"Still the best book available for an introduction to social work class."

—Thomas Broffman, Eastern Connecticut University

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK:
The People's Profession

Third Edition

Ira Colby, University of Pennsylvania
Sophia F. Dziegielewski, Florida State University

Introduction to Social Work: The People's Profession is an engaging introduction into the social work profession, designed for students interested in social work but uncertain of the nature of the profession. The authors are guided by a set of questions: who are social workers? What is it that social workers do? How is the social work profession changing?  The authors effectively communicate their own passion and enthusiasm for social work while realistically portraying the pressures and obstacles that social workers face. Unique profiles of contemporary social workers provide insight into their lives and the profession.  The relaxed tone also prompts student self-reflection about his or her role as a social worker.  The 3rd edition has been redesigned around the 2008 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards for social work education and Code of Ethics information, including topics ranging from traditional agency-based practice to less conventional settings such as political and international social work. 

Features

	New! Additional group activities and case-studies to complement textual themes
	New! Additional sections devoted to counseling survivors of abuse, work with children, and policy implications
	New! Updated information related to the professional codes of ethics including the NASW Code of Ethics standards
	Profiles of social workers in every chapter that include both BSW and MSW graduates
	Extensive glossary with clear, applicable definitions of relevant concepts
	Includes a chapter devoted to international social work
	Available instructor's manual provides suggested syllabi, projects, activities, and a sample test bank

Contents

Preface

Part I THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL WORK
1	Social Work: The Profession The Professional Social Worker Toward a Definition of Social Work Social Work Defined Becoming a Social Worker Membership Associations for Social Workers Summary Questions to Think About
2	Social Welfare: A System's Response to Personal Issues and Public Problems Toward a Definition of Social Welfare Social Welfare Defined Residual and Institutional Social Welfare Is Everyone Really on Welfare? Public Social Welfare Private Social Welfare Social Work in the Social Welfare System Summary Quiz Answers
3	How Did We Get Here from There? The Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 Colonial America Nineteenth-Century Reform Efforts The Twentieth Century Summary Movies to See Quiz Answers
4	So You Want to Be a Social Worker! The Education of a Social Worker Accreditation and Why It Matters  Social Workers Today Getting a Social Work Job after Graduation Summary
Part II THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL WORK
5	Social Work Practice Understanding Diversity The Basics of Practice Concepts Essential to Social Work Practice Differentiating Between Generalist and Specialist Social Work Practice The Emergence of Empirically-Based Social Work Practice The Steps in Professional Helping Practice Application: The Role of the Medical Social Worker Summary
6	Recognizing Diversity and Applying it to Generalist Practice Diversity and Social Work Practice Measurement of Diverse People—The U.S. Census Diversity by Race and Ethnicity in the United States The Generalist Social Worker and Diversity Person-in-Situation: Guiding the Practice Framework Selecting a Practice Method We All Make Mistakes! Culturally Sensitive Practice Summary
Part III SETTINGS FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
7	Poverty and Income Maintenance Poverty Defined Who Actually Constitute the Poor? Why Is There Poverty in a Wealthy Nation? Programs to Aid the Poor Summary Further Reading on Theories about Poverty
8	Child Welfare Services Child Welfare Defined America's Diverse Children and Their Families The Rights of Children The Design of the American Child Welfare System Children with Special Needs Child Sexual Abuse and Trauma Summary
9	Health Care Health Care Social Work Defined A Brief History of Health Care Social Work Understanding the Current Health Care Environment Roles and Tasks of the Health Care Social Worker Why Do It? Summary
10	Mental Health Multidimensional Psychosocial Assessment The Behavioral Biopsychosocial Approach to Social Work Practice Mental Health and Working with the Family in Acute Care Settings Deinstitutionalization and the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System Special Considerations: Mental Health and the Dual Diagnosis Summary Questions to Think About
11	The Elderly Aging: What Can be Expected Theoretical Frameworks for Practice with the Elderly Health, Mental Health, and the Elderly Employment Changes of the Elderly and Social Work Practice Community Care and Management with the Elderly Abuse, Neglect, Risk of Exploitation and Aging Assessing Suicide and Planning for Death Summary
12	Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Defined Characteristics of the Abused and Their Abusers Helping Survivors of Abuse Practice Application: The Role of the Women's Shelter Social Worker Summary References
13	The Political Arena Why Politics and Social Work? Social Work Values and Political Activity A Historical Overview of Political Activity by Social Workers Electoral and Legislative Politics Community Organization: Linking the Political to the Community Summary
Part IV EXPANDING HORIZONS FOR SOCIAL WORK
14	International Social Welfare How Do We Compare Different Nations? Recent Happenings and the World Today How Do We Look at International Social Welfare? International Social Welfare Associations International Professional Social Welfare Organizations NASW and CSWE International Initiatives Summary
15	Conclusions The Time to Decide Is Approaching The Future and You Social Work Practice Special Topic: Regulation of Professional Social Work Practice Final Thoughts
References
Glossary
Appendixes
A	National Association of Social Workers, Code of Ethics
B	International Federation of Social Workers, The Ethics of Social Work: Principles and Standards
C	Council on Social Work Education, Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards
D	Accredited MSW Programs in the United States, Fall 2003
E	Selected National and International Social Work Associations and Related Web pages

Authors: Ira Colby (PhD, University of Pennsylvania; MSW, Virginia Commonwealth University) is Dean of the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Houston. He is widely published and has presented papers at state, national, and international meetings and forums and is currently president of CSWE.

Sophia F. Dziegielewski (PhD; MSW, Florida State University) is professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Central Florida. Professor Dziegielewski has been noted in Social Worker Today for her work in the field. She has over 120 publications and lectures widely across the United States.

2010, Paper, 460 Pages, ISBN 978-1-933478-53-1, Price $69.95