Toward a Livable Life A 21st Century Agenda for Social Work

Historically, social workers have confronted and alleviated many of society's most far-reaching and seemingly intractable crises. As we move further into the 21st century, however, the field faces a renewed call to action as critical issues become more deeply and widely engrained in the world's social fabric. Enlisting the insights of leading social work scholars, Toward a Livable Life grapples with 13 key areas in an effort to identify innovative solutions toward achieving a "livable life"--i.e., a life in which individuals are able to thrive and develop in order to reach their full potential and capacity. To this end, the volume paves the way for the work that lies ahead for social workers, social work researchers and teachers, and social work students.

Mark Robert Rank, PhD, MS, is Herbert S. Hadley Professor of Social Welfare at Washington University in St. Louis. He is widely recognized as one of the country?s foremost experts on issues of poverty, inequality, and social justice.