20 Best Books For Social Workers (2023 Update)

Spend a day with social workers in 62 different settings, and learn about the many career paths available to you. did you ever wish you could tag along with a professional in your chosen field, just for a day? days in the lives of social workers allows you to take a firsthand, close-up look at the real-life days of 62 professional social workers as they share their stories. join them on their journeys, and learn about the rewards and challenges they face. this book is an essential guide for anyone who wants an inside look at the social work profession. whether you are a social work graduate student or undergraduate student, an experienced professional wishing to make a change in career direction, or just thinking about going into the field, you will learn valuable lessons from the experiences described in days in the lives of social workers. the 5th edition includes updates throughout, as well as new chapters on police social work, library social work, suicide prevention/intervention, anti-trafficking, social work and the opioid crisis, legislative social work, adoption social work, social work education, and arts-based social work.from the foreword: the more i thought about the book and what it contributes, i realized that it paints a "word picture" of what social work is as a profession. this is not an easy thing to do, given how multifaceted social work is and given the many settings in which it is practiced. this book presents the mosaic that is social work–a mosaic of multiple "tiles" held together with the core values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence, all applied "within the context and the complexity of the human experience," as stated in the nasw code of ethics. -kathryn conley wehrmann, ph.d., lcsw, president, naswfrom the introduction: my hope is that you will use this book as a starting point–an introduction to the variety of roles social workers play every day. use it as you would the opportunity to literally follow and observe 62 different social workers for a day. soak up as much as you can from each experience, decide what you would like to explore further, and then take it from there! -linda may grobman, msw, lsw, acsw

Spend a day with social workers in 58 different settings, and learn about the many career paths available to you. did you ever wish you could tag along with a professional in your chosen field, just for a day, observing his or her every move? days in the lives of social workers allows you to take a firsthand, close-up look at the real- life days of 58 professional social workers as they share their stories. join them on their journeys, and learn about the rewards and challenges they face. this book is an essential guide for anyone who wants an inside look at the social work profession. whether you are a social work graduate student or undergraduate student, an experienced professional wishing to make a change in career direction, or just thinking about going into the field, you will learn valuable lessons from the experiences described in days in the lives of social workers. the 4th edition includes four new chapters, a new appendix on social media and mobile apps, and features a foreword by elizabeth j. clark, executive director of the national association of social workers.

The social work profession calls on its members to strive for social justice. it asks aspiring and practicing social workers to advocate for political change and take part in political action on behalf of marginalized people and groups. yet this macro goal is often left on the back burner as the day-to-day struggles of working directly with clients take precedence. and while most social workers have firsthand knowledge of how public policy neglects or outright harms society's most vulnerable, too few have training in the political processes that created these policies. this book is a concise, accessible guide to help social workers understand how politics and policy making really work–and what they can do to help their clients and their communities. helping readers develop sustainable strategies at the micro-, meso-, and macro-levels, this book is a hands-on manual to contemporary american politics, showing social workers and social work students how to engage in effective activism. stephen pimpare, a political scientist with extensive experience as a social work practitioner and instructor, offers informed, practical grounding in the mechanics of policy making and the tools that activists and outsiders can use to take on an entrenched system. he distills key research and insights from political science and related disciplines into a practical resource for social work students, instructors, and practitioners looking to deepen their policy knowledge and capacity to achieve change.

This engaging guide addresses the extraordinary breadth of the social work profession and the diverse career paths available. updated and expanded, the third edition includes 15 vivid new profiles of social workers who describe the rewards and challenges of their distinct roles. it presents "social justice spotlights" highlighting important social and political issues relevant to different practice domains. the new edition also delivers current data on employment opportunities and salaries from the department of labor and provides links to new resources–books, essays, films, and websites–that enable readers to explore specific career paths in greater depth. it dispels common myths about the social work profession and demonstrates why social work is a smart choice for those seeking a career of service that requires creativity, critical thinking, compassion, and a passion for social justice. – illuminating current trends in social work education and practice, the book describes more than 100 specific careers–traditional and nontraditional–available to social workers, including best features, challenges, required core competencies and skills, educational and licensing requirements, and personal narratives. the book also covers how to fund one's education and provides job-hunting tools and websites. additional features include, for each career, a discussion of benefits and challenges, job outlook, and salary information. questionnaires and self-assessment checklists provide additional material to help readers choose a social work career tailored to their unique talents, interests, and passions. – new to the third edition: fifteen new personal narratives describing the benefits and challenges of different social work arenas"social justice spotlight" for each field of social work practice – new data on employment opportunities and salaries from the department of labor and other sources – new resources for additional career exploration – key features: describes more than 100 distinct career paths available to social workers – addresses pros and cons of each career including personal narratives – covers educational and licensing requirements, employment opportunities and salaries – includes job-hunting tools and websites – provides self-assessment questionnaires and checklists to help readers assess which jobs would be a good fit based on their skills and passions

Social work graduate school is only the beginning of your preparation for professional life in the real world as a clinical social worker. dr. danna bodenheimer serves as a mentor or a supportive supervisor as she shares practice wisdom on topics such as thinking clinically, developing a theoretical orientation, considering practice settings, and coping with money issues. she addresses the importance of supervision and how to use it wisely. a frank discussion on the important and rarely-talked-about issue of loving one's client is followed by a practical look at next steps-post-graduate options and finding your life's work in clinical social work. altogether, real world clinical social work will serve to empower you as you find your own voice, your own way, and your own professional identity. what people are saying reading danna bodenheimer's real world clinical social work: find your voice and find your way is like spending a weekend in a wonderful candid conversation with many of our favorite theorists! …. in language that is accessible, oftentimes metaphoric, and yet not at all simplistic, this book also introduces us to some of the clinical experiences of clients and therapists through an interweaving of their stories and theories. just prior to presenting us with a thoughtful array of "post graduate options" for further learning and development, bodenheimer explores the dimensions and dilemmas associated with still-controversial subjects like clients' transference and clinicians' countertransference, including feelings of love. whether just entering the world of a master's-prepared social worker or having spent decades as an agency-based or private practitioner, an educator, or an administrator in the social services, spending time with real world clinical social work is a real gift to yourself and everyone you serve. darlyne bailey, ph.d, acsw, lisw dean, professor, and mss program director graduate school of social work and social research, bryn mawr college as students graduate from our msw program, they often express a mix of excitement and anticipation about beginning social work practice. they almost always wonder, "am i ready to do this work?" dr. bodenheimer's book is a wonderful bridge for new graduates as they move from the support of graduate education and agency supervision to independent practitioners. using years of teaching and astute practice experience, she provides continued education, support, and clinical insight. while grounded solidly in practice theory, dr. bodenheimer guides practitioners to find their own practice wisdom and style that is so essential to the social work profession. no doubt, new social workers will find this an accessible, practical primer…and a life raft for embarking on the profession! anne marcus weiss, lsw, msw director of field education university of pennsylvania school of social policy & practice danna bodenheimer's book is the clinical supervisor you always wanted to have: brilliant yet approachable, professional yet personal, grounded and practical, yet steeped in theory, and challenging you to dig deeper. jonathan b. singer, ph.d., lcsw associate professor of social work loyola university chicago founder and host, social work podcast it is nearly impossible to begin a career as a budding clinical social worker without the accompaniment of a variably loud inner voice that says, "you have no idea what you are doing." dr. bodenheimer befriends the beginning clinician with this incredibly personable and accessible book and says, "sure, you do." dr. bodenheimer uses herself as a vehicle for connection with the reader, and she speaks directly to that inner voice with compassion, understanding, and guidance. cara segal, ph.d. smith college school for social work, faculty private practitioner, northampton, ma

Learn how social workers use their professional expertise to assist people. the social work experience: an introduction to social work and social welfare introduces students to the social work profession and presents detailed descriptions of eight major fields of practice. the text provides in-depth information concerning major social welfare policies that are are presented in historical perspective, along with thorough discussion of current issues and probable future trends. major case studies assist students in understanding how professional expertise can advance social-work practice and how enlightened social policies must be present if professional interventions are to be effective. the first four chapters of the text introduce the social work profession, present theoretical perspectives on which professional practice is based, explore how the intersectionality of multiple factors impacts social justice issues, and then describe social policy issues in historical context. the following eight chapters describe eight major fields of practice along with the history of each one. a thorough and detailed case study begins each chapter, helping to illustrate social work practice in the respective field, and every chapter includes additional case studies to help students better understand the challenges involved in social work practice. the final chapter of the text explores the many probable challenges awaiting contemporary social workers given the social forces impacting society. also available packaged with mylab helping professions by combining trusted author content with digital tools and a flexible platform, mylab personalizes the learning experience and improves results for each student. mylab helping professions organizes all assignments around the cswe epas for social work and cshse standards for human services–enabling easy course alignment and reporting. note: you are purchasing a standalone product; mylab does not come packaged with this content. students, if interested in purchasing this title with mylab, ask your instructor to confirm the correct package isbn and course id.

Using a plentiful selection of skill-building and self-evaluation exercises, zastrow and hessenauer's workbook-style text promotes the philosophy that students learn group leadership skills best by practicing them in class. in social work with groups, 10th edition, the authors discuss topics that are central to understanding group leadership: stages of groups, group dynamics, verbal and nonverbal communication, types of groups, and diversity in groups. they also focus on helping students acquire the competencies and practice behaviors of the 2015 epas. with support from this book, your classroom becomes a lab where students can experience what it's like to work in and lead many kinds of groups. updated throughout with timely new topics and firsthand accounts from experienced social group work professionals, this edition also emphasizes the importance of social workers' self-care. . important notice: media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

This best-selling text continues to offer a comprehensive introduction to the field of social work with a unique focus on the diverse groups to whom social workers provide services; including children, older adults, disabled persons, and members of minority racial and ethnic groups. it covers the emergence of the profession of social work, career oportunities for social workers, and the values and competencies required of social workers. timely issues that this edition addresses include the following: the events of 9/11 and their dramatic influence on human services in the united states; the united states involvement in middle east warfare; the physical and emotional damage to individuals involved in middle east warfare; and the 2000 census—how substantial changes in the u.s. population suggest a need for realignment of social services.

This is the third edition of this popular straightforward guide for social work students. written by two experienced practice educators, the book is designed to address the anxieties that many social work students have about social work theory and the way it relates to practice. the guide provides a straightforward explanation of the major theories used in social work practice. prompts for reflection about how each theory relates to practice are provided at the end of each chapter. this edition is fully linked to the revised international definition of social work, hcpc standards and the professional capabilities framework. this new edition retains the content of previous editions bringing it up to date. a new section is included on theories around contexts and organisations. a new chapter on wellbeing theories is also included in this edition – responding to the implementation of the wellbeing principle.

100 questions culled from the dsm-5 which will expand the social workers knowledge of the diagnostic manual and enable them to more successfully challenge the lcsw-aswb exam. – access to a copy of the dsm5 is helpful during study.

Social work is rooted in the values of service, social justice, and strong interpersonal relationships, but as the profession evolves, so must the approach to education. jones have created an introductory textbook written for the future of social work. the second edition integrates the knowledge of practice, policy, research, hbse, and field work with the skills and practice behaviors necessary for students to become fully competent social workers by the time they graduate.

With nearly 40% of social workers working in the health and behavioral health care sectors, social work and integrated health care is designed to help social workers understand the policies that shape the current discussion regarding integrated primary care and behavioral health care and their application to practice. while the future of patient protection and affordable care act of 2010 (ppaca) is uncertain at this time, the potential for integrated health care to simultaneously improve health outcomes while reducing costs means that despite the constantly changing health policy landscape, the movement towards an integrated health care system will continue in the future. as these changes occur, there is a great need in the social work field for resources that will give both the context for these changes and translate the policies to day-to-day social work practice. this book provides essential information about the important shifts in the health care field with a focus on healthcare for vulnerable populations, with a special emphasis on adults with severe mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. as the title indicates, the book provides a comprehensive discussion not only of critical policy issues, but also their specific implications to evidence-based clinical practice. it covers such areas as background on public funding for health care, the development of behavioral health services in the community, and the passage of mental health parity legislation. the text also includes an overview of integrated health care settings and describes evidence practices that are central to integrated health care such as screening, person-centered care planning, motivational interviewing, and wellness self-management. it is a must-have text for all social work students in msw programs.

The updated third edition of the definitive text on health social work thoroughly revised and updated, the third edition of handbook of health social work is an authoritative text that offers a comprehensive review of the diverse field of health social work. with contributions from a panel of international experts in the field, the book is theory driven and solidly grounded in evidence-based practice. the contributors explore both the foundation of social work practice and offer guidance on effective strategies, policies, and program development. the text provides information that is essential to the operations of social workers in health care including the conceptual underpinnings and the development of the profession. the authors explore the practice issues such as theories of health behavior, assessment, communication and the intersections between health and mental health. the authors also examine a wide range of examples of social work practices including settings that involve older adults, nephrology, oncology, and chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hiv/aids, genetics, end of life care, pain management and palliative care, as well as alternative treatments, and traditional healers. this is the only handbook of its kind to unite the body of health social work and: – offers a wellness, rather than psychopathological perspective and contains treatment models that are evidence-based – includes learning exercises, further resources, research suggestions, and life-course information. – contains new chapters on topics such as international health, insurance and payment systems, and implementation of evidence-based practice – presents information on emerging topics such as health policy in an age of reform, and genomics and the social environment – reviews new trends in social work and health care including genetics, trans-disciplinary care, and international, national, and state changes in policy written for social work educators, administrators, students, and practitioners, the revised third edition of handbook of health social work offers in one volume the entire body of health social work knowledge.

The bestselling book on the market, zastrow’s introduction to social work and social welfare: empowering people, 10e is also acclaimed as the most comprehensive. giving readers a thorough overview of the social work profession, the text examines contemporary society with a realistic view of social problems–equipping students with real-world insight they can put into practice. by presenting positive strategies in the context of the core values, ethics, skills, and knowledge base of today’s professional social worker, zastrow encourages students to think about new and realistic ways to solve problems and empower clients. a wealth of social problems cases, exhibits, and tables helps students apply concepts and compare and contrast the issues. the tenth edition has been thoroughly updated to include the latest standards updates as well as new and emerging issues from the field. packed with cutting-edge coverage and comprehensive cswe core content, introduction to social work and social welfare: empowering people, 10e continues to inspire students while giving them true insight into real-world practice.important notice: media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

The bestselling book on the market, zastrow’s introduction to social work and social welfare: empowering people, 10e is also acclaimed as the most comprehensive. giving readers a thorough overview of the social work profession, the text examines contemporary society with a realistic view of social problems–equipping students with real-world insight they can put into practice. by presenting positive strategies in the context of the core values, ethics, skills, and knowledge base of today’s professional social worker, zastrow encourages students to think about new and realistic ways to solve problems and empower clients. a wealth of social problems cases, exhibits, and tables helps students apply concepts and compare and contrast the issues. the tenth edition has been thoroughly updated to include the latest standards updates as well as new and emerging issues from the field. packed with cutting-edge coverage and comprehensive cswe core content, introduction to social work and social welfare: empowering people, 10e continues to inspire students while giving them true insight into real-world practice.important notice: media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

Did you ever wish you could tag along with a professional in your chosen field, just for a day, observing his or her every move? days in the lives of social workers allows you to take a firsthand, close-up look at the real-life days of 54 professional social workers as they share their stories. join them on their journeys, and learn about the rewards and challenges they face.

Features improved aswb exam prep strategies, expanded analysis of exam content, and proven test-taking tips! the third edition of the bestselling acclaimed exam guide for the aswb social work clinical exam has been thoroughly updated to reflect current practice and core knowledge tested on the exam. recognized for its unique test-taking tips and strategies, dawn apgar's complete review of the knowledge skills and abilities (ksas) across the core social work content areas helps readers discover gaps in their knowledge so they can identify strengths and target weak areas. included with every print purchase is a bonus 170-question practice test that mirrors the actual exam in length and structure, plus explains correct answers. ksas are identified for each question so test-takers can easily locate relevant source material for further study. dawn apgar's guide for the social work licensing clinical exam is the best test-taking package available, ensuring success by providing invaluable tips on how to parse the questions, overcome test anxiety, avoid common pitfalls, and assess your own learning style – all of which help to foster exam confidence. the new updated third edition not only reflects the 2018 test blueprint, but is significantly revised and reformatted to help test-takers pass the exam on the first try. revised content includes content on racial/cultural groups, nasw code of ethics, including the ethical use of technology, and gender diversity.

First things first: this is not your grandma's social work textbook. there are no regulations to review, no mid-term or final to study for, and it probably won't help you pass your licensing exam. instead, this book focuses on you – the person behind the title – and how to make yourself more purposely influential in every area of your life. think of it as self-help 101 for the professional helper – a transformational lesson on how the very best and most balanced social workers straddle the thin line between their well being and their clients'. once you become truly aware of the things that hinder your process, you'll be amazed to find how easy it is to bust through those road blocks and not only enhance your skills, but help a lot more people in the process. this helper-friendly guide reveals: – the truth about people who seek help – how to spot an unhealthy practitioner and make sure you're not one of them – the #1 governing principle of social work practice (and why it's the only one that matters) – guaranteed ways to avoid burnout and love your profession and life

A never-before-seen look into the humans within the profession…of social work. – when most people think of social work; child protective services, low wages and challenging work may come to mind. – this book is a refreshing and eye opening view into the humans behind the profession; the journeys into, around and even out of social work. – most people don't realize that this work is far-reaching beyond just social work, behavior analysis, mental health, case management, treatment planning and social services and looks into the fields of psychology, coaching, consulting, entrepreneurship and even death-row mitigation. – in this book you will find stories of journeys from long ago and journeys just beginning. common themes within each journey include; the deep desire to be connected to others, the desire to help, the desire to see those that feel unseen, and a rise to the call for social justice. – story telling is social action. sharing journey stories builds the momentum to connect, to seek others' journey stories, and to see the journey stories within ourselves. this is collective building through journey stories shared. – this book serves as a professional call to action. all those who come into, around, or out of social work have a personal journey, and directly parallel, all those served by the field of social work have a journey story. let's be reminded that the helping profession of social work was in fact built on passions professionalized. – authors: amanda fordham – ashley abramson – beth tyson – cherish fields – christina broderick – courtney aaberg – daniel martin – deb frank – dr. sujeeta e. menon – elizabeth wendel – gilbert domally – hilary n. weaver – jeremy carney – jessica hope – jihan ali – michael mcknightmichele sneed – nazia basha – nicole young – teya f. dahle – thu-ha park – warren l. graver – yacenia murlee q. crisostomo

Despite their institutional preparation and lived experiences, new school social workers encounter numerous practices, political considerations, community engagement strategies, and seemingly fundamental elements involved in the learning curve needed to move from entry-level to proficiency. the art of being indispensable what school social workers need to know in their first three years of practice contains content specific to what they will need in their first three years of practice, bridging the learning gap from their academic preparation to early employment in p-12 settings. organized into four sections – the host environment, the macro school social worker, integration and intervention, and school social worker sustainability – the content of the book is framed by a mixed-methods study on the needs of new practitioners. it is an indispensable guide that new school social workers can consult to effectively execute their roles and responsibilities.