This document discusses social work in rural settings. It notes that rural communities have fewer resources and support services compared to urban areas. Social workers in rural areas must build strong relationships, have extensive knowledge of available resources, and act as generalists to fill gaps and mobilize support. Maintaining confidentiality can also be challenging in close-knit rural communities where social workers and clients interact both professionally and personally.

1. Chapter 14:
Social Work in Rural
Settings
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

2. Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

3. Social Work: A Competency-
Oriented Education
 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Defines Educational Policy and Accreditation
Standards (EPAs)
- Developed 10 “Core Competencies” and 41
Related “Practice Behaviors”
 Every student should master the Practice
Behaviors and Core Competencies before
completing the program
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

4. Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008
 The Textbook –
- “Helping Hands” icons call attention to content that
relates to Practice Behaviors and Competencies
- “Competency Notes” at the end of the chapter
help put the Practice Behaviors and Competencies
in practical context
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

5. Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008 (cont’d)
 The Practice Behaviors Workbook developed
with the text provides assignable exercises that
assist in mastering the Practice Behavior and
Competencies
 Additional on-line resources can be found at:
www.cengage.com/socialwork
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

6. Definitional issues
• Definitions of urban or rural are based on
population size, not behavioral attributes of
population groups
• Such definitions do not take into account the
complexity of life in either place
EP 2.1.3a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

7. Key facts about rural life
• 50 million people
• Farming no longer central to rural economy
• People have more limited resources than urban
residents
• Different environment and lifestyle than found in
metropolitan areas
EP 2.1.3a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

8. Key facts about rural life
• Growing numbers of Hispanics
• Weekly earnings for non-metro workers are 70% to
80% of those for metro workers
• Food insecurity (not enough food to meet basic
needs) is greater in non-metro areas than in metro
areas
EP 2.1.3a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

9. Characteristics of rural communities
• Basic friendliness and trust
• Isolation and resistance to change
• Suspicion toward newcomers or outsiders
• Independence of spirit, yet vulnerable
• Financial and experiential poverty
• Reliance on informal or natural helping systems for
assistance
EP 2.1.3a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

10. Characteristics of rural communities (cont’d)
• Concrete thinking and reserved behaviors
• Traditional values and conservatism
• More holistic, less compartmentalized lives
EP 2.1.3a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

11. Social organization of rural communities
Although there are common threads of roles and
Relationships that knit the community together,
each locale has its own character
EP 2.1.7a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

12. Support services in rural communities
• Scarce or nonexistent
• Church is a significant institution
• County agent often serves as counselor, case
manager, and resource finder
• Reliance on informal or natural helping networks
• Impact of digital divide
EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

13. Social problems in rural areas
• Few available mental health services
• Major gaps in health care services
• Persistent poverty
• Rapidly-growing older adult population
• Ethnic segregation
EP 2.1.3a, 2.1.7b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

14. The rural family
The notion that rural families experience a high
degree of harmony, are problem free, and enjoy high
levels of life satisfaction is not necessarily borne out
by fact
EP 2.1.3a, 2.1.7b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

15. Crisis of the small farmer
Few resources are available to assist the small farmer
and rancher in maintaining property and purchasing
equipment essential for successful competition
EP 2.1.3a, 2.1.7b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

16. Social welfare in rural communities
• Rural areas vary in ability to finance needed
services
• Few services are available – those that are tend to
be basic ones
• Public social services are generally extended to
rural areas through state agencies
EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8a, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

17. Social work in rural settings
• Change comes slow
• Strong relationships with community leaders are
essential
• Requires knowledge of resources, resource
development, methods of linking clients with
resources, and case management
EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.7b, 2.1.8a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

18. Social Work in Rural Settings
• Everyone knows the social worker
both professionally and personally
• Maintaining client confidentiality
can be difficult
• Social workers who do not reside in the community
are often regarded as outsiders
EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.7b, 2.1.8a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

19. Rural social work as generalist practice
• Settings, problems, and lack of resources provide a
unique set of challenges
• Requires creativity, innovation, and ability to
mobilize resources
• Seen as neighbors as well as practitioners
EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.7b, 2.1.8b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing