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This paper presents findings from an investigation of nature-based practices, from the perspectives of 10 academics/educators from six nations. Participants engaged in a focus group exploring the prevalence and inclusion of nature in social work practice and education. While the study focused on individual members' experiences and perspectives, the findings highlight important context-specific factors for including nature within social work to reconnect humans with nature for health, well-being, healing, and justice. An Integrative Environmental Model for social work is proposed to assist future practice and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on utilizing traditional elements in the society in casework practice. The inputs of knowledge base of social work as a profession have been from the Western World rather than the Eastern. For the past decades, the whole set of social work values, functions and methods have been transferred to social work students in Taiwan without any modification. (At least not in the written materials available for students in colleges.) It is the author's personal experience and observation that the Chinese students in Taiwan have been struggling to fit their social work activities into theories they were taught. It was assumed that the value and principles of social work were universal, and, therefore, what was left was only to put them into daily practice without any necessity of modification in order to be recognized as a "professional" social worker. The basic philosophical concepts of social work practice particularly in the United States have been named by the National Association of Social Work as the individual who is the primary concern of this society.