Grappling with Faith: Decision Cases for Christians in Social Work (November, 2010), presents fifteen cases specifically designed to challenge and stretch Christian social work students and practitioners. Using the case method of teaching and learning, Grappling with Faith highlights the ambiguities and dilemmas found in a wide variety of areas of social work practice, provoking active decision making and helping develop readers' critical thinking skills. Each case provides a clear focal point for initiating stimulating, in-depth discussions for use in social work classroom or training settings. These discussions require that students use their knowledge of social work theory and research, their skills of analysis and problem solving, and their common sense and collective wisdom to identify and analyze problems, evaluate possible solutions, and decide what to do in these complex and difficult situations.
 Based on field research, the cases portray the actual experiences of real social workers. They are drawn from many different fields of practice and from both faith-based and public settings. They portray intertwined and sometimes conflicting client needs and values; social worker values and professional obligations; organizational dilemmas; and dilemmas related to Biblical, theological, and philosophical perspectives. The cases press readers to consider individual and organizational needs, contradictory policy requirements, the limits of professional intervention, value or ethical dilemmas, and the unintended consequences of decisions. They all include a social worker who identifies as a Christian, which will especially resonate with Christian social work students and practitioners.

Grappling with Faith: Decision Cases for Christians in Social Work

Terry A. Wolfer

Mackenzi Huyser

North American Association of Christians in Social Work

Virtues and Character in Social Work Practice offers a fresh contribution to the Christian social work literature with its emphasis on the key role of character traits and virtues in equipping Christians in social work to engage with and serve their clients and communities well.
 Social work practitioners are social change agents who spend much of their time examining social structures and advocating for policies and programs to advance justice and increase opportunity. Social justice is central to the mission, professional development, and ethical decision making process in social work practice. However, the development of character traits and virtues for Christians in social work is equally important in furthering social justice and working with diverse populations. 
 A re-publication of the combined Summer and Fall, 2014 special issue of Social Work and Christianity (NACSW's quarterly journal), Virtue and Character in Social Work Practice brings to light questions about professional identity, relationships, and the ability to thrive and sustain social change through the understanding and development of a virtue framework. This framework combines philosophy, theology, and pedagogical practices to offer a holistic approach to professional development and explores the virtues of charity, faith, generosity, gratitude, and justice in social work practice. 
 Virtues and Character in Social Work Practice addresses a range of critical questions such as: 
<li>What character traits and virtues ought Christians in social work seek to nurture in their lives and work? </li>
<li>What sorts of dispositions, commitments, and practices should the social work profession seek to instill in social workers </li>
<li>What resources do Christian educators and trainers draw from to shape a vision for the type of social workers they hope to cultivate? </li>
<li>What is the role of the church in the character and virtue formation of Christians in social work? The purpose of this book is to explore how to form Christians in social work who love justice, who care deeply about people and their flourishing, who settle for nothing less than doing their work competently, and whose core posture toward their work is one of integrity.
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Virtues and Character in Social Work Practice

Cheryl Brandsen

North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW)

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Books by Terry A. Wolfer

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Terry A. Wolfer. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Grappling with Faith: Decision Cases for Christians in Social Work

Virtues and Character in Social Work Practice