Social Work and Social Justice: A Structural Approach to Practice

by Colleen Lundy

Social Work and Social A Structural Approach to Practice rests on a fundamental dilemma facing social workers. On a daily basis social workers wrestle to provide personal and interpersonal help to people, yet many of the issues and problems they face are beyond the scope of their immediate influence, rooted as they are in broad social, economic, and political conditions. In many or even most situations, the hope for resolution to problems lies in a change to those conditions.

Social Work and Social A Structural Approach to Practice begins by situating the social welfare state, social work, and the delivery of social services within the historical context of the evolution of the globalized capitalist economy. Moving from her analysis of the powerful socio-economic or "structural" forces that influence the social conditions that generate stress, deprivation, and other symptoms of individual problems, Colleen Lundy develops a "structural" approach to social work practice. In so doing she places emphasis on practice skills and strategies for working with individuals, families, groups, and communities, that at the same time present a process for change based on empowerment, critical consciousness, and the provision of concrete material resources. The book closes with a discussion of the working conditions faced by social workers and with the role of professional associations and unions in advancing social work practice.

Throughout, Social Work and Social Justice draws on both traditional and radical social work contributions. It bridges a significant gap by developing a social justice/human rights approach to social work that aims for understanding immediate individual concerns and underlying social conditions, while laying out concrete social work practice skills. The book is essential reading for social work students and social work practitioners who are interested in responding to individual trauma/problems while supporting positive structural change and working toward a more just society.

Genres: Social Work, Education

282 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2003

Reviews

[Azuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

conflict and order,personal and social.

[Leeann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for class and though it was fairly dry in places I came away with new ways of thinking about a number of different issues. Many of the exercises suggested are useful and can be applied to other kinds of activist situations (which is useful for those of us not planning to go into social work).

I can't tell you how much I miss reading books that weren't assigned to me by a professor, though. As soon as this semester ends I am going on such a book binge!