Social Work Fields of Practice: Historical Trends, Professional Issues, and Future Opportunities

A contemporary look at social work practice and the manycareer possibilities with detailed coverage of important newand emerging trends

As the practice of social work continues to diversify, studentsneed a clear picture of the current state of the field and anup–to–date source of information and guidance on emerging careeropportunities. Social Work Fields of Practice providesboth.

Written by a team of experts in their respective specialties,this book features a comprehensive overview of contemporary socialwork practice, discussing historical trends and demographics,professional issues, ethics, and diversity for each practice area.Both traditional areas and new fields are considered from a varietyof perspectives, including the clinical, ethical, cultural, legal,theoretical, and technological.

Addressing the Council on Social Work Education′s requiredcompetencies for accreditation (EPAS), Social Work Fields ofPractice contains pedagogical features such as Key Terms,Review Questions for Critical Thinking, and Online Resources. It isthe most timely, all–encompassing resource of its kind,covering:

Child welfare Family–centered practice School social work Substance abuse Mental health Social work disability practice Gerontological social work Forensic social work Veterinary social work Military social work International social work Social work practice with immigrant and indigenouspopulations

With expert, in–depth discussions of the most importantspecialties and practice environments for today′s social worker,Social Work Fields of Practice is an invaluable resource forundergraduate and graduate students preparing to enter this nobleprofession, as well as social workers seeking to expand theirprofessional horizons.

Preface xiii

About the Editors xv

Contributions xvii

Chapter 1. Child Welfare and Social Work Practice 1
Robin E. Perry and Alberta J. Ellett

Chapter 2. Family–Centered Practice: A System–Based Approach to Strengthening Families 55
Barbara Thomlison and Raymond J. Thomlison

Chapter 3. School Social Work 81
Cynthia Franklin, Beth Gerlach, and Amy Chanmugam

Chapter 4. Substance Abuse 113
Lori K. Holleran Steiker and Samuel A. MacMaster

Chapter 5. The Mental Health Field of Practice 147
King Davis and Hyejin Jung

Chapter 6. Social Work Disability Practice 159
Elizabeth DePoy and Stephen Gilson

Chapter 7. Geriatric Social Work: A Field of Practice 183
Roberta R. Greene

Chapter 8. Forensic Social Work: Current and Emerging Developments 207
Katherine van Wormer, David W. Springer, and Tina Maschi

Chapter 9. Veterinary Social Work Practice 245
Elizabeth Strand, Bethanie A. Poe, Sarina Lyall, Jan Yorke, Janelle Nimer, Erin Allen, Geneva Brown, and Teresa Nolen–Pratt

Chapter 10. Social Work Practice With the Military 273
Anthony M. Hassan and Marilyn Flynn

Chapter 11. International Social Work Practice 291
Doreen Elliott and Uma A. Segal

Chapter 12. Immigrant and Indigenous Populations: Special Populations in Social Work 333
Jon Matsuoka and Hamilton I. McCubbin

Chapter 13. Diversity
Iris B. Carlton–LaNey and Sharon Warren Cook

Author Index 385

Subject Index 397

CATHERINE N. DULMUS, PhD, is Professor, Associate Deanfor Research, and Director of the Buffalo Center for SocialResearch in the School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo,SUNY, and Research Director at Hillside Family of Agencies inRochester, New York.

KAREN M. SOWERS, PhD, is Dean and Beaman Professor in theCollege of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.Her research interests include juvenile justice, sexuality, socialwork education, child welfare, evidence–based practice, andinternational social work practice.