Social Work Policy Practice
Changing Our Community, Nation, and the World
(Fourth Edition)
©2026, 432 pages
Paperback list price: $99.95
Cognella Direct Ebook: $84.95
You save $15 (15%)
Learn about all formats available for adoption
Bookstore Managers: contact orders@cognella.com to place an order
Cognella Active Learning
is available with this title.
Learn More
The book is divided into three parts. In Part I, students are guided through the history of social welfare legislation in the United States, including the pivotal contributions of social workers in policy development. Part II methodically unpacks the levels and branches of government, providing a detailed perspective on the policy change process, along with strategies that advocates use to effect change. Part III consists of real-world examples where advocates and organizations have taken action to modify policies for the benefit of various vulnerable populations in sectors such as healthcare, mental health, children and families, aging, immigration, and civil rights.
This edition has been robustly updated to reflect the latest with respect to policy issues in child welfare, aging, healthcare, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, poverty and income inequality, rights for BIPOC, and immigration.
Key Updates to This Edition:
- • Reflects the latest regarding policy issues in child welfare, aging, health care, mental health, poverty and income inequality, immigration, and rights for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and communities of color.
- • Contains fresh material on policies that were enacted during the Biden administration, the continuing political divisions in the U.S., and the 2024 presidential election.
- • Presents new material on disability rights and how advocates with disabilities worked to get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed into law.
Explore the differences in the Table of Contents between the third and fourth editions.
Watch Jessica Ritter talk about what's new and notable to the fourth edition of this text.
Jessica A. Ritter is a professor of social work at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she teaches undergraduate- and graduate-level social work courses. She is a Fulbright scholar and has authored and coauthored numerous books, book chapters, and articles within the field.
Other Cognella titles by Jessica A. Ritter:Cognella Active Learning is available for this title! Adopting instructors can provide students with dynamic online learning activities that reinforce key concepts from the text, provide engaging educational experiences, and support various learning styles.
Please note: Cognella Active Learning can be bundled for purchase with the text or posted separately. Contact us to learn about bundle discounts.
The Cognella Active Learning content for Social Work Policy Practice includes:
To see a full demo, please email us and one of our adoption specialists will follow up with you.
Please note: Cognella Active Learning can be bundled for purchase with the text or posted separately. Contact us to learn about bundle discounts.
The Cognella Active Learning content for Social Work Policy Practice includes:
- 13 decks of digital flashcards
- 13 skill-building exercises
- 13 discussion posts
- 13 chapter quizzes
To see a full demo, please email us and one of our adoption specialists will follow up with you.
Formats and Bulk Order Pricing for Confirmed Adoptions
Publisher Direct Versions — Available through the Cognella Student Store for confirmed adoptions |
||
|
$84.95
Best Value! |
Publisher Direct Ebook | Publisher Direct ebooks are available in your Cognella account immediately after purchase and provide access for 180 days. Our ebooks run on VitalSource and RedShelf with perpetual/annual options available. |
|
$91.95
Shipping Included! |
Publisher Direct Paperback | These special, discounted paperback editions are sold exclusively through the Cognella Student Store (store.cognella.com) for confirmed adoptions. They are not available through other retailers. The books are printed on demand, do not have an ISBN, and are not intended for resale, which results in savings we pass along to students. Most Publisher Direct Paperbacks also come with free, immediate access to the first 30% of the ebook and shipping included. |
| $26.95 | Standalone Cognella Active Learning | Cognella Active Learning provides dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Free with purchase of textbook or ebook. |
Higher Education Bookstore Pricing — These suggested retail prices include a total projected mark-up of 25% |
||
|
Inclusive Access Available!
|
Ebook 979-8-8233-8727-9 |
We partner with VitalSource, Kortext, and RedShelf to provide day-one access to students through campus bookstores. Bookstores and these vendors share in the total projected mark-up. Learn more about Inclusive Access at cognella.com/inclusive-access. Contact us for details. |
| $99.95 | Paperback 979-8-8233-7398-2 |
Standard paperback version. Contact us for course adoptions; also available for individual purchase through national wholesalers and retailers — and from our website directly — see Purchase button above. |
| $99.95 | Paperback + Cognella Active Learning Code 979-8-8233-8801-6 |
Cognella Active Learning provides students with dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Access codes are available with print books or ebooks. Contact us for course adoptions; not available for individual purchase. |
| See more options | ||
| Other Formats Talk to a rep for details |
Other formats (perforated, hardcover, etc.) may be available. Contact us for course adoptions; specialty formats are not available for individual purchase. | |
| $26.95 | Standalone Cognella Active Learning Talk to a rep for ISBN details |
Cognella Active Learning provides dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Does not include the ebook. Contact us for course adoptions; not available for individual purchase. |
Adopting instructors will receive PowerPoints, test banks, a sample syllabus, discussion questions, and competency maps.
Praise for Previous Editions:
"Professor Ritter, I wanted to drop a quick note to thank you for such an amazing social policy class this semester. Admittedly, I was dreading the class just a little bit, but I think it was mainly because I expected the material to be dry and intimidating. However, your engaging textbook with real-life examples brought concepts to life, and your passion for inviting in-class discussion was contagious. I never considered policy work as something I would be interested in, but after taking this class, I realize now that policy work combines so many parts of myself that are important to me: working for larger changes, advocating, and research. Because of this class, I am seriously considering working towards macro work and hope to get much more involved in policy even throughout the rest of my BSSW. I learned so much, and I appreciate your grace and flexibility in supporting our learning process even in the midst of such a strange semester. Thank you for your enthusiasm; I hope I’m able to take more classes taught by you!"
Abigail, BSSW student, Metropolitan State University Denver
“Excellent social welfare policy text for undergraduate social work majors: up-to-date, readable, and includes valuable information on social welfare history, values, diversity, advocacy, and fields of practice."
John C. Rife, MSW, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
“Social Work Policy Practice by Jessica Ritter is a timely, relevant, and applied social welfare policy practice textbook which will help train future social workers in the important work of social change.”
LeaAnne DeRigne, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, Florida Atlantic University
“Dr. Ritter has a way of making social work policy come alive. Her quality of writing and ease of reading makes students feel an increased confidence and understanding while gaining valuable insight to multiple aspects of policy practice.”
Scott W. Gaffney, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Southeastern University
“Ritter provides an engaging, thorough, and passionate look at social welfare policy, with an emphasis on advocacy efforts. This is truly a text devoted to policy as it relates to social and economic justice.”
John Quinton Hodges, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, University of North Alabama
“A contemporary analysis of important issues and policies impacting social workers that can easily be adopted for many other fields including human development, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and education.”
Mary H. Garcia, Instructor of Human Development, Washington State University
"Professor Ritter, I wanted to drop a quick note to thank you for such an amazing social policy class this semester. Admittedly, I was dreading the class just a little bit, but I think it was mainly because I expected the material to be dry and intimidating. However, your engaging textbook with real-life examples brought concepts to life, and your passion for inviting in-class discussion was contagious. I never considered policy work as something I would be interested in, but after taking this class, I realize now that policy work combines so many parts of myself that are important to me: working for larger changes, advocating, and research. Because of this class, I am seriously considering working towards macro work and hope to get much more involved in policy even throughout the rest of my BSSW. I learned so much, and I appreciate your grace and flexibility in supporting our learning process even in the midst of such a strange semester. Thank you for your enthusiasm; I hope I’m able to take more classes taught by you!"
Abigail, BSSW student, Metropolitan State University Denver
“Excellent social welfare policy text for undergraduate social work majors: up-to-date, readable, and includes valuable information on social welfare history, values, diversity, advocacy, and fields of practice."
John C. Rife, MSW, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
“Social Work Policy Practice by Jessica Ritter is a timely, relevant, and applied social welfare policy practice textbook which will help train future social workers in the important work of social change.”
LeaAnne DeRigne, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, Florida Atlantic University
“Dr. Ritter has a way of making social work policy come alive. Her quality of writing and ease of reading makes students feel an increased confidence and understanding while gaining valuable insight to multiple aspects of policy practice.”
Scott W. Gaffney, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Southeastern University
“Ritter provides an engaging, thorough, and passionate look at social welfare policy, with an emphasis on advocacy efforts. This is truly a text devoted to policy as it relates to social and economic justice.”
John Quinton Hodges, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, University of North Alabama
“A contemporary analysis of important issues and policies impacting social workers that can easily be adopted for many other fields including human development, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and education.”
Mary H. Garcia, Instructor of Human Development, Washington State University
