The Life Model of Social Work Practice Advances in Theory and Practice

Originally published in 1980, this seminal work was the first to introduce an ecological perspective into social work practice. Since then, both the National Association of Social Workers and the Council of Social Work Education have adopted similar positions: the social work profession is distinct from other service professions because it is situated within a people/environment interface that changes and shapes the character of each. New to this edition is an examination of major changes in our socioeconomic and political landscape, including the threat of terrorism, international trade agreements, and the conservative revolution; a discussion of new developments in ethics and standards of practice; additional information on community structures and legislative processes; and a restored chapter on the history of social work practice, covering such trends as managed care, empirically and evidence-based practice, resilience, empowerment, strength-based and feminist practice, and a push.