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Introduction to Social Work

O. William Farley, Larry Lorenzo Smith, and Scott W. Boyle

This classic introductory social work text provides a comprehensive and historical view of social work to help students better understand and appreciate the profession. In its Tenth Edition, this classic text continues to blend historical and contemporary perspectives on social work, offering historical context for the development of social work while utilizing the latest theoretical constructs. Special emphasis is placed on the understanding that social work is both a field and a method. The text is appropriate for undergraduate students who want to increase their general understanding of social work, as well as those who have a professional interest in social work. The Tenth Edition featuresnew sections on drug courts, treatment and prevention of drug and alcohol abuse (Ch. 16), welfare reform, faith-based social service initiatives (Ch. 2), stages of group, spirituality and social work, suicide assessment and prevention (Ch. 9), and cognitive therapy with criminals (Ch.14). An expanded section on the importance of case management in social work (Ch. 19), life management skills (Ch. 8), anger management (Ch.10) and managed care (Ch. 9, 10, & 22) is also included. Information on multicultural social work (Ch. 11 & 13), working with violent children, gangs, school violence and family violence (Ch. 11 & 13) has been updated, as has the final chapter on the future of social work as a profession.

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