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Social Work in the 21st Century
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Social Work in the 21st Century
An Introduction to Social Welfare, Social Issues, and the Profession

Second Edition


December 2010 | 696 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

CourseSmart

A student-friendly introduction to the field of social work, social welfare, and the profession of social work, social issues, and social welfare

Designed to get students excited about the profession and thinking critically about what social workers do and how they operate within the larger system, this Second Edition explores social issues in the United States, looks at how the social welfare system attempts to resolve these issues, and considers the many roles assumed by professional social workers within the social welfare system. This edition offers new and revised coverage throughout and reflects recent current events, including the historic 2008 presidential election, catastrophes such as Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti earthquake, and government responses.


 
Preface
 
PART I: SOCIAL PROBLEMS, THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM, AND THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK
 
1. An Introduction to Social Problems, Social Welfare Organizations, and the Profession of Social Work
 
2. A Brief History of Social Work: From the English Poor Laws to the Progressive Policies of President Barak Obama
 
3.The Social Work Process
 
4. Professional Social Work Practice: The Sophisticated Generalist
 
5. Social Work Education
 
6.The Importance of Critical Thinking and Research in Social Work Practice
 
PART II: PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS RESPOND TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN RELATED WORK SETTINGS
 
7. The Economically and Socially Disadvantaged: Professional Social Work in the Public and Private Social Welfare Systems
 
8. Children in Difficulty: The Child Welfare System and Professional Social Work With Abused, Neglected, and Emotionally Troubled Children and Their Families
 
9. The Education System in America and the Role of School Social Workers
 
10. Troubled Families: The Social Welfare Safety Net and Professional Social Work With Families Experiencing Financial, Emotional, and Social Difficulties
 
11. Problems in the Workplace: Work-Related Helping Organizations and the Role of Industrial Social Work
 
12. Problems of Crime and Violence: The Legal System and the Role of Forensic Social Work
 
13.The Graying of America: Helping Organizations With Older Adults and the Role of Social Workers in Gerontology
 
14. Serious Emotional Problems and Mental Illness: Helping Organizations and the Role of Clinical Social Work
 
15. Health Problems, Disabilities, Death and Dying, and Access to Care: The Many Roles of Medical Social Workers
 
16. A Society With Serious Substance Abuse Problems: The Helping Organizations and the Role of Social Workers in Treating and Preventing Alcohol and Drug Abuse
 
PART III: INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND THE ROLES OF SOCIAL WORK
 
17. Immigration: Xenophobia, the Organizations Helping New Immigrants, and Social Work’s Role in Smoothing Transitions to the United States
 
18. Natural Disasters, Terrorism, and Random Violence: Helping Organizations and the Role of Social Work in Treating Victims in Crisis
 
19. International Social Problems: The Helping Organizations and the Roles of International Social Workers
 
20. Medical, Social, and Emotional Problems in the Military: The Veterans Administration and Military Social Work
 
PART IV: KEY ELEMENTS IN COMBATING SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND ACHIEVING SOCIAL JUSTICE
 
21. The Problems Faced by Diverse Populations: The Helping Organizations and Culturally Sensitive Social Work Practice
 
22. The Role of Social Work and Social Welfare Organizations in Developing Healthy Community Life: Building Better Communities Through Community Organizing
 
23. The Impact of Religion and Spirituality on the Social and Emotional Lives of Americans: Religiously Affiliated Social Service Institutions and the Role of Social Work
 
24. Achieving Social Justice Through Organizational Change: Social Work Adminstrations, Social Justice, and the Public Social Sevices System
 
25. Achieving Social Justice Through Social Policy Initiatives
 
26. Potential Social Problems in the 21st Century and the Future Directions for Social Welfare and Social Work
 
Appendix: Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers
 
References
 
Index
 
About the Author

The detailed information to introduce students to the field of social work and the inclusion of international social work.

Dr Laura Lane-Worley
Social Behavioral Sciences Div, Lee College
August 27, 2015

The most interesting part of this book is an introduction to social problems from a different approach than in other main books in the field of social work. For example, it includes problems in the workplace, cyber-bullying, death and dying, religiously affiliated social service, and potential social problems. Unique parts of this handbook are chapters on international issues and the roles of social work.

Mr Andrzej Klimczuk
Collegium of Socio-Economics, Warsaw School of Economics
October 15, 2014

Chosen by Social Work department, and as an instructor I find Sage online materials to be very useful.

Mr Peter Maugeri
School Of Social Work, New York University
September 5, 2014

A comprehensive text for social work and social welfare professionals. It has a good overview of theoretical foundations of social work practice alongside good practice and case examples. It is very strongly set within a US context, which at times renders some of the content less useful for European/Australian/other audiences. However a good, clear text that would be useful on any social work student's bookshelf.

Dr Leanne Robins
Social Care and Nursing, GMIT
December 13, 2012

Combines all aspects of defining what is social work. Also integrates social work history and better explains what it is to have a career in social work.

Ms Annalease Gibson
Psych Socio Social Work Dept, Albany State University
August 30, 2012

This is the most up-to-date and comprehensive text for an Intro to Social Work course. It is simply excellent.

Mr Camilla Delsid
Family Studies, Shasta College
July 23, 2011
Key features

New to the Second Edition:

  • Invited narratives by social workers give students a first-hand experience of the variety of roles social workers perform today.
  • Two new chapters explore The Importance of Critical Thinking and Research in Social Work Practice (Chapter Six) and Social Policy (Chapter 25).
  • New and expanded coverage is included on forensic social work, macro social work practice, evidence-based practice, the Person in Environment perspective, and more.
  • An all-new photo program engages students and makes the book more visually dynamic.


Key Features:

  • Fascinating case studies illustrate successful social work practice and provide insight into the various functions of social workers, including social workers in the military; social workers in local, state, and federal legislatures; and social workers in the business sector.
  • Comprehensive coverage includes unique topics such as military families and natural disasters, forensic social work, and religion and spirituality, as well as mainstream topics such as public welfare, industrial social work, child welfare, and clinical practice.
  • You Be the Social Worker sections encourage student to figure out how they would handle real-life situations they might encounter on the job.
  • Student-focused learning tools include information boxes with statistics, Internet sources, and Questions to Determine Your Frame of Reference designed to guide students in critical thinking, reflection, and determining a personal point of view.

Sage College Publishing

You can purchase or sample this product on our Sage College Publishing site:

Go To College Site

This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.