This text provides students with a political perspective on social welfare, with definitions of liberal, conservative, and radical positions, to help students better appreciate the political context of social welfare programs. This popular introductory text is written by two of the best-known authors in social work. The book discusses the values, ethics, and knowledge needed by social workers, as well as social workers' current roles in social welfare programs. Strong coverage of the history of social welfare movements throughout the text allows students to place developments in an historical context.