Just Practice: A Social Justice Approach to Social Work

by Janet L. Finn

Just A Social Justice Approach to Social Work provides a foundation for critical and creative social work that integrates theory, history, ethics, skills, and rights to respond to the complex terrain of 21st century social work. Just Practice puts the field of social work's expressed commitment to social justice at center stage with a framework that builds upon five key meaning, context, power, history, and possibility. How do we give meaning to the experiences and conditions that shape our lives? What are the contexts in which those experiences and conditions occur? How do structures and relations of power shape people's lives and the practice of social work? How might a historical perspective help us to grasp the ways in which struggles over meaning and power have played out and to better appreciate the human consequences of those struggles? Taken together, these concepts provide a guide for integrative social work that bridges direct practice and community
building.

The text prepares readers with the theoretical knowledge and practice skills to address the complex challenges of contemporary social work from direct practice with individuals and families, to group work, organizational and community change, and policy analysis and advocacy. Each chapter includes learning activities, reflection moments, practice examples, and the stories and voices of practitioners and service users to engage students as critical thinkers and practitioners. The author encourages teachers and students alike to take risks, move from safe, familiar, pedagogical spaces and practices, challenge assumptions, and embrace uncertainty.

Genres: Social Work, Academic, Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2003

Reviews

[Jinglei Mao · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book mentions concepts like social justice, human rights, anti-oppressive, empowerment, which to me feel very similar and rather abstract. On the one hand, yes, they are correct and just, and the book covers everything thoroughly—but if social workers were really expected to achieve every one of these ideals, they would have to be superhuman, almost saint-like. At the end, it even claims that love is the foundation of justice work—hey… it’s not about love. I don’t even need to love someone to believe they have the right to live with dignity. I forced myself to read through it, but there are just too many terms, many overlapping in meaning, so why do we need so many polished phrases? Take “empowerment,” for example: it calls for granting power—but what kind of power? Why is it lost? How is it taken away? By whom? Honestly, I doubt whether social work as a profession can ever truly be just.

[Glenna McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a great example of what needs to be addressed by society

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better-than-average textbook utilizing critical theory analysis. Five stars if some of the diagrams made more sense to me.

[Linda Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best textbooks I've ever read. Truly thought provoking. Very thankful for the history lessons included in it as well.

[Deepti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Counting my textbook bc I read the whole thing and it’s not looking like I’ll hit 30 books read by the end of the month…….

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent textbook

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was assigned this book as part of my Master of Social Work coursework ("Promoting Social Justice with Diverse Populations"). I feel like this book could have been 1/4 of the size and consisted entirely of bullet points. Very boring read. Even though this book/edition was published in 2020, it already lacked relevancy by 2024.