Community Based Social Work: Strategies for Teaching and Practice

Social work’s history is rooted in the community and the interaction between the individual, family and community. In this presentation we explore the social work area of community practice. Specifically we examine ways in which students engagement with the community and their understanding of the social process that impact their community can be strengthened. We will start the presentation by providing a brief discussion of theory and practice models associated with community based social work, which are found in the United States and Palestine. Next we examine issues of power as related to community based social work, and specifically look at teaching and learning strategies that support critical analysis and student reflection on power and power dynamics. Finally we end with a discussion on the applicability of international models for the purposes of teaching and practice.