ABSTRACT
Those who practise optimism in family work believe that change is possible, and that families themselves are capable of bringing about change. Regardless of the challenges they face and the different backgrounds they come from, optimism abounds among family workers. Optimistic family work is oriented towards identifying the strengths and resources within families and using them as the base on which new skills and approaches can be developed. These studies have not been replicated in a family work setting, and the nature of family work with its attention to the broad range of family issues would make it somewhat difficult to do so. While the focus of this book is on specific approaches to family work, it must be emphasised that the context in which these ideas are practised continues to be informed by the overarching understanding of what is helpful in working with families.
