Social Workers Affecting Social Policy is the first book to undertake a cross-national study of social worker engagement in social-policy formulation processes. At its core, it asks how social workers influence social policy in various national settings. It offers insights into social worker involvement in policy change, the social work discourse, and education in different countries. It will be of interest to social work practitioners, students, educators, and researchers, as well as to social-policy scholars.

"The Policy-Based Profession, by Philip R. Popple and Leslie Leighninger, represents more than an investment in your social work education; it is an investment in your future as a professional social worker. As you begin your social work practice, you will often have occasion to refer back to the principles you have learned in your coursework. Your textbook was written not simply to aid you in the educational process, but to be of continuing assistance to you once you begin your professional practice. It embodies many of the concepts and terms that you will need as a professional social worker, and will be valuable tool to use in your professional practice. Build your professional social work library with this volume; we believe it will serve you well in your career as a professional social worker."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Social welfare workers in all fields are frequently motivated by a desire to 'work with people,' 'bring about change,' or to 'make a difference.' These ideals are often constrained (even thwarted) by systems and funding that are driven by social policy. This book explores some of the difficulties and dilemmas faced by contemporary social workers as they deliver welfare in a changing policy context. The book takes a skills-based approach to understanding the role and importance of social policy in social welfare practice. Written by experienced educators and authors, it shows readers how to understand, analyze, and engage with policy. It is especially relevant for social workers whose roles are currently being shaped and re-shaped by policies.

A comprehensive overview of domestic and global social welfare policy Written by a team of renowned social policy experts sharing their unique perspectives on global and U.S. social welfare policy issues, Social Work and Social Policy helps social workers consider key issues that face policymakers, elected officials, and agency administrators in order to develop policies that are both fair and just. Designed as a foundational social welfare policy text, this important book meets the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Encouraging readers' critical thinking on various issues, each chapter begins with an overarching question and "what if" scenarios, and ends with a set of suggested key terms, online resources, and discussion questions. Recognizing that policy work requires practitioners to be as fully versed as possible with the issue at hand, Social Work and Social Policy thoroughly explores: Social welfare policy as a form of social justice The evolution of the American welfare state Human security and the welfare of societies Social policy from a global perspective Challenges for social policies in Asia Welfare reform and the need for social empathy The U.S. Patriot Act and its implications for the social work profession Human rights and emerging social media Compelling and broad in scope, Social Work and Social Policy is an indispensable text for students and a valuable resource for practitioners concerned with creating social policy and governmental action guided by justice for all.

Invaluable guidance and advice for creating positive change in social policy Edited by a team of renowned experts, Connecting Social Welfare Policy to Fields of Practice features contributions from leaders in this field providing a variety of perspectives on different topics. This visionary guide equips social workers to proactively engage in policy practice to influence specific policies. Designed as a social welfare policy practice text for undergraduate and graduate students in social work programs, this book meets the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Each chapter begins with an overarching question and "what if" scenarios, and ends with a set of suggested key terms, online resources, and discussion questions. Connecting Social Welfare Policy to Fields of Practice addresses specific populations within a wide variety of practice arenas, including: Social welfare policy and politics Aging in the United States Public mental health policy in the United States Disability policy development Health-care policy Urban housing policy Child welfare policy Redefining the welfare state in a global economy Global in context, Connecting Social Welfare Policy to Fields of Practice encourages those in the social work profession to become directly engaged with individuals, families, groups, and communities in the crafting of impartial public policies for marginalized members of society.

This social welfare policy text, written specifically for social work, shows students the crucial connection between social policy and the everyday practice of social work. The text provides students with a process for analyzing policies that will help them as they enter the profession. It offers a detailed foundation for policy analysis, including chapters on historical policy analysis, social/economic analysis, and political analysis. The text includes chapters on social policy as it affects most of the major areas of social work practice: poverty, aging, mental health, and child welfare. This edition brings students up-to-date on the latest developments in welfare reform, managed care, the campaign to restructure Social Security, and the use of family preservation as an approach to child protection.

Furthering social justice and human rights is a fundamental principle underlying the social work profession. Engaging in social policy formulation processes is a major route through which social workers can realise this goal. This type of social work activity has been termed ‘policy practice’. The aim of this book is to shed light on policy practice in social work discourse, education and practice in eight liberal democracies. This is the first effort to undertake a cross-national study of social worker engagement in social policy formulation processes. The book offers insights into questions such as ‘what is the importance attributed to social worker involvement in policy change in the social work discourse and education in different countries?’ and ‘how do social workers influence social policy in various national settings?’ These issues are relevant to social worker practitioners, students, educators and researchers, as well as to social policy scholars, who are interested in the role of professionals in social policy formulation.