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Introduction to Social Work
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Introduction to Social Work
An Advocacy-Based Profession

Fourth Edition
November 2025 | 568 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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The best-selling Introduction to Social Work guides students through the foundations of social work—its history, purpose, and how to become practical and effective advocates in the field. Built on a unique advocacy practice and policy model with four key components–economic and social justice, a supportive environment, human needs and rights, and political access—this text offers a crucial lens for addressing today’s social issues. Authors Lisa E. Cox, Carolyn J. Tice, and Dennis D. Long emphasize advocacy across all sectors of social work, addressing pressing issues such as immigration, poverty, health care, social policy, and environmental challenges. The Fourth Edition closely aligns with the latest Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), references the Code of Ethics from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). It encourages students to explore their personal role as future social workers in driving systemic change, challenging oppression, and uplifting marginalized individuals, families, groups, and communities.

This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.

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Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Foreword
 
Part I: Understanding Social Work
 
Chapter 1: The Social Work Profession
The Social Work Profession: Purpose and Goals

 
Social Work and Human Diversity

 
Informing Practice

 
Social Work Education

 
Social Work Practice

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 2: The History of Social Work
Social Welfare

 
The Role of Social Welfare in Early America

 
The Progressive Era and World War I

 
The Great Depression and World War II

 
America’s War on Poverty: 1960 to 1967

 
Presidential Actions: 1981 to 2001

 
The Limitations of Social Welfare

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 3: Generalist Social Work Practice
Knowledge Base for Generalist Social Workers

 
Theoretical Foundations of Generalist Practice

 
Opportunities for Generalist Practice

 
The Change Process

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 4: Advocacy in Social Work
Advocacy

 
The Need for Professional Advocates

 
Social Workers and Social Change

 
A Model for Dynamic Advocacy

 
Tenets of the Advocacy Practice and Policy Model

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part II: Responding to Need
 
Chapter 5: Poverty and Inequality
Poverty

 
The Face of Poverty

 
Social Service Programs for People With Low Incomes

 
Current Trends in Advocacy With People Living in Poverty

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 6: Family and Child Welfare
Today’s Diverse Families

 
Family Problems

 
Development of Child Welfare Services

 
Key Child and Family Services

 
Support for Child and Family Services

 
Social Work in Schools

 
Diversity and Family and Child Welfare

 
Advocacy on Behalf of Families and Children

 
Your Career in Family and Child Welfare

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 7: Social Work in Health Care
Health Challenges and the American Health Care System

 
Health Care Policies, Programs, and Services

 
Health Care Trends

 
Health Care and Social Work

 
Diversity Intersections in Health Care

 
Dynamic Advocacy With People Experiencing Health Care Challenges

 
Your Career in Health Care

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 8: Physical, Cognitive, and Developmental Challenges and Disabilities
Physical, Cognitive, and Developmental Challenges or Disabilities

 
Social Work With People Living With Physical, Cognitive, and Developmental Challenges or Disabilities

 
Diversity and Physical, Cognitive, and Developmental Challenges or Disabilities

 
Dynamic Advocacy on Behalf of People With Physical, Cognitive, and Developmental Challenges or Disabilities

 
Your Career Working With People Who Have Physical, Cognitive, and Developmental Challenges Or Disabilities

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 9: Mental Health
Mental Health and Mental Disorders

 
Evolution of the Mental Health System

 
Social Work Practice in Mental Health

 
Diversity and Mental Health Services

 
Dynamic Advocacy With People Who Have Mental Health Challenges or Disorders

 
Your Career in Mental Health Social Work

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 10: Substance Use and Addiction
Substance Use and Addiction

 
Addictive Substances and Behaviors

 
Policies Related to Substance Use

 
Social Work Practice in Substance Use and Addiction

 
Diversity and Substance Use

 
Dynamic Advocacy and Substance Use Disorder

 
Your Career in Substance Use and Addictions

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 11: Helping Older Adults
Aging and Older Adults

 
Gerontological Social Work Practice

 
Biological and Physiological Aspects of Aging

 
Cognitive and Psychological Aspects of Aging

 
Spiritual and Religious Aspects of Aging

 
Diversity and Aging

 
Dynamic Advocacy and Aging

 
Your Career in Gerontology

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Question

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 12: Criminal Justice
Introduction to Social Work and Criminal Justice

 
Central Concepts in Criminal Justice and Crime

 
Conflicting Attitudes About Those Who Commit Crimes

 
Social Workers and the Criminal Justice System

 
Contemporary Criminal Justice Topics for Social Workers

 
Advantaged and Disadvantaged Groups in the Criminal Justice System

 
Dynamic Advocacy and Criminal Justice

 
Your Career in Criminal Justice

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 13: Veterans, Service Members, Their Families, and Military Social Work
Military Social Work

 
Military Culture

 
Issues Affecting Service Members, Veterans, and Their Family Members

 
Social Work With Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families

 
Diversity and Military Social Work

 
Dynamic Advocacy for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families

 
Your Career in Military Social Work

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Part III: Working in Changing Contexts
 
Chapter 14: Communities at Risk and Housing
Central Concepts Regarding Communities and Housing

 
Types of Housing

 
Clients’ Housing Issues

 
Social Work with At-Risk Communities

 
Policy Issues Related to Communities and Housing

 
Diversity and Housing

 
Dynamic Advocacy and Housing

 
Your Career in Housing Services and Community Practice

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 15: The Changing Workplace
The History of Work in the United States

 
Social Work Practice in the Workforce

 
Social Welfare and the Changing Workplace

 
Diversity and the Changing Workplace

 
Dynamic Advocacy and the Changing Workplace

 
Your Career in the World of Work

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 16: Environmentalism
Environmentalism and Social Work

 
Environmental Issues

 
Diversity and Environmentalism

 
Dynamic Advocacy and Environmentalism

 
Your Career in Environmentalism

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Chapter 17: International Social Work
International Social Work Practice

 
Current Issues Facing International Social Workers

 
Diversity and International Practice

 
Dynamic Advocacy and International Social Work

 
Your Career in International Social Work

 
Summary

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Exercises

 
Glossary

 
 
Epilogue
 
Appendix A: Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers
 
Appendix B: Commonly Used Drugs Chart
 
Appendix C: Offense Analysis, United States, 2015-2019
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • NEW! An AI Literacy module prepares students to engage confidently with today’s AI tools through an interactive, outcomes-focused experience—with minimal instructor lift and no course redesign required. Available exclusively in Sage Vantage and written by professors who teach and publish about AI, the AI Information Literacy, Academic Integrity, and Responsible AI Use module integrates video, data driven examples, applied activities, Knowledge Checks, and built-in assessments that help instructors track student understanding. Focused on strengthening critical thinking, the module teaches students how to evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and bias while developing responsible prompting strategies that support academic success without compromising students’ intellectual growth.
  • Expanded advocacy coverage reflecting current national and global priorities—including migration, poverty, mental health, the opioid crisis, housing instability, and environmental justice—emphasizing both case and cause advocacy.
  • Heightened focus on ethics and international affairs, with tools to critically analyze dilemmas and apply ethical frameworks in practice and policy.
  • Updated military social work content, including terminology refinements and broader attention to active-duty and retired service members.
  • Enhanced substance use and addiction material, featuring new exercises and podcast recommendations that promote student reflection and critical thinking.
  • Deeper integration of diversity and multicultural practice, highlighted through examples and discussion questions that foster analytical engagement.
KEY FEATURES:
  • A unique advocacy framework explores the signature roots of the social work profession, its history, key figures, practice settings, policies, and the type of work performed on individual, group, community, local, state, national, and international levels.
  • A theme of inter-professional education and practice is integrated throughout and illustrated within various case vignettes.
  • A grid of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) within the preface serves as an easy reference to the accreditation requirements set forth by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
  • Reflective practice and Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) are integrated throughout.
  • Social Work in Action, Spotlight on Advocacy and Current Trends boxes provide applied examples of social workers' transformative opportunities and contributions in confronting complicated life situations.
  • Time to Think features ask students to reflect on their own experiences in relation to the chapter to make content easier to retain.
  • Your Career sections introduce potential career paths for future social workers.
  • Robust in-text pedagogy includes learning objectives, chapter summaries, discussion questions, and exercises for mastering the material.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface, Chapters 1-2

Vantage Reference: 
Introduction to Social Work - Vantage Learning Platform