Theory and method: a social work approach to unmet needs.

Social workers who plan or administer programs are fundamentally concerned with meeting the needs of the clients served. The social work profession, while proficient at needs assessments, has paid insufficient attention to research into social bases of unmet service needs. This study is an examination of unmet needs of persons with HIV diagnosis. It utilizes the Health Behavior Model, within the framework of the ecological perspective. The study is presented as a case example to illustrate the value of this research methodology for administration, programming, and policy in the human services.