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Generalist Practice: A Task-Centered Approach, Second Edition resources

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task-centered and generalist practice 13 self through our inability to resolve targeted problems. The remedy is, of course, to try to engage the system that is needed to resolve the prob- lems successfully. 1.5.0 Collaterals and Representatives of Other Systems Collaterals are people involved with the primary system. They might be personally or professionally related to the primary system. For exam- ple, when the primary system is an individual, collaterals might include family members and schoolteachers or physicians. Work with collater- als has always been a component of TC. We do not hesitate to involve them on the client’s behalf provided they are important to problem res- olution and the client has granted permission. Clients are always fully informed about our contacts with collaterals. Although, in this chapter, we have used the generalist phrase “work with other systems,” in fact we rarely work with other entire systems. More often we work with representatives of other systems like indi- vidual family members or friends, teachers, physicians, or public assis- tance workers. In other words, we work with collaterals. Thus it may appear that the TC approach is no different than the generalist approach with respect to the inclusion of others. In fact, however, recognizing the similarity and difference between the two is enriching. The similarity suggests that work with others (by whatever name) is an important bridging concept between the two approaches. The differences strengthen each of the concepts. TC contributes speci- ficity to the generalist idea. Collaterals and procedures for working with them can be identified. Ultimately their contributions to problem resolution can be determined. The generalist perspective expands our thinking about collaterals in two ways. First, it directs us to consider other systems systematically. Second, it illuminates the fact that collat- erals are representatives of other systems and that potential conflicts may exist. As representatives of other systems, collaterals are account- able to others, and they must operate within the rules and procedures of other systems. The recognition that collaterals are involved in more than one system should enable us to work with them more effectively.

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