Discover a thorough overview of today's social work profession with a realistic glimpse into social problems in contemporary society with Zastrow/Hessenauer's best-selling INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE: EMPOWERING PEOPLE, 13E. This practical text provides real insights you can apply in practice. Updates highlight the latest developments and emerging issues, from Biden's social welfare policies and self-care for social workers to employment, immigration, mass shootings and the pandemic. You learn to develop new methods for problem solving and empowering clients as the authors present positive strategies within the context of the core values, ethics, skills and knowledge base of today's professional social worker. Updated case studies, exhibits and tables highlight, compare and contrast contemporary social problems and issues. Core content from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) aligns with the latest Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).

The main objective of social work is to facilitate positive changes in individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The first step in this change process is accurate assessment - and that's the primary focus of UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. Focusing on individual behavior within families and other systems, this book will help you understand the underlying reasons why people act the way they do. You'll learn about biological, psychological, and social development at different lifespan stages, as well as about the benefits of strengths and empowerment approaches to social work. To further prepare you for your career, this edition's content aligns with the core competencies and recommended behaviors outlined in the current Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Build effective group leadership skills with the experiential and self-evaluation exercises in SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS. 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. With support from this book, your classroom becomes a "lab" where you can experience what it's like to work in and lead many kinds of groups. This edition also emphasizes self-care -- with 30 strategies that you can use to improve your, and your clients', well-being.