Social Work and the City

"Williams' book "Social Work and the City" is an exciting and very relevant read for researchers as well as social work students. It manages to couple some of the most pressing issues relating to the consequences of urbanization with the historical roots of social work in the city. It covers relevant introductory chapters as well as a range of cutting edge issues for social work to cope with now and in the future." (Mia Arp Fallov, Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University) "The increasing global trends towards urbanization have placed greater emphasis on the need for scholars and practitioners to focus on these geographic settings. It also is highly desirable to have a book devoted to urban social work because the profession was born in cities. This book promises to bring renewed attention to how the profession can play an influential role in shaping practice and scholarship with an urban focus." (Melvin Delgado, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, Boston University School of Social Work)

This book critically explores ways of thinking about the city and its relevance for the profession of social work. The book shows that the city represents a critical arena in terms of the future of social work intervention and social work identity.This book critically explores ways of thinking about the city and its relevance for the profession of social work. It provides a colourful illustration of practice drawing on examples of social work responses to a range of issues emerging from the unprecedented scale, density and pace of change in cities. The associated challenges posed for social work include: the increased segregation of the poor, the crisis of affordable housing, homelessness, gentrification, ageing, displacement as a result of migrations, and the breakdown of social support and care. 
Drawing on multiple disciplines, this groundbreaking work shows that these familiar features of the twenty-first century can be counteracted by the positive aspects of the city: its innovation, creativity and serendipity. It has a redistributive, caring and cohesive potential. The city can provide new opportunities and resources for social work to influence, to collaborate, to foster participation and involvement, and to extend its social justice mandate. The book shows that the city represents a critical arena in terms of the future of social work intervention and social work identity. In doing so, it will be of great interest to students and scholars of social work, social policy, community work and urban studies.