Social Work Practice with Veterans

In times of crisis, service members answer the call of duty, making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. When our military service members are called to defend our nation, the entire family system is affected. The families of deployed service members are also called on to serve and sacrifice for their country as they continually accept, adapt, and adjust to the changes that accompany the various stages of the deployment cycle. Social Work Practice with Veterans is a comprehensive, evidence-based social work book that addresses the multiple issues related to working with service members, veterans, and their families.

Service members who return from deployment often face a multitude of physical and mental health issues as they reintegrate back into family life. Social workers serving military service members and veterans need to be competent and knowledgeable about the military culture and informed about the best practices. Social Work Practice with Veterans incorporates all of the 10 Council on Social Work Education Core Competencies and is divided into three major sections.

The book integrates research, practice experience, case studies, theory, and social work values into a single text that covers the entire cycle of deployment and the complicated adjustments associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse, with special chapters devoted to military fathers, gays in the military, military children, and more.

Social Work Practice with Veterans is an excellent resource for social workers, counselors, and mental health professionals who work with the military community.

Gary L. Dick, PhD, is a professor in the School of Social Work, College of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. Gary received his MSW from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle, and his PhD from The Ohio State University. His research interests are in fatherhood, instrument development, veterans, domestic violence, and self-esteem. His research instrument, the Fatherhood Scale, has been used in over 25 studies around the world and translated into several different languages. In addition to research and publishing, Gary assumes many social work roles including therapist, trainer, college professor, and workshop presenter. His current clinical practice focuses on children and families, adolescents, men in therapy, and fathers.