Preface -- Understanding social work -- The social work profession -- The history of social work -- Generalist social work practice -- Advocacy in social work -- Responding to need -- Poverty and inequality -- Family and child welfare -- Health care and health challenges -- Physical and mental challenges -- Mental health -- Substance use and addiction -- Challenges and rewards of aging -- Criminal justice -- Working in changing contexts -- Communities at risk and housing -- The changing workplace -- Veterans, their families, and military social work -- Environmentalism -- Global practice and international social work -- Epilogue: social work and self-care -- Appendices -- A: code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers -- Principles -- B: workplace preference checklist and social work job inventory -- C: NASW policy statement on mental health.