An International Approach to Social Work: Connecting Across Cultures to Inform Practice

An International Approach to Social Work: Connecting Across Cultures to Inform Practice examines the full range of challenges that social workers around the world are called to address, including forced migration, environmental justice, human trafficking, and more. This text bridges the gap between community-based social work and global systems, encouraging students and practitioners to broaden their perspectives, while providing them with the competencies they need to confront globally interconnected challenges.

The book features chapters written by experts from varied backgrounds and professional contexts. Section One focuses on the international and intercultural context of social work education. The chapters cover field placements, the role of culture in social work practice, and the importance of multicultural competencies for social workers. Section Two presents applications of multicultural competencies from global perspectives. These chapters explore topics ranging from community well-being to gender education and youth leadership to the development of refugee populations. Section Three presents additional considerations for life and work abroad for social workers.

An International Approach to Social Work is an ideal resource for students and new professionals in social work, counseling, psychology, sociology, and other related professions.

Samson Chama is a scholar, researcher, practitioner, and a professor of social work at Alabama A&M University. He holds a Ph.D. in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Chama has worked and collaborated with several international organizations, including the World Bank, UNICEF, the International Labor Organization, and the United States Agency for International Development.

David Wick is an associate professor of international education management at Middlebury Institute of International Studies. He holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership for equity and social justice from San Francisco State University. Dr. Wick's teaching and scholarship is informed by over 20 years of professional practice as an educator.