NASW Press Releases Person-in-Environment System Manual, 2nd Edition

Washington –The NASW Press is pleased to release Person-in-Environment System Manual, 2nd Edition.  This updated version, by James Karls and Maura O’Keefe, brings the relevance of the original manual into a 21st century social work perspective. The new release includes the CompuPIE software which helps practitioners write and record a multifaceted, comprehensive assessment and treatment plan that is adaptable for clients in most settings.

PIE, a classification system that allows social workers to classify and code problems in social functioning, was developed as an alternative to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) classification system and as a system that would be congruent with the social work philosophy of person-in-environment.  The new PIE system incorporates a strength based perspective and uses the four factor structure to evaluate a client: social role functioning, environmental problems and resources, mental health, and physical health.

Dr. Karls had an extensive career as a clinician, administrator and teacher in social work.  He started the first mental health clinic in California’s Central Valley and directed mental health programs in California.  The first edition of the Person-in-Environment System, published by the NASW Press, has been translated into more than eight languages.  Dr. Karls died on June 29, 2008.  Dr. O’Keefe has been a licensed social worker for more than 30 years and has worked in various settings. She was a faculty member at the University of Southern California of Social Work for over 15 years, and presently teaches at California State University, Sacramento. 

For more information about the Person-in-Environment Manual, 2nd Edition or other books published by the NASW Press, please visit www.naswpress.org. 

About the NASW Press
The NASW Press, a division of the National Association of Social Workers, has been publishing materials in social work since 1956.  It is committed to delivering an unrivaled collection of high-quality books, scholarly journals, and professional social work references.  It acknowledges that social work is a dynamic profession and demands a continuous enhancement of intellectual works; therefore, the Press provides publishing opportunities guided by rigorous standards and a constructive peer review process.  The NASW Press endeavors to be the premier publisher of literary products in social work and other social sciences, serving readers throughout the United States and abroad.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 140,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.