Close to Home: Human Services and the Small Community

Peppered with scores of evocative stories drawn from the media, fiction, and nonfiction, Close to Home delves into theories essential for understanding the myriad complexities of small-town America. This book unveils the strengths found in settings outside the large, anonymous metropolis and demonstrates how the human services professional can tap into these powerful forces. Focused on the sociocultural distinctions of these locales, the book explores their way of life, patterns of relationships, and the importance of shared history. Special Features * Explores the definition of the small community * Uses real-life encounters and examples from the media and literature to address the social reality of the small community * Focuses on the psychological and cultural elements of community that provide a sense of belonging and well-being * Analyzes the distribution of power, influence, and leadership in small-community settings * Delves into the tensions between small-town professionals and community residents from a philosophical as well as historical standpoint * Provides a comprehensive theoretical base for understanding the different approaches required for success in social work practice within the small-community context

Also available:

Pocket Guide to Essential Human Services - ISBN 0871013657
Professional Writing for the Human Services - ISBN 0871011999

NASW Press

NASW Press, a division of National Association of Social Workers (NASW), is a leading scholarly press in the social sciences. We serve faculty, practitioners, agencies, libraries, clinicians, and researchers throughout the United States and abroad.

Known for attracting expert authors, the NASW Press delivers professional information to hundreds of thousands of readers through its scholarly journals, books, and reference works.

Some of the areas we publish in include:

-Social work in the field of aging
-Models of social work
-Social work with children and adolescents
-Ethics in social work
-Community organization
-Professional development