Kirjahaku

As the author approached her 50th birthday, she began to wonder how other people her age were experiencing the prospect of their 50s, and so the idea for this book was born. She wanted to both understand her own generation and gain a sense of what being in our 50s means in the 21st Century now that life expectancy (in the developed world, at least) means 50 is closer to midlife than ever before.Over the course of a year she spoke with twenty-one people born between 1959 and 1969 in Australia and the United States; ten women and eleven men. Her questions were wide ranging but mostly she let them talk. People discussed their state of mind, relationships, attitudes to religion, dying, health, discrimination, advice to their younger selves, lessons learned, regrets and what had changed or stayed the same over the course of their lives. What these people had in common was a willingness to talk about themselves and share their experiences. On the whole, it would seem they are a happy group at an interesting point in their lives; still vital and in the workforce, yet grappling with becoming older and remaining relevant. There was a diversity of backgrounds and experiences. People had been single, tried dating later in life, managed stepfamilies or been single parents. All the while navigating complicated and changing relationships with parents, children, ex-partners as well as their own bodies. Here are their stories.

This comprehensive introduction to social work integrates perspectives from English, French, and Indigenous peoples in Canada to provide an inclusive treatment of the history, foundational skills, and specific fields of social work practice and research. Part I begins with an exploration of the origins and foundational concepts of social work in Canada, including how Indigenous, French, and English traditions have shaped and informed social work practice in Canada. The text then discusses theoretical approaches, and the values and ethics at the core of professional practice. Part II examines foundational skills for social workers through a focus on working with individuals and families, and groups and communities. Part III explores specific fields of social work practice and research, with chapters focused on the health field and on working with children, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, the LGBTQ community, aging populations, and international social work. With an emphasis on diversity and drawing extensively on Canadian statistics and scholarship, this is an ideal text for introduction to social work courses. This updated, new edition features a substantially revised and expanded chapter on Indigenous Peoples and Social Work.