Introduction to Social Work

Sophia F. Dziegielewski is Professor of Social Work at the University of Central Florida. Previously, she served as dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati and taught in the School of Social Work at the University of Alabama. She also serves as editor for the Journal of Social Service Research. She is widely published with over 135 publications to her credit including eight textbooks and numerous articles and book chapters.

Debra Nelson-Gardell is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Alabama. She is the author of numerous journal articles with a focus on clinical practice with individuals, families, and groups; child maltreatment; child sexual maltreatment; child victimization; and emotional trauma.

Ira C. Colby is Professor of Social Work at the University of Houston. He is the author of The Handbook of Policy Practice (OUP, 2019) and serves as consulting editor on the Journal of Social Work Education.

Part 1: The Context of Social Work
1. Social Work: The Profession
2. Social Welfare: A System's Response to Personal Issues, Social Justice, and Public Problems
3. How Did We Get Here from There?
4. So You Want to Be a Social Worker!

Part 2: The Practice of Social Work
5. Social Work Practice
6. Recognizing Diversity and Applying It to Generalist Practice

Part 3: Settings for Social Work Practice
7. Poverty and Income Maintenance
8. Child Welfare Services
9. Health Care
10. Mental Health
11. Older Adults
12. Intimate Partner Violence
13. Social Work Advocacy in the Political Arena

Part 4: Expanding Horizons for Social Work
14. Global Social Welfare
15. Conclusions