All social work practice is regulated by social policies.

Professionals, however, cannot arbitrarily select which policy to follow in any circumstance. Knowing what comprises a given policy is essential, but equally important is understanding how to amend a policy by applying unique skills that reflect the social work profession's shared values and beliefs.

Recognizing that a series of interdependent social policies govern every aspect of social work in both nonprofit and public organizations, this practice-specific textbook focuses on influencing social policies in an agency setting or through formal governmental processes.

Purposefully, the Handbook also relies on information that comes from the digital world; using the web as a primary source builds on the social work profession's long-held belief to "begin where the client is."

Using the links to the various data and citation sources, readers will learn to identify and discern the features of a valid web site. As a whole, The Handbook of Policy Practice is an essential resource for all BSW and MSW students.