A concise overview of the policy practice information social workers need to advocate for policy changes within an organization and at local, state, and national levels Given the nature of their work, social workers must understand social problems and the ways social welfare policies are established. Written by a leading expert in social work policy, Essentials of Social Work Policy Practice presents specific tactics for policy practice as well as instructions on how to implement it at several different organizational and government levels. Focusing on developing skills, Essentials of Social Work Policy Practice is a practical resource that includes step-by-step guidelines for putting a plan into action and working efficiently within a system. Techniques are presented for handling a number of related topics including effective interpersonal communication and participation, utilizing technology and the media in policy practice, creating change within organizations, and many more. As part of the Essentials of Social Work Practice series, this book is an indispensable resource that offers a concise yet thorough overview of policy practice, numerous tips for best practices, and valuable advice that must be at one's fingertips to practice knowledgeably, effectively, and ethically. Each chapter features numerous callout boxes highlighting key concepts, bulleted points, case examples, and extensive illustrative material, as well as vignettes that promote critical thinking around policy practice planning.

A brief text presenting conflicts and controversies surrounding social welfare policy. This book is part of the Connecting Core Competencies Series. This series helps students understand and master CSWE's core competencies with a variety of pedagogy highlighted competency content and critical thinking questions for the competencies throughout. Essentials of Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy (a briefer version of Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7/e) introduces the major social welfare policies and programs in the United States and encourages readers to think about conflicts in social welfare today. It emphasizes the current political aspects of policymaking and major social welfare programs. In this book, social welfare policy is portrayed as the ever-evolving result of public conflict over social problems, the resources Americans choose to allocate to those problems, the debate over whether these problems can best be solved through government, and the political choices involved in reaching even tentative consensus. Teaching & Learning Experience Improve Critical Thinking -- Includes critical thinking questions in margins and end of chapter review questions that 'build' on each other. Explore Current Issues -- Includes the most recent data on healthcare reform, the midterm elections, and public policy changes, and more. Apply CSWE Core Competencies -- Integrates the 2008 CSWE EPAS throughout -- highlights competencies and practice behaviors and includes expensive pedagogy. Support Instructors -- An Instructor's Manual and Test Bank, Computerized Test Bank (MyTest), Blackboard Test Item File, and PowerPoint presentations are included in the outstanding supplements package.

Reach children and families and help them navigate the childwelfare system Case planning is one of the fundamental steps in working withdependent children, yet it is also one of the most challenging.Essentials of Child Welfare presents the key information clinicalsocial workers, child advocates, family law attorneys, and otherhuman services personnel need to work successfully with childrenand families in the child welfare system. Essentials of Child Welfare is packed with step-by-step guidelinesfor intervening proactively with foster care children and theircaretakers. Techniques are presented for handling a number ofrelated topics, including attachment issues, substance abuse,sexual abuse (victim and perpetrator), suicidal ideation, eatingdisorders, learning disabilities, juvenile delinquency, domesticabuse, and many more. As part of the Essentials of Social Work Practice series, this bookoffers a concise yet thorough overview of child welfare, numeroustips for best practices, and a prioritized assembly of all theinformation and techniques that must be at one's fingertips topractice knowledgeably, effectively, and ethically. Each concisechapter features numerous callout boxes highlighting key concepts,bulleted points, and extensive illustrative material, as well as"Test Yourself" questions that help you gauge and reinforce yourgrasp of the information covered.

Social Work and Social Welfare: An Invitation is a nationally recognized, best-selling text and unique website for US Introductory Social Work and Social Welfare courses. It provides students with the knowledge, skills, and values that are essential for working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and public policy in a variety of practice settings. This new third edition is an up-to-date profile of the world in which today’s social workers practice, with current demographic, statistical, legislative, policy, and research information; sensitive discussions of contemporary ethical issues; and new first-person narratives from social workers in a variety of fields. The call to become engaged in some of society’s most challenging issues is clearer than in previous editions.

Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, Seventh Edition, emphasizes the current political aspects of policymaking and major social welfare programs, including public assistance, Social Security, disability, health insurance, and much more. The author also focuses on policies that affect issues as racism, sexism, gay rights, and immigration. In addition, a wealth of updated instructor and student supplements give this text its celebrated advantage as a leader in the social welfare policy textbook market. This book stands out from others because it does more than describe the major social welfare policies and programs. The book also tackles the conflict and controversies surrounding these programs. Social policy is not presented as solutions to social problems. Social policy is portrayed as public conflict over the nature and causes of social welfare problems, over what, if anything, should be done about them, over who should do it, and over who should decide about it.

Poverty, unemployment, limited access to health care: the litany of ills plaguing contemporary society seems endless, reflective of the pragmatic and philosophical battles waged to overcome what some perceive as insurmountable obstacles. What role has the state played in mitigating the effects of these harsh realities? Offering a comprehensive survey of past and present programs, Social Welfare considers the substance and results of government intervention. Shaped by the works of such distinguished figures as Martin Luther, Adam Smith, and Charles Darwin, this incisive text charts the progression of social welfare policy from inception to its current status. David Macarov links present policy to the convergence of five interacting motivations: mutual aid, religion, politics, economics, and ideology. In identifying these elements, Macarov assays the significance of each in determining the nature of social welfare and its future. Featuring chapter summaries and exercises, this intriguing introduction to social welfare policy and practice will involve and inform students of social work, political science, and sociology. "David Macarov has written a handy introductory social policy text for undergraduate that transcends the descriptive accounts of the social services that pervade the literature. Unlike many other introductory texts, Macarov does not seek to list the major social services and describe their functioning but focuses instead on the role of ideas and wider social forces in social welfare. The book is easy to read and thoroughly supported with recommendations for additional reading. It is a useful addition to the literature." --Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare