Prepare future social workers with tools to address disparities across diverse settings.
This essential text provides justice-informed knowledge, skills, and values for social work practice. It examines structural and systemic impacts to prepare students for creating meaningful change across diverse practice arenas. Each chapter is grounded in key concepts and theory, linking contemporary practice to historical policies that have perpetuated inequity. Through this foundation, the book offers clear, practical knowledge and actionable guidance. With applied exercises, practitioner insights, and experiential learning opportunities, the book helps students apply social, racial, economic, and environmental justice in practice. Designed for BSW, MSW, and DSW courses, the text emphasizes sustainable practice through self-care and reflective engagement. Know, use, and test your understanding of course content with CourseConnect—an interactive learning platform included with your print purchase.
What’s New:
New chapters on racial justice, child welfare, and self-care for sustainable practice
Expanded case examples and voices from practitioners in the field
Updated applied exercises and reflective learning opportunities
Stronger integration of systemic analysis across practice arenas
Key Features:
Coverage of 13 essential practice systems through a justice lens
Students gain advanced skills to identify and challenge systemic injustice in practice
Includes engaging tools: case studies, exercises, field insights, and learning outcomes
Written by respected scholars advancing social, racial, economic, and environmental justice in social work
Instructor Resources include Instructor’s Manual with Learning Activities for each chapter, Instructor Chapter PowerPoints, Test Bank, Sample Syllabus, and Transition Guide from First to Second Edition
Kalea Benner, PhD, MSW, LCSW, is dean and professor with the School of Social Work at Indiana University.
Diane N. Loeffler, PhD, MSW, is a senior lecturer in the University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work, a member of the Lewis Honors College Faculty, and a faculty affiliate of the Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies Program.
Natalie D. Pope, PhD, MSW, LCSW, is an associate professor and PhD program director in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky.
Contributors
Preface
Instructor Resources
Chapter 1. Setting the Stage for Justice-Driven Social Work Practice
Chapter 2. Theoretical and Conceptual Underpinnings of Justice-Driven Practice
Chapter 3. Framing Social Work Practice in the Human Rights Context
Chapter 4. Implementing Racial Justice and Anti-Oppressive Practice
Chapter 5. The Pervasive Influence of Economic Inequality and Income Disparity
Chapter 6. Addressing Disparities in Child Welfare
Chapter 7. Social and Economic Disparities Within the Educational System
Chapter 8. Justice-Informed Social Work Practice Within the Criminal Justice System
Chapter 9. Social and Environmental Factors in Health Disparities
Chapter 10. Disparities in Mental Health Services: A Matter of Justice in the Clinical Setting
Chapter 11. Environmental Justice and Disasters: Social Workers Role in Combating Structural Inequalities
Chapter 12. Food Justice
Chapter 13. Utilizing Policy to Address Unaffordable and Unavailable Housing
Chapter 14. Financial Justice and Social Work Practice
Chapter 15. Implementing Justice-Driven Social Work Practice
Chapter 16. Self-Care as a Professional Imperative
Chapter 17. A Call to Action: Justice-Informed Social Work Practice
