Goals and Outcomes of Social Workers in Private Practice.

In sharp contrast to the volunteerism of the 1920's and 1930's and the consequent emergence of agency practice, the private practice of social work represents one of the profession's most significant contemporary trends. However, an extensive review of the literature revealed considerable speculation about social workers in private practice without empirical substantiation. This exploratory study surveys goals and outcomes of social workers in Northern New Engl and . Potential respondents were mailed a three page questionnaire which sought to identify: (1) demographic information, (2) goals and outcomes in agency and private practice, (3) factors which contribute to a successful private practice, and (4) attitudes on licensing and vendorship for social workers. Two hundred and seventy-six private practitioners were sampled. Of these, one hundred and twenty-two useable questionnaires were returned (43.2%). Findings showed that respondents entered private practice an average of ten years after receiving their M.S.W. degrees and that 76.7% are in solo practice. Typically, their clients are "White" with incomes in the $15,000.00 to $35,000.00 per year range. Statistical analysis indicated that goals and outcomes are significantly different in agency and private practice. On the whole, agency practice continues to express the social conscience of the profession whereas private practice departs in lieu of increased control of one's professional environment and individual proprietary gain. Success in private practice appears to be related to superior clinical skills, reputation in the community, ability to develop referral sources, personal relationships with other mental health professionals, and small business skills. The aims of social workers in private practice do not appear to be consistent with the altruistic aims of the profession. Furthermore, they are not as politically active in licensing and vendorship issues as they believe they should be. In the process of escaping the bureaucratic entanglements of agency social work, private practitioners apparently relinquish some level of identification with the profession in general. Implications are drawn for further research and for the education of social workers.PhDSocial workUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/159904/1/8412109.pd