Books in the Sage Human Services Guides series

This book is intended to help students and professionals become more aware of group decision making processes and how each member contributes to it to make better quality decisions.

Emphasizes the conceptualization and use of measurement concepts and principles in relationship to decisions routinely made in various phases of direct practice - assessment, planning interventions, implementing intervention, and termination and follow-up.

The authors focus on `hard-core' alcoholics who have not responded to the usual treatment programmes. Their approach attempts `to help clients convince themselves' of their problem. They look both at out-patient groups in-patient services.

The Community-Orientated Needs Assessment (CONA) model presented by the authors demonstrates that effective two-way communication between providers of human services and the community is necessary for effective and efficient social services.The CONA model uses data from demographic/statistical profiles, key informants, and random community members to define needed services, to develop programs, and to improve accountability. The authors both outline the logic behind the use of this model and sketch a step-by-step approach for developing the model for use in a variety of settings.

This book demystifies the process of planning a community intervention, using clear and simple language to aid students understanding .

Written by internationally renowned scholar Armand Lauffer, the book focuses on how nonprofit agencies operate and not how they are managed. This text addresses the current trend to differentiate how nonprofits are disctint.

Basic techniques for achieving group success are described in the latest edition of this popular handbook for group facilitators, which clearly details when, how and why to use each technique.Concrete examples are provided for each technique, and its application to a wide range of topics is discussed. These include contract negotiation, mediation, confrontation, gatekeeping, focusing, responding to feelings, rewarding effort and achievement, information management and summarizing. Completely revised and updated, this edition includes improved practice exercises, an expanded discussion on the nature of group success, and a new section which relates leadership techniques to group-specific cases.

Lauffer's 1977 bestseller has been revised in order to place emphasis on the need to understand your own organization, your clients and your funding options throughout the grant-getting process. Via a series of checklists, vignettes and exercises, the author leads the reader through various marketing strategies to the actual writing of a grant proposal, casting of budgets, and alternatives if the grant is not given. Readable, concise, instructive and practical, Grantsmanship is an invaluable aid to funding in the eighties.'...we could all learn something from the author's no-nonsense approach to extracting funds from reluctant agencies...If we are to become more market-orientated, this book can only help.' -- British Accou

This reference work provides information about the use of medication for mental health problems - which drugs to use when, the brand and generic names, how the medication works, common dosages and side-effects. It also describes what researchers know about psychotropic medications.

A comprehensive and up to date treatment of the subject of performace accountability and performance measurement in social work

Thoroughly revised, enlarged and redesigned, the Second Edition of this successful book presents useful guidelines for effectively composing new groups and modifying existing ones.

Total Quality Management (TQM) is shaping the management of the 1990s. This book is the first to present TQM concepts with social service administrators in mind. With examples drawn from public administration, gerontology, public health and non-profit-making organizations, the book provides sound background information on TQM for practitioners.

Oriented around the "Limit and Lead" strategy, this text describes an effective group treatment programme which combines traditional and contemporary influences in correctional rehabilitation.

A practical guide for human service workers and students which describes and shows techniques for use in assessing families. The author reviews a conceptual basis of family assessment in chapters that focus on the family as a system, the family and its environment, and the family life cycle. She goes on to describe such methods of assessment as the ecomap, the genogram, family sculpture, and the use of observation and checklists. Throughout the guide, case examples are used to illustrate concepts and show the techniques in use. A special feature of particular value is the self-teaching exercises designed to give the reader practice in applying these ideas and methods. A concluding chapter relates family assessment to treatment or intervention.

A practical guide to recently developed management principles that takes the reader beyond the basics of the TQM fad to the core concepts that undergird it. The book provides a basic reference and field guide for mental health service organizations that are interested in learning about and applying sound management principles.