The Person-In-Environment Approach: Professional Ideology And Practice Of Social Workers in Israel (Report‪)‬

Person-in-environment is a core concept in social work worldwide (Hare, 2004). Some even claim that this concept, which characterizes social work as a profession that seeks to change and improve the lives of individuals and society and the relationship between them, is what distinguishes social work from other helping professions (Gibelman, 1999; Johnson, 1999; Karls & Wandrei, 1995; Stuart, 1999). Thus, it is little wonder that many scholars view the person-in-environment approach as a central approach in social work (Buchbinder, Eisikovits, & Karnieli-Miller, 2004; Johnson; Kondrat, 2002; Minahan, 1981; Schneider & Netting, 1999). The present study examines the extent to which the person-in-environment approach is part of the professional ideology of social workers in Israel and the degree to which they actualize it in their professional practice.