ABSTRACT
THE EMPHASIS IN THIS BOOK IS ON THE CONTEXT OF the social work inter-vention as it shapes the meaning of experience for clients and for social workers. In this chapter, the concept of “context” is integrated into all aspects of practice. Context both shapes what you do and likewise is shaped by what you do. Whether you are working with a person recently diagnosed with a chronic illness, an adult child who is experiencing stress from caring for an aging parent, or an immigrant who is seeking U.S. citizenship, you interact with the choices and
capacities of individuals, the systems in which people are embedded, and the accessibility of existing and potential resources. All of these dimensions contribute to the totality of the social work practice context.
