Sarah Todd - Community Practice and Social Development in Social Work

The MRW in Social Work enables social work practitioners, policy makers and academics across the world to access in-depth, authoritative literature and cutting-edge research into professional practice, ethics, practice-based research methods and policy in the field. Grounding practice and policy in systematic theories and principles, it covers all specialties in the field including children and families, older adults, mental health, people with disabilities, domestic and gendered violence, inter-cultural practice, sexuality, international social work and community development. Drawing on a strong scientific basis, it offers reviews and analyses of key social issues, policy frameworks and practice methods, including counseling, casework, family therapy, groupwork, community work, community development, social development and social policy practice.

More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/15559

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Professional social work now exists in over 90 countries. From its early origins in the later part of the nineteenth century, it has sought to develop a strong scientific basis, grounding practice and policy in systematic theories and principles. Today, as social work grows in all parts of the world, its body of knowledge about social issues, practices to address these, and relevant policy frameworks is expanding rapidly. Consequently, keeping up-to-date on such knowledge is increasingly challenging for practitioners, policy makers, and academics in the field. This series makes research-based knowledge available for everyone who has an interest in maintaining their grasp of the discipline by bringing together leading social work scholars, practitioners, and policy makers to examine contemporary evidence on various aspects of the field. In this way, it provides an authoritative range of voices from which everyone in the profession may gain a deeper understanding grounded in evidence.

As it has expanded, social work has developed many areas of specialty, each of which now has its own body of knowledge that constitutes a subfield of the profession as a whole. The Major Research Works in Social Work series addresses the need for up-to-date, authoritative, extensive reviews and analyses of knowledge in a range of areas of social work. Edited by significant contributors in each aspect of specialty, these volumes offer in-depth discussion of the specific practices and issues of policy and the organization of relevant services. By taking this approach, it is possible to ensure appropriate coverage of the range of specialties and also at the same time to provide sufficient depth of analysis and discussion of key ideas.

As a profession, social work can be understood in a number of ways. First, there are fields of practice. These include children and families, older adults, mental health, people with disabilities, domestic and gendered violence, intercultural practice, sexuality, and international social work. Second, methods of practice also define areas of knowledge in social work. These include counseling, casework and case management, family therapy, group work, community work and community development, social development, and social policy practice. Third, there are overarching issues that contribute to social work knowledge and theory, including professional ethics, practice-based research methods, and policy studies. These are examples indicative of the range, rather than forming a definitive list, and point to the way in which a series may enable both breadth and depth to be addressed. At the same time they point to the extensive coverage that is relevant to the broad social work field.

Although much of the tradition of social work research and analysis came originally from those countries that experienced early industrialization (the global North), given the worldwide growth of social work the editorial approach for this series also aims to be global in its focus. Volume editors and contributors are drawn purposefully from around the world and they in turn are expected to take a worldwide view of ensuring that the current evidence and analysis is presented.

This series was developed by selecting major themes across fields of practice, methods of practice, and overarching issues. Future titles will be added to the initial five areas, community practice, mental health, family and gendered conflict and violence, children and families, and social work theory and ethics reflecting the breadth of the social work profession. At the same time, because Springer Major Research Works are living publications, able to be updated, the continuing development of the profession will be reflected in analysis and discussion that grows with the field through publication of revised chapters as further evidence and analysis becomes available.

As Editor-in-Chief, I acknowledge the commitment and insights of the editors to each specific volume. Their expertise and hard work enable this series to pursue its overall goal. In this volume Sarah Todd and Julie Drolet have brought together leading researchers, educators, and practitioners in community practice and social development to create an insightful and challenging view of this dimension of social work. I also thank our Publishing Editor at Springer Nature, Mokshika Gaur, for her vision, enthusiasm, and support, as well as other colleagues at Springer Nature who have assisted the process of creating these volumes.