The fifth edition of The Practice of Generalist Social Work expands its foundational and integrative coverage of social work values, ethics, competencies, and behaviors as they relate and function within diverse practice settings. Through a strengths-based perspective, students are given a comprehensive overview of the major skills and considerations for practice with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations, encompassing planned change, engagement, assessment, intervention, evaluation, termination, and follow-up.
In response to the challenges and realities of professional practice, chapters in this new edition open with a case which is integrated to provide connections between the book’s content and real-life practice settings. Each chapter builds on the knowledge gained from previous chapters and provides expanded resources that contain up-to-date guidance for the beginning practitioner. These include:
- Consistent and in-depth use of key theoretical perspectives and case examples to demonstrate essential knowledge, values, and skills for generalist social work practice.
- Grand Challenges from the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, which illustrate the connection between social work and the most significant contemporary challenges in our society.
- A clear focus on generalist social work practice, informed by the authors’ decades of real-world practice experience, at all levels of engagement and intervention.
This edition also offers revised and expanded student and instructor resources, which are available at www.routledgesw.com, including new conceptually-based companion readings, access to six unique and interactive case simulations, quick guides for improved fieldwork, and annotated weblinks for further reading, listening, and viewing. Combining comprehensive and current resources in traditional and online formats, the new edition of The Practice of Generalist Social Work facilitates a dynamic, experiential introduction to social work.
Marla Berg-Weger, PhD, LCSW, Professor, Saint Louis University School of Social Work, Executive Director, Geriatric Education Center. She is a former Field Education Director and Senior Associate Provost of Academic Affairs. Scholarly work focuses on aging, family caregiving, and social work practice. She has authored four books and 100 publications.
Deborah Adams, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Master’s in Social Work Program at the University of Kansas. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Community Organization and Social Action (ACOSA), the oldest national organization for macro social work practice in the United States.
Julie Birkenmaier, PhD, LCSW, is a Professor of Social Work at Saint Louis University School of Social Work in the College of Public Health and Social Justice. Her research focuses on financial capability and asset building practice, financial access and financial inclusion, personal financial credit, and community development.
