Working with Families

Working with Families, Third Edition is an accessible and practice-oriented guide that equips students and practitioners alike with the knowledge and tools to support families facing complex and evolving challenges. Through clinical and sociological perspectives and employing a strengths-based approach, this thoroughly updated edition provides a broad overview of factors affecting Canadian families such as diverse family structures, healthy and unhealthy forms of communication, family culture and beliefs, couple dynamics, addiction, and developmental and psychiatric disabilities.

Covering a range of topics, the author draws special attention to 2SLGBTQI and military families, the effects of violence and trauma, and professional ethics and self-care. Thorough updates to this third edition reflect contemporary issues such as trauma-informed practice, social media and its impact on families, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous families, colonialism, and "good enough parenting."

Utilizing straightforward language, applied focus, and extensive pedagogical supports Working with Families, Third Edition remains an indispensable resource for students and practitioners of social services, child and youth work, family studies and health-related programs, and early childhood education.

Dr. Patricia Spindel has worked with youth and engaged in systemic advocacy for people with developmental disabilities and their families and older adults for over forty years. She taught at both the University of Guelph-Humber and the Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, where she also coordinated the Social Services Worker Program and was an Associate Dean of Health Sciences. She is a former President of Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities, co-founder of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, organizer of the Ontario Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, and co-founder of Seniors for Social Action Ontario.