A Systems Perspective : The Pincus-Minahan Model

A system perspective emphasizes looking beyond a client's presenting problems to assess the complexities and interrelationships of problems. Through a systems analysis of a case, the most effective intervention targets and strategies can usually be identified. The most publicized systems model in social work literature is the Pincus-Minahan (1973) approach.

Pincus-Minahan theorized that there are four basic systems in social work practice:

~ A change agent system: is composed of professionals who are employed specifically
for the purpose of creating planned change.

~ A client system: is composed of the people who sanction or ask for the change
agent's services, who are the expected beneficiaries of the service, and who have a
working agreement or contract with the change agent.

~ A target system: is composed of the people, agencies, and organizational practices
that the worker wishes to change in some measurable way to reach the goals of the
change agent.

~ An action system: is used to describe those with whom the social worker works to
accomplish the tasks and achieve the goals of the change effort.