Karen K. Kirst-Ashman’s introductory book enhances the reader’s ability to grasp the essence and spirit of generalist social work and the issues in social welfare that social workers address every day. Giving those contemplating a career in social work a solid introduction to the profession, Kirst-Ashman presents a balanced introductory look within a unifying theme of critical thinking that trains readers to be more evaluative of key concepts. The topics covered include practice concepts, social welfare policy concepts, history and current state of the profession, the contexts of practice and populations served, and professional development.
Product Features
- Learning Objectives at the beginning of each chapter are organized alphabetically and reinforced clearly throughout the text and in the test materials available in the instructor’s resources. This change represents a new emphasis on student learning outcomes and demonstration of core competencies as strongly recommended by CSWE.
- Themes integrated throughout the text include the pursuit of social and economic justice for populations at risk; client empowerment; dimensions of human diversity; the significance of professional values and ethics; a generalist approach interrelating micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work practice; and the inclusion of various global and international perspectives.
- Kirst-Ashman includes such CSWE-mandated areas as diversity, empowerment, social justice, and ethics, thus ensuring that students are well prepared to enter the world of social work.
- By encouraging students to identify values and evaluate serious issues, Kirst-Ashman helps them develop critical-thinking perspectives on important topics.
- Features such as the “Focus on Critical Thinking” boxes highlight engaging topics that will draw students into the discussion at hand.
