Synopses & Reviews
Reflecting an emerging consensus that social justice is a primary mission of the social work profession, this innovative text provides a thorough grounding in policy analysis with extensive coverage of policy practice and a unique emphasis on the broad issues and human dilemmas inherent in the pursuit of social justice. Organized in four parts, the book introduces several philosophical perspectives on what constitutes social justice, and identifies the values and assumptions reflected in contemporary policy debates. Part I provides a framework for policy analysis and policy practice, as well as foundation content related to the structure and role of government in the United States. Part II offers a theoretical framework for determining when a personal disadvantage is considered a social problem. It then focuses on social problems that constitute widely shared risks, including poverty, physical illness, mental illness, and disability. Part III introduces theories of discrimination and oppression and explores the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, including people of color, gays and lesbians, children, women, working Americans, and the elderly. Part IV offers a "Glance to The Future," examining emerging policy issues such as inequality, incarceration as a means of social control, globalization, and international governance.
Synopsis
This new book for courses in social policy explicitly addresses the questions and dilemmas inherent in the pursuit of social justice. Organized in four parts, users develop a framework for analyzing policies and programs in terms of social justice and examine social justice from several philosophical perspectives. Poverty, health care, mental illness and addiction are discussed as well as theories of oppression and the challenges faced by populations that have faced oppression are addressed. The topics lead up to the policy practice of social work in the future.
About the Author
A native of California, Amanda S. Barusch completed her B.A. in Psychology at Reed College and her M.S.W. and Ph.D. in Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. Her primary research and teaching interests are in the fields of social policy and aging. She has investigated topics ranging from interpersonal relations to international policy comparisons. She has published articles in leading North American journals and is the author or coauthor of seven books. Dr. Barusch serves on the editorial boards of the JOURNAL OF POVERTY and HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK. She is a devoted member of the Association for Gerontology Education--Social Work and a fellow in the Gerontological Society of America. Dr. Barusch took a leave in 2007 to join the staff of the Department of Social Work at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand focusing on international policy comparison and the Utopian impulse in social work.
Table of Contents
Part I: POLICY ANALYSIS: FRAMEWORK AND TOOLS. 1. Social Justice and Social Workers. 2. The Government's Role. 3. Policy Analysis and Policy Practice. Part II: COLLECTIVE RESPONSES TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS. 4. The Social Security Act. 5. Poverty. 6. Physical Illness. 7. Mental Illness. 8. Disability. Part III: VULNERABLE POPULATIONS: DISCRIMINATION AND OPPRESSION. 9. People of Color. 10. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Individuals. 11. Children. 12. Women. 13. Working Americans. 14. The Elderly. Part IV: CYCLES OF LIBERATION. 15. A Glance Toward the Future.