VIOLENCE RECONCEPTUALIZED FOR SOCIAL-WORK - THE URBAN DILEMMA

Within the context of the prevalence of violence in U.S. culture and current social concern about the epidemic of street and handgun violence in urban areas, a conceptual model of violence for social work is presented that addresses the diverse manifestations of violence, its multilevel nature, and its structural foundation. Examples related to poverty and drugs demonstrate the model's usefulness for social work assessment and intervention. Recommendations for social work education, practice, policy, and research ave made to help social workers develop a move effective response to violence in society. A paradigm shift in social work's thinking about violence is required to address the deeply embedded and submerged structural roots of violence.