Cultural Diversity and Social Work Practice

The profession of social work has a long and admirable history of attending to issues related to diversity and oppression. This new edition continues to examine the disciplinary attention regarding the provision of services to clientele who were most often marginalized by mainstream society. By understanding certain aspects of the culture experienced by a client, a social worker is better equipped to be of service, to assess, to plan, to cooperate, and to intervene. The goal of this book is to bridge the gaps and to present to readers, in one source, a wealth of practice-relevant information about African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals, women, the aged, the developmentally disabled, and those with adult-onset physical disabilities. Additional topics include the hearing-impaired, visually-impaired, and social work practice with refugees. A significant updating of many of the chapters from the previous two editions is included, enhancing the knowledge concerning social work practice. An excellent resource for increased knowledge and sensitivity, the book is designed for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for practitioners who desire to perfect their skills in working with culturally diverse clients.