Person-in-Environment System

The PIE Classification System for Social Functioning Problems

James M. Karls, DSW, LCSW, ACSW, received a master's degree in social work from the University of Chicago in 1950 and a DSW from the University of Southern California in 1978. Dr. Karls has had an extensive career as a clinician, administrator, and teacher in social work. He has held numerous appointed and elected offices within NASW, including the presidency of the California chapter. Dr. Karls has served on the national NASW Health/Mental Health Commission, has been chair of the national NASW Task Force on Standards for Case Management, and is the past chair of the NASW Certification and Accreditation Commission. Dr. Karls is the author of many journal articles, has been a contributing editor to Hospital and Community Psychiatry, and coauthored Case Management in Human Service Practice with Marie Weil.

Karin E. Wandrei, DSW, LCSW, BCD, has been associated with the PIE project since 1984 when she joined Dr. Karls to conduct the initial field-testing of the PIE system. Dr. Wandrei received her MSW in 1977 and her DSW in 1983 from the University of California at Berkeley. She is experienced as a clinician, supervisor, administrator, teacher, and researcher, specializing in child abuse, women's issues, and depression. She has held a number of positions within the California chapter of NASW. She is currently the executive director of the Mendocino County Youth Project in Ukiah, California. She can be contacted at kwandrei@pacific.net.