Now featuring the work of two new co-authors (Catheleen Jordan and Cynthia Franklin) and emphasizing the field's current focus on evidence-based approaches in family treatment, this text gives students an understanding of the relationship between individual and family functioning and problem solving. It helps students develop skills to assist individuals and families in solving their own problems as well as making use of interventions from outside the family. Written especially for social workers, and complete with many new case studies throughout, this text builds on basic social work knowledge, focuses on the kinds of situations that commonly confront social workers, and takes into account the environment in which families live.