ABSTRACT
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the body that accredits undergraduate and graduate social work programs, requires that programs prepare students to apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment. This is how the CSWE articulates its policy: Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to facilitate engagement with clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Depending on the agency or population, however, social workers sometimes move outside the overlapping areas to focus on issues related to a specific circle or realm. For example, a social worker might be employed to conduct mental health assessments for children. As a profession, social work tends to generate, draw from, and apply knowledge based in strengths, empowerment, and social justice tenets. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
