Provides feminist analysis of Germain and Gitterman's life model of practice, revealing that the life model fails to address the problematic nature of the concept of goodness-of-fit, particularly in relation to practice with women. The life model is an example of a paradigm that does not clarify the societal problems sufficiently. (Author/ABL)

A model of intervention for meeting human needs through structural rather than individual change is described. The assumptions are that social structures cause social problems, clients are adequate people victimized by inadequate social arrangements, and social workers should act as agents of social change. Principles guiding such practice are…

Reviews the development of social work views about the person-environment interface as an evolutionary process. Charges that Fischer's criticism of theory and of pressing for rank empiricism and an emphasis on technique as a basis for practice is a sure way to social work's demise as a knowledge-based profession. (JAC)

The issue of short-term versus long-term treatment has been the focus of much controversy. After examining the arguments on both sides, the author concludes that certain short-term treatment strategies can be used effectively in situations usually seen as requiring long-term treatment. (Author)

Reviews elements of the respondent, operant, and modeling theories and various principles of the exchange theory that can be combined to facilitate changes in client behavior. Proposes the behavioral exchange model as a framework to help social workers conceptualize clinical phenomena and thus gain power to influence them. (Author/JAC)