About the Book

“The integrative emphasis of social justice and human rights along with the strengths perspective and social construction make this a core text for undergraduate practice courses. With strong coverage of micro, mezzo and macro practice it is a perfect resource for the entire practice sequence. The text offers a wealth of application tools that include three in-depth interactive case studies on a fantastic web site and application exercises for each chapter.”

— Chrys C. Ramirez Barranti, California State University, Sacramento

“This is a dream text and website for anyone seeking to understand complex human problems engendered by individual inadequacies, structural inequities, and globalization; uses modern technology to grasp the rudiments, dynamics, and mechanics of generalist social work practice; and assesses the impact of professionals’ self-awareness, values, and theoretical perspectives on practice outcomes.”

— Olatunde A. Olusesi, New York University

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Contents

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About the Author / Editor

Julie Birkenmaier is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University. Dr. Birkenmaier’s practice experience includes community organizing, community development, and nonprofit administration. Her research and writing focuses on community development, financial capability, financial credit, and asset development.

Marla Berg-Weger is a professor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University, Missouri.

Dr. Berg-Weger holds social work degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Her social work practice experience includes public social welfare services, domestic violence services, mental health, medical social work and gerontological social work. Her research and writing focuses on gerontological social work and social work practice.

Marty Dewees, Associate Professor Emerita, of the University of Vermont made her way into social work through counseling and then focused on mental health work at the state psychiatric facility. Her inclusion on the faculty at the University of Vermont provided the impetus for looking at social work practice through the lenses of human rights, social justice, strengths, and social construction. These are reflected in her previous publications and in the first edition of this book.

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