The Place of Place in Social Work: Rethinking the Person-in-Environment Model

Abstract

Despite continual advancement of social work theory over the past few decades, neglecting to consider the geographical concept of place represents a scholarly gap. This is a significant oversight considering the field of social work distinguishes itself from other human service disciplines by focusing on the person-in-environment model. Place intersects with social work in myriad ways, and for this paper, we focus on three sub-concepts of place, namely place attachment, place identity, and territoriality, in order to illustrate “the place of place” in social work. Drawing upon the authors’ doctoral research with three marginalized, “out-of-place” populations — older homeless adults, immigrant families, and war-affected children and families — we illustrate the importance of place in social work. Examples support a shift in thinking from a focus of person in place — which emphasizes the person and the social environment — towards a focus on person and place — where place is understood as a dynamic, reciprocal concept that takes into account the physical, social, and political aspects of the environment. Ultimately, emphasizing the synergy of people and place provides a fresh avenue of inquiry to broaden and enhance social work education and practice.