This book is designed and structured around the nine professional social work competencies as defined by the Council on Social Work Education's 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), with one or two chapters devoted to each professional competency. The book's coverage of the professional social work competencies helps students develop the knowledge and skills needed to become effective social workers. Each chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the theories, concepts, and practice components of a competency. The book focuses on mastering the professional competencies rather than just presenting content on social work practice. This approach helps students expand their competency knowledge, application, and integration by creating a purposeful approach to the development of their professional competencies that must be mastered by today's social work students. The book is designed for use in undergraduate and graduate social work practice courses. It uses the professional competencies as the structure. The chapters cover all components of the professional competencies described in EPAS 2015, which includes demonstrate ethical and professional behavior; advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice; engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice; and engage in policy practice. This approach ensures that the professional competencies are covered in the social practice course(s) and that students experience the relationships among the competencies and social work practice better, preparing them for their field education and future practice as social work professionals. Each chapter begins with opening vignettes to help engage students in the chapter content, followed by chapter objectives that outline the key concepts. In addition, each chapter has multiple case examples, critical thinking questions, and a detailed case summary with discussion questions. The book covers topics that students need for competency-based social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and community clients and constituents.

This book is designed to help the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work students, enrolled in foundation field placements and field seminars, structure their field placement learning around the nine Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) profession social work competencies defined in the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Its goal is to ensure that foundation field placement students integrate course learning related to the social work competencies with their field placement learning experiences in a purposeful, reflective, and integrated manner. The book helps structure students’ field learning on the social work competencies. It also educates social work field instructors on the social work competencies mandated by CSWE. The book is divided into 14 chapters. Chapter one provides an introduction to social work field placement and the expectations for social work interns. Chapter two focuses on assessing ones mastery of the professional competencies in ones field placement. Chapters three and four explore the importance of social work supervision, and using reflection and self-regulation to promote well-being through self-care. Chapter five focuses on the importance of engaging with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; and interprofessional collaboration. Chapter six examines what professional social work behavior in communication looks like. Chapters seven and eight focus on engaging in diversity and difference in practice; and advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice within ones field placement and beyond. Chapter nine discusses practice-informed research and research-informed practice. Chapter ten focuses on engaging in policy practice in ones field placement. Chapters eleven and twelve covers assessment of the three micro-level client systems: individuals, families, and groups; and reviews assessment of the two mezzo-level client systems: organizations and communities. The last two chapters focus on micro interventions with individuals, families, groups, and organizations and communities.