Social Work and Social Justice Concepts, Challenges, and Strategies

Social Work and Social Justice emphasizes the importance of social justice work, vividly illustrates the complexity of this work, and discusses how social workers can negotiate the practical and ethical challenges involved. Unlike many books on the subject, it integrates a diverse array of approaches to social justice, thereby promoting critical thinking and underscoring the value of utilizing various perspectives in one's practice. Distinguishing features of this book include: emphasis on the complementary nature of socially just goals and processes; well-developed case examples; multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural, and international perspectives; a clear exposition of principles and skills of socially just practice; and the use of diverse cultural materials from different media to illustrate the concepts presented. This text is largely based on the authors' extensive teaching and practice experience in a wide variety of fields -- both in the U.S. and internationally -- and on their research on such varied topics as welfare reform, mental health, social work practice theory, social work values and ethics, and the history and philosophy of social welfare and social work. Social Work and Social Justice is an essential resource for undergraduate and graduate students/faculty, as well as social work/human services practictioners.

Michael Reisch, PhD, MSW, is the Daniel Thursz Distinguished Professor of Social Justice at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. He has published and lectured widely on such topics as poverty and inequality, welfare reform, the history and philosophy of social welfare, and contemporary social policy, and held leadership positions in numerous advocacy, professional, and social change organizations. Charles Garvin, PhD, MSW, was a professor of social work at the University of Michigan from 1965 until he became Professor Emeritus in 2002. He is the author of numerous texts and over 100 articles and book chapters on social work, social work education, group work, social work practice, and research.