51 Social Work
Social Work (SVS)
See also: List of open textbooks for social work education and open access books for social work compiled by Matthew DeCarlo (La Salle University) and Kimberly Pendell (Portland State University).
Canadian Settlement in Action: History and Future∗ 
Alexandru Caldararu, Julie Clements, Rennais Gayle, Christina Hamer, and Maria MacMinn Varvos (NorQuest College)
2021
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The five chapters of this book encapsulate the past, present, and future of Canadian immigration and settlement. The topics, in part, cover the history of immigration to Canada through an objective lens that allows readers to learn what transpired with the settlement of specific ethnic groups, as well as address Canada’s current policies and approaches to immigration. This leads to an exploration of the challenges that newcomers to Canada and the settlement sector are encountering today. Readers and learners of settlement studies will embark on a journey of self-reflection throughout this book as they engage in many activities, quizzes, and interactions which may be self-directed or instructor led.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, and PDF
Suggested for:
SVS 3500 Intervention interculturelle en service social
SVS 5534 Intervention interculturelle et service social
Domestic Violence in Immigrant Communities: Case Studies∗
Ferzana Chaze, Bethany Osborne, Archana Medhekar, and Purnima George (Sheridan College)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (Note: assigning sections is permitted, but adaptations are not allowed without permission)
Domestic Violence in Immigrant Communities: Case Studies is a freely accessible eCampus Ontario Pressbook containing case studies of immigrant women experiencing domestic violence to be used as educational materials. The book highlights the complexity of domestic violence cases in immigrant communities and the different legal processes that these women encounter in seeking justice and the challenges they face in relation to re-establishing their own lives and the lives of their children. The book contains questions for reflection; a description of legal processes involved in DV cases, and a glossary of the terms used throughout the case studies. Also available in French.
Format: Pressbooks webbook
Suggested for:
SVS 3501 Intervention auprès des enfants et des familles en service social
SVS 6705 Problématique de la violence et intervention sociale
Foundations of Social Work Research∗
Rebecca L. Mauldin (University of Texas at Arlington)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
This textbook was created to provide an introduction to research methods for BSW and MSW students, with particular emphasis on research and practice relevant to students at the University of Texas at Arlington. It provides an introduction to social work students to help evaluate research for evidence-based practice and design social work research projects. It can be used with its companion, A Guidebook for Social Work Literature Reviews and Research Questions by Rebecca L. Mauldin and Matthew DeCarlo, or as a stand-alone textbook.
Format: Pressbook webbook
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
SVS 4575 Recherche dirigée en service social
SVS 6500 Problématique de la pratique et de la recherche dans le domaine de la santé
SVS 6510 Méthodes de recherche qualitatives et quantitatives dans le domaine de la santé
SVS 6700 Problématique de la pratique et de la recherche dans le domaine famille-enfance
SVS 6710 Méthodes de recherche qualitatives et quantitatives dans le domaine famille-enfance
SVS 7190 Advanced Research Seminar in Social Work
SVS 7590 Séminaire de recherche avancé en service social
Graduate Research Methods in Social Work: A Project-based Approach∗
Matthew DeCarlo (La Salle University), Cory Cummings (Nazareth University), and Kate Agnelli (Virginia Commonwealth University)
2021
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Our textbook guides graduate social work students step by step through the research process from conceptualization to dissemination. We center cultural humility, information literacy, pragmatism, and ethics and values as core components of social work research.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EBUP, PDF, and MOBI
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
SVS 6500 Problématique de la pratique et de la recherche dans le domaine de la santé
SVS 6510 Méthodes de recherche qualitatives et quantitatives dans le domaine de la santé
SVS 6700 Problématique de la pratique et de la recherche dans le domaine famille-enfance
SVS 6710 Méthodes de recherche qualitatives et quantitatives dans le domaine famille-enfance
SVS 7190 Advanced Research Seminar in Social Work
SVS 7590 Séminaire de recherche avancé en service social
Guidebook for Social Work Literature Reviews and Research Questions∗
Rebecca L. Mauldin (University of Texas at Arlington) and Matthew DeCarlo (Radford University)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
This short guidebook provides information about selecting a research topic and research questions, searching for literature, reading and understanding scholarly writing, and writing a literature review to synthesize what is known and what remains to be learned about a social problem. For students who appreciate the availability of resources on the internet, it also provides links to additional materials. It can be used with its companion textbook, Foundations of Social Work Research by Rebecca L. Mauldin and Matthew DeCarlo, or as a stand-alone guide.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, PDF, and MOBI
Suggested for:
SVS 4575 Recherche dirigée en service social
SVS 6500 Problématique de la pratique et de la recherche dans le domaine de la santé
SVS 6510 Méthodes de recherche qualitatives et quantitatives dans le domaine de la santé
SVS 6700 Problématique de la pratique et de la recherche dans le domaine famille-enfance
SVS 6710 Méthodes de recherche qualitatives et quantitatives dans le domaine famille-enfance
SVS 7190 Advanced Research Seminar in Social Work
SVS 7590 Séminaire de recherche avancé en service social
Introduction to Social Work: A Look Across the Profession
James Langford and Craig Keaton (University of Texas at Arlington)
2022
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
This book takes students on a journey through many but not all of the different possibilities in social work. Social work is a profession focused on helping people live their best lives by working with people individually, at the family level, in groups and communities. Help may be in the form of connecting people to resources to address challenges, providing therapy, and advocating for changes in laws that affect individuals’, couples’, families’ and communities’ well-being. Students will learn the profession’s exciting history and ways we help today.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, and PDF
Suggested for:
SVS 1500 Introduction au service social
Introduction to Substance Use Disorders∗
Patricia A. Stoddard Dare (Cleveland State University) and Audrey Begun (Ohio State University)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
Introduction to Substance Use Disorders (2020) is an Open Educational Resource book designed for use in an introductory substance misuse course. These materials were developed using a variety of published sources and online materials, including resources produced by U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Routledge Handbook of Social Work and Addictive Behavior (2020), edited by A.L. Begun and M.M. Murray, and most notably Theories and Biological Basis of Substance Misuse, Part I and Part 2 by A.L. Begun.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, PDF, and MOBI
Suggested for:
SVS 6504 Drogues, dépendances et contexte social
Making Sense of a Global Pandemic: Relationship Violence & Working Together Towards a Violence Free Society∗
Balbir Gurm, Glaucia Salgado, Jennifer Marchbank, and Sheila Early (Kwantlen Polytechnic University)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
This online book provides a wealth of information on relationship violence focusing amongst other things on definitions; the scope of the problem, theoretical frameworks, interventions and prevention strategies. It provides information on legal statutes (Provincial; Federal and International) and contains numerous links to additional resources to inform the reader. The book also highlights some emerging issues such as the importance of cultural safety; relationship violence in the workplace and on post-secondary campuses.
Format: Pressbooks webbook
Suggested for:
SVS 3501 Intervention auprès des enfants et des familles en service social
SVS 3520 Identités trans et non binaires, sexualités marginalisées et service social
SVS 3555 Service social auprès des populations autochtones
SVS 3590 Intervention auprès des personnes âgées
SVS 6705 Problématique de la violence et intervention sociale
Northern and Indigenous Health and Healthcare∗
Edited by Heather Exner-Pirot (University of Saskatchewan), Bente Norbye (UiT The Arctic University of Norway), and Lorna Butler (University of Saskatchewan)
2018
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
The provision of northern health care entails many unique challenges and circumstances that are rarely represented in mainstream health sciences education. This OpenEd Resource provides accessible content on health and health care from a northern perspective for the growing number of health professionals being educated in northern communities.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, PDF, and MOBI
Suggested for:
SVS 3555 Service social auprès des populations autochtones
SVS 6707 Populations autochtones et service social
Rural and Northern Social Work Practice: Canadian Perspectives
Bonnie Jeffery and Nuelle Novik (University of Regina)
2022
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
This book highlights the contextual foundation of social work practice with rural and northern communities by addressing the importance of place using anti-oppressive perspectives. Practice competencies are presented, including an emphasis on trauma- and violence-informed approaches and the importance of addressing the mental wellness of social workers practicing in these communities. The book explores selected areas of social work practice including abuse and intimate partner violence, mental health issues and addictions, newcomers and immigrant populations, older adults, and child protection work.
Formats : Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, and PDF
Suggested for:
SVS 3545 Le service social en milieu francophone minoritaire
SVS 2515 Méthodes d’intervention en service social
SVS 3500 Intervention interculturelle en service social
SVS 3515 Laboratoire de préparation au stage
Scientific Inquiry in Social Work∗
Matthew DeCarlo (Radford University)
2018
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
As an introductory textbook for social work students studying research methods, this book guides students through the process of creating a research project. Students will learn how to discover a researchable topic that is interesting to them, examine scholarly literature, formulate a proper research question, design a quantitative or qualitative study to answer their question, carry out the design, interpret quantitative or qualitative results, and disseminate their findings to a variety of audiences. Examples are drawn from the author’s practice and research experience, as well as topical articles from the literature.
Format: Pressbooks webbook
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
SVS 6500 Problématique de la pratique et de la recherche dans le domaine de la santé
SVS 6510 Méthodes de recherche qualitatives et quantitatives dans le domaine de la santé
SVS 6700 Problématique de la pratique et de la recherche dans le domaine famille-enfance
SVS 6710 Méthodes de recherche qualitatives et quantitatives dans le domaine famille-enfance
SVS 7190 Advanced Research Seminar in Social Work
SVS 7590 Séminaire de recherche avancé en service social
Toolkit for Teaching Communication Skills in Social Work∗
Kelly Allison and Marie Nightbird (University of British Columbia)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
This toolkit includes five videos demonstrating basic communication skills and a teaching guide for instructors. The videos are a series of short vignettes of counselling sessions between a social worker and a client. Four of the videos target one or two basic communication skills so students can learn the skills in manageable segments. The fifth video demonstrates how a counsellor would amalgamate all the skills in a counselling session. The teaching guide provides transcripts, discussion questions and exercises/role plays that instructors can use in both face-to-face and online teaching. We have also included a student guide for giving peer feedback that can assist students in the development of their communication skills.
Format: Video
Suggested for:
SVS 2515 Méthodes d’intervention en service social
SVS 5530 Méthodes d’intervention en service social
Understanding Homelessness in Canada: From the Street to the Classroom∗
Kristy Buccieri, James Davy, Cyndi Gilmer, and Nicole Whitmore (Trent University)
2022
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have you ever wondered about why homelessness exists in Canada? This book brings together lived experience representation and the most recent research to explore homelessness in Canada, from a range of different perspectives. Readers are challenged to think about homelessness from various academic viewpoints, including the fields of Indigenous and Canadian Studies, Mental Health and Public Health Studies, Population Studies, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences. The authors pose seemingly simple questions and then, through the use of real life scenarios, embedded interview videos, artwork, and interactive activities, demonstrate how the answers are actually rather complex. Understanding Homelessness in Canada: From the Street to the Classroom is a must-read for Canadians everywhere.
Format: Pressbooks webbook
Suggested for:
SVS 3501 Intervention auprès des enfants et des familles en service social
SVS 3520 Identités trans et non binaires, sexualités marginalisées et service social
SVS 3555 Service social auprès des populations autochtones
SVS 5502 Analyse des problèmes sociaux et pratiques du service social
