This is a text for the first social work course covering social welfare as an institution and social work as a profession. The four parts of the book cover background, social problems and social services, methods of social work practice, and special groups, issues, and trends. The text balances historical material, current issues, and future considerations. It covers the effect of technology, privatization, case management, managed care, trends in health care, and newer social work roles such as advocacy, empowerment, more uses of groups, and the generalist social worker. Among the social problems and issues considered are poverty; welfare reform; disabilities; substance abuse; crime; AIDS and HIV; compulsive gambling and shopping; displaced persons; spirituality; and burnout.