Christianity and Social Work : Readings on the Integration of Christian Faith and Social Work Practice

The first edition of Christianity and Social Work (1998) was written to offer a Christian perspective on the social work profession as a whole, as well as on specific topics within the profession. For this second edition, editors Beryl Hugen and Laine Scales surveyed college teachers inquiring what new topics they felt should be added to keep pace with recent changes in the profession. The resulting 400+ page volume includes chapter topics organized around three themes:

1. A Christian Worldview and Social Work - articulates a variety of Christian principles and encourages readers to relate a Christian worldview related to social work.

2. Spiritual Dimensions in Social Work Practice - affirms that spirituality and religious beliefs are integral to the nature of the person and have a vital influence on human behavior.

3. The Changing Environment in Social Work Practice - addresses issues surrounding faith-based organizations and the delivery of social services as well as the role of congregations in responding to social concerns.

Christianity and Social Work is intended for a variety of audiences, including social work practitioners, educators, and students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is organized so that it can be used as a textbook or supplemental text in a social work class, or as a training or reference materials for practitioners. Readings address a breadth of curriculum areas such as social welfare history, human behavior and the social environment, social policy, and practice at micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

Editors: Beryl Hugen, Ph.D., is Professor of Social Work at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. T. Laine Scales. Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Social Work at Baylor University, Waco, Texas.