Heritages -- Families Including Persons with Disabilities -- Blended Families -- International Families -- Contemporary Trends and Skills for Engagement and Assessment with Families [EPAS 4] -- Narrative Theory in Family Engagement and Assessment -- Thickening the Story -- Externalizing Problems -- Unearthing the Broader Context -- Solution-Focused Family Work -- Assessment Process -- Environmental Focus -- Constructionist and Social Justice Approaches to Family Social Work -- Critical Constructionist Emphasis -- Social Justice Emphasis -- Generalist Practice Skills Guidelines for Family Engagement and Assessment [EPAS 6 and 7] -- Mapping: A Family Assessment and Planning Tool -- Quick Guide 18: Questions to Consider When Completing a Cultural Genogram -- Planning -- Straight Talk about Family Social Work Practice -- Self-Care -- Documentation -- Quick Guide 19: Documenting a Family Assessment -- Quick Guide 20: Documenting a Family Intervention Plan -- Conclusion -- Grand Challenge: "Ensure Healthy Development for All Youth"--Main Points