About

Solution-Based Casework (SBC) (Christensen & Todahl, 1998, Christensen et al, 1999) is a child welfare practice model based on three theoretical foundations:

family life cycle theory ( Carter & McGoldrick, 1980)
relapse prevention/CBT theory (Irwin, 1999, Marlatt & Gordon, 1985; Parks & Marlatt, 1999)
solution-focused family therapy (Kelly & Berg 2000, Berg, 1994; deShazer, 1988)

These theoretical foundations translate to the following assumptions of casework:

that full partnership with the family is a critical and vital goal for each and every case
that the partnership for protection should focus on the patterns of everyday life of the family
that solutions should target the prevention skills needed to reduce the risk in those everyday life situations

When applied to the child welfare population, a SBC assessment utilizes the family life cycle to frame and locate the “problem” in the difficult developmental challenges that create safety threats to the family in their everyday life (supervising young children, keeping the house clean and safe, teaching the children right from wrong).

SBC case planning organizes those challenges into efforts (Specific Plans of Action) the whole family can work on (Family Level Objectives), and those efforts (plans) that certain individuals in the family need to work on (Individual Level Objectives) so that the family challenges go better. These Specific Plans of Action are not the typical service delivery plans that measure service compliance, but are behaviorally specific, and are co-developed by the family, provider, and caseworker. These plans target needed skills in critical risk areas that can then be demonstrated, documented, and celebrated.

Throughout assessment, case planning, and casework management, SBC builds on solution-focused tenets (see Berg, 1994 and Christensen et al., 1999) that child welfare clients:

need significant encouragement to combat discouragement
possess unnoticed and unrecognized skills that can be used in the anticipation and prevention of child maltreatment

Clients are assisted within a forward-looking partnership that searches for exceptions to problems in everyday life and recreates or builds upon their social network with supportive others (Berg, 1994; DeShazer, 1991, O’Hanlon & Weiner-Davis, 1989).

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About Dana Christensen

Dana Christensen, PhD is Professor Emeritus and past Director of the Family Therapy Program in the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville. He was also the Director of the University of Louisville’s Center for Family Resource Development, a center dedicated to developing and enhancing community-based intervention projects. Dr. Christensen has written widely in the fields of juvenile justice, child welfare, and family therapy for over twenty five years. He is the author of the book Family Therapy: Theory and Practice as well as Solution Based Casework: An Introduction to Clinical and Case Management Skills in Social Work Practice, and numerous journal articles.

Dr. Christensen has worked closely with state child welfare agencies assisting them in their efforts to improve their case assessment, case planning, and case management practices. In conjunction with Social Services Associates, LLC. he has also worked closely with mental health treatment providers in developing practices that facilitate working partnerships with child protection, school services, and juvenile justice agencies.

Contact Dr. Christensen