Handbook for Public Health Social Work

Public health social work is an interdisciplinary, epidemiologically oriented approach to improving human health and well-being. About one quarter of all social workers in the United States currently work in medical or public health settings, a number that is expected to increase significantly in coming years. This handbook, written and edited by respected leaders of the Social Work Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA), describes the rapidly expanding roles of public health social workers as these two disciplines continue to join forces.

The handbook describes how the alliance of social work and public health has already made significant progress and ways in which it will further improve health care in the United States. It addresses job opportunities for public health social workers in such fields as disease prevention, health promotion, child welfare, gerontology, disaster response, trauma intervention, substance abuse, outreach services, and advocacy. It also covers public health social work with special populations and in neighborhood, rural, and global settings.

• Authored by highly respected APHA Social Work members
• Describes the ways in which the alliance of social work and public health is improving health care
• Highlights key settings and job opportunities for public health social workers
• Addresses public health social work with special populations and its relationship to such medical topics as chronic conditions, HIV/AIDS, disabilities, and more

Robert H. Keefe, PhD, is the Chairperson of the Social Work Section of the American Public Health Association. He is Associate Professor in the School of Social Work, University of Buffalo.

Elaine Theresa Jurkowski, PhD, MSW, is a professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s School of Social Work, where she teaches courses in health and aging policy, research, and program evaluation and social work practice. Dr. Jurkowski also holds joint appointments with the Department of Public Health and Recreation Professions and SIU’s School of Medicine’s Family Practice Residency Program.