Overview

Introduction to Social Work: A Look Across the Profession is a collaborative effort among faculty and students in the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work. This work is designed to give new social work students and students considering social work a view across the numerous opportunities in the social work profession toward developing their own professional goals and plans.

Creation Process

Introduction to Social Work: A Look Across the Profession was originally developed by then faculty members Jim Langford and Craig Keaton. Later, Regina Praetorius joined the team as editor in the review and revision phase. Regina taught using this text for two semesters. Students in these classes were asked for their honest feedback including ideas for activities, revisions and additions. Emily Clarke, as a BSW student at the time, integrated these revisions and activities into the text. One requested addition was a chapter that focused on working with individuals with disabilities. Emily Clarke and Megan Westmore, a PhD student at the time, took the lead on developing this chapter. Thus, this work is a collaboration across faculty and students toward meeting the needs and interests of students exploring social work as a career. During the Summer of 2023, this book was revised to include updated statistics by PhD student Jessica Williams.

About the Author

Jim Langford has 35+ years of practicing social work including juvenile probation, hospice, outpatient mental health, and, hospital social work. Prior to my coming to the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work as full-time professor, he was a hospital social worker for over 10 years and a hospice social worker for 2 years. He was both a clinical supervisor and direct practitioner with a Fort Worth outpatient mental health agency. His experience as a social work covers a broad range of responsibilities, from management to supervision to direct practice.