Family has become less important in many people`s lives. Given the demographic changes of recent decades, it is no surprise that Ann Hartman’s original focus on family relations has been expanded to other social relations. In that way, one could grow beyond the traditional approach where interventions are oriented on individuals. One goal for the social worker is to engage with that social network and unleash what it can contribute in terms of caring and support. The focus of clinical practice should not be solely on the client but include his or her social network.

The second major contribution Hartman made to social work can be labelled ecological social work and follows from the ecomap and genogram. This line of work was later expanded by others such as Monica McGoldrick on using genograms to visualise intergenerational family relationships and Mark Mattaini on using graphics for clinical practice. Hartman stresses the visual power of the tool: 'The connections, the themes, and the quality of the family`s life seem to jump off the page and this leads to a more holistic and integrative perception.' They can be used by the social worker only, or as an aid in an interview with clients. Both can be used for assessment, planning and intervention. Her first contribution to social work was the introduction of the ecomap (often also called an ecogram) and the genogram as simple drawing techniques that enable social workers to depict social and family relationships. Both were already embedded in her first influential publication, an article that appeared in 1978 in Social Casework (later renamed Families in society) entitled Diagrammatic assessment of family relationships. Hartman made two related contributions to social work that still influence today’s practice. In 1986, she moved on to the School of Social Work at the Smith College in Massachusetts.

She again became involved with family social work through the Ann Arbor Center for the Family and the National Child Welfare Training Center. From 1974 onwards, once she completed her PhD, she started working as a social work researcher and educator at the University of Michigan faculty in 1974. After receiving her master degree of social work, she moved on to work in mental health and family services in the New York area. Hartman started her career in 1959 as a caseworker for the Summit County Child Welfare Board in Akron, Ohio. It is probably safe to claim that not many social workers across the world know the name of Ann Hartman and the way she contributed to social work practice, although most know her contributions.

Example of a genogram in social work