Contemporary Social Work Practice

This is the second of five books in McGraw-Hill's new series NEW DIRECTIONS IN SOCIAL WORK, this text helps translate the guiding theoretical perspectives of social justice, human rights, and critical social construction into purposeful social work practice.

"This text provides an exciting, stimulating and fresh approach in making the connection between our aspirations toward social justice and our 'real world' experience as social workers. ... In addition, it is one of the most readable texts I've seen in years!" -- Patricia O'Brien, Jane Addams College of Social Work

Julie Birkenmaier is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University. Dr. Birkenmaier’s practice experience includes community organizing, community development, and nonprofit administration. Her research and writing focuses on community development, financial capability, financial credit, and asset development. With Marla Berg-Weger, she also co-authored the textbook, The Practicum Companion for Social Work: Integrating Class and Field Work (3rd edition).

Marla Berg-Weger is a professor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University, Missouri. Dr. Berg-Weger holds social work degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Her social work practice experience includes public social welfare services, domestic violence services, mental health, medical social work and gerontological social work. Her research and writing focuses on gerontological social work and social work practice. She is the author of Social Work and Social Welfare: An Invitation (2nd edition). With Julie Birkenmaier, she co-authored the textbook, The Practicum Companion for Social Work: Integrating Class and Field Work (3rd edition). She is the past president of the Association of Gerontology in Social Work and currently serves as the Chair of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work Editorial Board Executive Committee and is a fellow in the Gerontological Society of America.

Marty Dewees, Associate Professor Emerita, of the University of Vermont made her way into social work through counseling and then focused on mental health work at the state psychiatric facility. Her inclusion on the faculty at the University of Vermont provided the impetus for looking at social work practice through the lenses of human rights, social justice, strengths, and social construction. These are reflected in her previous publications and in the first edition of this book.