Clinical practice guidelines: Should social work develop them?

The author affirms the need for social work practice guidelines but poses some cautions and challenges regarding their development. Guidelines represent an important tool to support both the practice and the advocacy missions of the profession. The content of these guidelines must be flexible, reflect interdisciplinary practice, and address the multiple roles that social workers play with clients and their families. The guideline development process will need to confront the practical challenges that have the potential for detailing this type of endeavor. Those challenges include resistance to change, inadequate financing, and struggle about auspice.