Introduction to Social Work & Social Welfare: Critical Thinking Perspectives

Designed to give you a solid introduction to the profession of social work, INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE helps you understand the issues that social workers address every day. Using clear, engaging prose, author Kirst-Ashman presents a balanced overview within a unifying theme of critical thinking that will train you to be more evaluative of key concepts. In addition, studying is made easy with the Book Companion Website, which provides you with opportunities to complete self-assessments as well as pre- and post-tests for each chapter. Thoughtful case studies found throughout the text show you what social-work practice looks like in different contexts and with different populations.

Karen K. Kirst-Ashman is Professor Emerita and former chairperson in the Social Work Department at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she taught for 28 years. She has written six social work textbooks in multiple editions and numerous publications, articles, and reviews on social work and women's issues. She also has served on the Editorial Board of AFFILIA: Journal of Women and Social Work, and as a consulting editor for many social work journals including the Journal of Social Work Education. Dr. Kirst-Ashman has been a member on the Board of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and has served as a CSWE accreditation site visitor on various occasions. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Wisconsin. She has been the recipient of both the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Roseman Award for Excellence in Teaching and the University Outstanding Teaching Award. She earned her BSW degree and MSSW degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Ph.D. in social work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has worked as a practitioner and administrator in child welfare and mental health agencies.