This unique self-instructional text involves students in the learning process and helps them develop and apply the skills needed for working with people. It presents comprehensive coverage of major practice areas brokering, consumer advocacy, mobilizing, interviewing, case management, relationship building, and assessment. Encouraging students to view people in a positive way with the ability to change, the fourth edition contains a new chapter on managing the transition to new service delivery systems, updated material on clinical methods, revised material on policy practice, and updated cases that reflect a stronger emphasis on diversity.