Synopses & Reviews
Karen K. Kirst-Ashman's introductory book enhances the reader's ability to grasp the essence and spirit of generalist social work and the issues in social welfare that social workers address every day. Giving those contemplating a career in social work a solid introduction to the profession, Kirst-Ashman presents a balanced introductory look within a unifying theme of critical thinking that trains readers to be more evaluative of key concepts. The topics covered include practice concepts, social welfare policy concepts, history and current state of the profession, the contexts of practice and populations served, and professional development.
About the Author
Karen K. Kirst-Ashman, BSW, MSSW, PhD, has been a full professor and was a former chairperson in the Social Work Department at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she taught for 28 years. She is certified as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Wisconsin. She has worked as a practitioner and administrator in child welfare and mental health agencies. She received the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Excellence in Teaching Award in 1986 and the University Outstanding Teaching Award in 2007. She has been a member of the board of directors of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in addition to being an accreditation site visitor. She is also a current member of CSWE, BPD, and NASW. She 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. She has written six social work textbooks in multiple editions and numerous publications, articles, and reviews concerning social work and women's issues.
Table of Contents
Part 1: THE PROFESSION OF SOCIAL WORK. 1. Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare. 2. Social Work Values and Ethics. 3. Empowerment and Human Diversity. Part 2: SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE. 4 The Process of Generalist Practice. 5. Practice Settings. Part 3: SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY. 6. An Overview of Social Welfare and Social Work History. 7. Policy, Policy Analysis, Policy Practice, and Policy Advocacy: Foundations for Service Provision. 8. Policies and Programs to Combat Poverty. Part 4: CLIENT POPULATIONS AND CONTEXTS. 9. Social Work and Services for Children and Families. 10. Social Work and Services for Older Adults. 11. Social Work and Services for People with Disabilities. 12. Social Work and Services in Health Care. 13. Social Work and Services in Mental Health. 14. Social Work and Substance Use, Abuse, and Dependence. 15. Social Work and Services for Youths and in the Schools. 16. Social Work and Services in the Criminal Justice System. Epilogue: Your Values and Your Future: Applying Critical Justice System. References. Name Index. Subject Index.