Social Work Policy Practice: Changing Our Community, Nation, and the World (Connecting Core Competencies) - Softcover

Ritter, Jessica A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0205828515 ISBN 13: 9780205828517

Publisher: Pearson, 2012

Synopsis

Demonstrates why policy-making is a critical and exciting dimension of social work practice.

 

Social Work Policy Practice engages students by showing how the mission of social justice and the person-in-environment perspective sets social work apart from other helping professions in the United States.

 

Part of the Connecting Core Competencies Series, this text introduces students to social work policy practice in the United States and describes how policies are enacted into law as well as how to engage in policy practice. It includes compelling stories of advocates, activists, and organizations who try to make change in the political and/or legal arenas on behalf of vulnerable populations. The final chapters of the text focus on the economics that surround the policy change process and take a look toward the future.

 

Upon completing this book readers will be able to:

• Understand the importance of social work policy practice
• Describe how social work policies are made into law
• Engage in policy practice

 

About this title

About the Author

Jessica A. Ritter, Ph.D., MSSW, BSW is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Pacific University Oregon where she directs the undergraduate social work program. Dr. Ritter completed her BSW, MSSW, and doctorate in Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. Her social work career has been dedicated to the field of child welfare and work on behalf of vulnerable children and families. She co-authored a chapter on child welfare policy in Dr. Diana DiNitto’s book, Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7th edition. Her current research is focused on evaluating the political participation and political advocacy efforts of social workers, and she has published in this area. Dr. Ritter is a Fulbright Scholar, which enabled her to conducted research on social work policy practice in Gothenburg, Sweden during the fall of 2011. She teaches a range of social work courses in the social work program at Pacific University including Principles of Social Work, Social Work Research Methods, Macro Social Work, and Social Policy & Social Justice. Professor Ritter is the author of the book 101 Careers in Social Work, which provides a current examination and description of the multitude of careers paths that are available to those with a degree in social work. She serves as the Chair of the Legislative Committee for the Oregon Chapter of NASW where she works with others to impact legislation at the state level. Jessica’s passion within social work is social welfare policy, cultivating strong political advocacy skills among social work students and encouraging them to explore this side of macro social work practice.

Review

“This is some of the clearest and most straight forward text book writing that I have found...As a member of the Commission on Curriculum and Educational Innovation, I find that the material well addresses the new EPAS standards...In particular it has an excellent global perspective and engages students in critical thinking.”     

          -Stephen Anderson, New Mexico State University

 

“I absolutely love the writing. Students will easily understand the content because it is relevant and engaging. The figures and charts are priceless. These provide a quick reference to active social welfare policies.”

          -Sepora Fisher, Northwestern State University

 

“I really like the figures listing significant legislation in chronological order. They are really helpful in providing a wide swath of information quickly.”

          -Julia Rembert, University of Iowa

 

“The writing style is excellent in that it is engaging and free of jargon. New concepts are clearly defined and aided by practical examples.”

          -Saliwe Kawewe, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

 

“It is student-friendly as it is straight forward and easy to read. Most policy books are so hard to engage the students, yet this one makes it accessible.”

          -Ruth Charles, Winona State University

 

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0205828515
• ISBN 13: 9780205828517
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288