Introduction to Social Work: An Advocacy-Based Profession

The best-selling Introduction to Social Work guides students through the foundations of social work—it’s 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.

Table of Contents:
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

About the Author :
Lisa E. Cox, Lisa E. Cox, PhD, LCSW, MSW, is professor of social work and gerontology and a former social work program chair at Stockton University. Prior to 1999, Dr. Cox held a joint faculty appointment at Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU′s) School of Medicine (Richmond AIDS Consortium) and School of Social Work, where she taught MSW students and served as a pioneering AIDS clinical trial social worker with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease–funded Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS. Dr. Cox received BA degrees in History/Political Science and Spanish from Bridgewater College and her MSW and PhD degrees from VCU. From 2007 to 2025, she served as a fellow, research scholar, advisory board member, and research chair for the Stockton Center on Successful Aging. Dr. Cox teaches undergraduate- and graduate-level classes in social work practice, gerontology, HIV/AIDS, research, psychopathology and cultural neuroscience, and clinical social work in health care. She has co-led study tours to Costa Rica and traveled throughout Europe, India, Nepal, Mexico, and Australia. She was a 2014 faculty scholar with the Geriatric Education Center Initiative and is a ten-year governor appointee to and vice chair for the New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners. As a long-standing member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Dr. Cox has shared her vast practice experience by holding numerous leadership roles within NASW: National Advisory Board member to the Spectrum HIV/AIDS Project, chair of the Health Specialty Practice Section, Standards for Social Work Practice in Health Care Settings Task Force expert, long-term care liaison to the Joint Commission on Health Care, and unit chairperson. Dr. Cox has presented her scholarship nationally and internationally. As the coauthor of numerous books, Dr. Cox has also authored several book chapters and numerous journal articles focused on health social work, gerontology, international social work, social support, medication adherence, and social work licensure. In 2024, Dr. Cox was approved as a Fulbright Teaching Specialist; and, since 2022 Dr. Cox has been a PASWHA (Professional Association of Social Workers and HIV/AIDS) Board member and an Atlantic County Mental Health Advisory Board member.  Dr. Cox relaxes by playing the piano, walking on the beach/boardwalk, watching baseball, and listening to music.  Carolyn J. Tice, DSW, ACSW, was professor and associate dean of the Baccalaureate Social Work Program, School of Social Work, University of Maryland, from July 2002 to August 2020. Her prior 9-year appointment was as chair of the Department of Social Work, Ohio University, where she introduced the Masters in Social Work (MSW) with a focus on rural policy and practice.  Dr. Tice received her BSW from West Virginia University and an MSW from Temple University, and she completed her DSW at the University of Pennsylvania, where she worked with Hmong refugees.  She holds a Certificate in Administration from the Wharton School. Dr. Tice is the coauthor of numerous books and peer-reviewed articles; her scholarship focuses primarily on the development of critical-thinking skills and social work practice and policy from a strengths and advocacy perspective. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Teaching in Social Work and serves as a book prospectus reviewer for Wadsworth, SAGE, and Wiley. In 2008, she was named a Fulbright specialist and traveled to Mongolia to assist in the development of social work programs. Dr. Tice has worked with the Fulbright program for 9 years as an application reviewer. Her other international social work experiences include program development in Botswana, India, Portugal, Taiwan, Vietnam, and China.  Dr. Tice is a member of the Council of Social Work Education and the National Association of Social Workers, and she is associated with the American Friends Service Committee and the Friends Committee on National Legislation.  Dr. Tice is the proprietor of Olde Friends, a booth in an antique store located on the southern New Jersey coastline.    Dennis D. Long, PhD, ACSW, is an Emeritus Professor of Social Work at  Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio). Dr. Long previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Social Work and as the associate dean and interim dean of the College of Professional Sciences at Xavier University. From 2006 to 2012, he was a professor and chair of the Department of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He received his BA in sociology and psychology from Ohio Northern University, his MSW from The Ohio State University, and his PhD in sociology from the University of Cincinnati. The coauthor of numerous other books and articles, Dr. Long has focused his scholarship, leadership, and teaching in the areas of advocacy and macro social work, with special interests in community-based and international practice. He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Teaching in Social Work and over many years was a long-standing member of the National Association of Social Workers and Council on Social Work Education. Dr. Long has provided leadership on numerous community and national boards, including the Butler County Mental Health Board, Oesterlen Services for Youth, Charlotte Family Housing, and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.  

Review :
I have shared with others how grateful I am to have a textbook that is readable and relevant. The Introduction to Social Work book I have adopted for my social work course is engaging, dynamic and relevant. Students actually read the book and discuss what they have read. The book is thorough but not complicated just like an introductory book should be! "I have used every other major digital platform that exists, and I can say that Vantage has no equal." "Student performance after implementing Vantage is incredible...this is a really tangible way to see that." "It really helps you wrap your head around what you′re learning and come to a complete understanding of the course material." "Extremely valuable! Interactive, engaging and simple to use." "With Vantage, I set up my course in under 10 minutes, which is unheard of...I love Vantage!" "My learners really enjoyed the SAGE Vantage experience. Many of them said it forced them to read, which aided in their comprehension…The feedback I received is that they all really enjoyed the interactive nature of the program, as well as the [number] of activities..." "...Really going to deepen students′ understanding and...boost their comprehension." "I am really excited to have tools that help motivate students to actually do the reading..." "I think that Vantage [is] an ideal system that will promote engagement of students." "This is the smoothest student onboarding process I have ever experienced. Everything is syncing and the students were able to figure things out with almost no help from me."