John G McNutt

Social Welfare Policy: Responding to a Changing World is a topical, comprehensive introduction to social welfare policy. It uses a contemporary framework that explicitly addresses three forces that have redefined the social policy arena: the growth of the information economy, the rise of globalization, and our current environmental crisis. This framework is applied to the six traditional arenas of policy—child and family services, health and mental health, poverty and inequality, housing and community development, crime and violence, and aging, and explores how to find solutions to both long enduring and brand new problems. John McNutt and Richard Hoefer's introductory text represents a move forward in social welfare policy thinking that is built on the latest scholarship and teaches students that the time to create social policies for the future is in the present.

Throughout the book the authors help students logically develop practice with appropriate theoretical underpinnings and show them how they can be significant actors in larger systems. The authors chose to stress the use of the generalist model with larger systems and create an overarching integrated social work theory. In addition, they integrate possible practice responses with selected relevant human behavior knowledge. The authors stress critical thinking and problem solving which should help practitioners engage in relevant and accountable practices. The authors believe that when social workers feel comfortable and capable doing macropractice, they will then possess the necessary skills to help the community become empowered. This affordably priced core paperback is structured to be supplemented by additional readings and a teacher's own thoughts and social work experiences.