The End of Social Work
A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation
(First Edition)
©2021, 196 pages
Paperback list price: $32.95
Cognella Direct Ebook: $30.95
You save $2 (6%)
Learn about all formats available for adoption
Bookstore Managers: contact orders@cognella.com to place an order
The End of Social Work: A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation explores the deeply flawed status quo of the social work profession. Its message is clear: it is not acceptable for social workers to labor under intolerable working conditions and financial strain because they work with the poor and oppressed.
Steve Burghardt addresses why social workers no longer have the income and status once shared with nurses and teachers. He addresses the leadership failures that cause social workers to be blamed for not ending poverty yet expected to handle burnout through self-care rather than collective action. He looks beyond nostrums of social justice to the indifference to systemic racism in the profession’s journals and programs and explores the damage caused by substituting individuated measures of unvalidated competencies for grounded wisdom in practice. It is thus no accident that a profession committing to “care for everyone” undermines the herculean work that so many social workers do on behalf of the poor, marginalized, and oppressed.
Situating the work in the crises of 2020, Burghardt ends with a proposed call to action directed at a transformed profession. Such a campaign would be situated within the national struggles for racial justice, climate change, and economic equality so that social work and social workers regain their legitimacy as authentic advocates fighting alongside the poor and oppressed—and doing so for themselves as well.
A rallying cry for social work itself, The End of Social Work is an ideal resource for social work programs and practicing social workers driven to enact meaningful change.
Watch Steve Burghardt discuss the state of the social work field and its connection to The End of Social Work.
Steve Burghardt, M.S.W., Ph.D. is a professor of social work at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College-CUNY. He is the author or co-author of numerous articles and over ten books. He is an eight-time teaching award winner, including the co-winning of the CSWE-Sage national award for innovative teaching. His activism began as a student organizer in the sixties; decades later, he was deeply involved with Occupy Wall Street and more recently as a leader in the Age Justice movement. His work as a consultant, trainer, and executive coach in the public and nonprofit sectors led him to a deep appreciation and respect for the committed work of frontline, as well as executive, staff for their unyielding commitments to those with whom they work—especially the poor, marginalized, and oppressed.
Other Cognella titles by Steve Burghardt:Formats and Bulk Order Pricing for Confirmed Adoptions
Publisher Direct Versions — Available through the Cognella Student Store for confirmed adoptions |
||
|
$30.95
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. |
|
$37.95
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. |
Higher Education Bookstore Pricing — These suggested retail prices include a total projected mark-up of 25% |
||
|
Inclusive Access Available!
|
Ebook 978-1-7935-4016-4 |
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. |
| $32.95 | Paperback 978-1-7935-1189-8 |
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. |
| 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. | |
“I have enjoyed reading The End of Social Work. This is assigned reading for my DSW students, and it has generated so much discussion and enthusiasm. The book has given voice to structural issues that demand our profession’s attention. My students and I are eagerly recommending it to our colleagues.”
Susan B. Smith, Ph.D., MSW, LICSW
Professor of Social Work and Sociology and DSW Program Director, Walla Walla University
"We've come a long way since the days of friendly visitors to the professionals we are today. Yet social work has not escaped its own feminization of poverty. Today we are more skilled but laden with student debt and often impoverished ourselves. We have forgotten about the sacredness of our work. This is why The End is one of the most important books in social work for the 21st century."
Dr. Barbara Milton, LCSW, Ph.D.
New Jersey 2014 NASW Social Worker of the Year
Clinical Social Worker
“An essential work.”
Sandy Bernabei, MSW, LCSW
Former President, NYC NASW Chapter
Founding Member, Antiracist Alliance
“The End of Social Work raises critical issues about the profession that must be addressed if social work is to fulfill its mission in the future. I just could not put this book down once I started reading. Dr. Burghardt is to be applauded for his blunt, straightforward analysis of challenges facing social work, as well as his recommendations for making changes that are long overdue. The profession is rooted in advocacy and bettering the social and economic conditions of those in need. This book serves as a call to action for social workers to use this skill to improve their own working environments and salaries, so that they can effectively help others in the future. Mobilization around the problems raised in this book must occur, and The End of Social Work provides a framework and data needed to help organize and fuel collective action. An uncensored, frank, and concise status of social work—just what is needed now in the profession’s history. A must-read for all social workers and those entering the profession.”
Dawn Apgar, Ph.D., LSW, ACSW
Seton Hall University, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice President, New Jersey State NASW Chapter, 2012-2014
NASW NJ State Chapter 2001-2003
Board of Directors, 1999-2006
“Steve's book was a paradigm shift for me and what I think about being a social worker. I always thought if you did this work you had to suffer and be exhausted all the time. This book makes clear that doesn't have to be the case. In the future, I plan to include in my research some of the issues discussed about agency life and burnout and what can be done about these issues. I think others will find some important answers here too."
Ric Muñoz, JD, MSW
Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma School of Social Work-Tulsa
“The End of Social Work is a tough love book and as such can be a difficult, challenging read. For some of us, this book will provide needed sustenance, affirm much of what we have been thinking, and urge us to continue. Reading this book should not be viewed as something to check off one’s social change list. We need to debate the ideas and analyses that Steve has set forth, and then we need to collectively act in ways that address the conditions he documents.”
From the Foreword by Dr. Cheryl Hyde
Associate Professor, Temple University School of Social Work
“Steve Burghardt has written a truth bomb, putting in words the unspoken experiences of so many. In doing so, he gives us an X-ray of our beloved, noble profession and where healing is needed. This book is not literary cotton candy, but these aren’t times for fluff.”
Dr. Linda Lausell Bryant, LCSW, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Katherine and Howard Aibel Executive-in-Residence, NYU Silver School of Social Work
"An important book for every social work professional and student! Dr. Steve Burghardt has written a book that every social worker – whether student or professional – can benefit greatly from reading. Do not let the title fool you! The End of Social Work is not a white flag but rather a call to collective, collaborative action and advocacy, upholding hope and possibility for urgently needed changes within the profession and the societal attitudes toward it. The subtitle is, after all, A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation. Burghardt gives a history of the social work profession in the context of the rise and fall of the social welfare state, neoliberalism, private practice, and the prioritization of licensure. This is a call for effective national and state leadership and the rewriting of aspects of the NASW Code of Ethics which fail to show support for the social worker. It is grounded in practical actions that social workers (and future social workers) can do personally and collectively to improve the working conditions and culture of our profession which, as Burghardt states, are needed for social work, and social workers, to regain legitimacy and fair compensation for the work done on behalf of, and in collaboration with, so many in need during these challenging times. This book is a protest for changes which would allow social workers to better serve their clients and communities, while also buttressing the professionals carrying out dire work, with special attention to the poor, underserved and under-resourced among us."
Matthew Zimmerman
"5.0 out of 5 stars! BSW student who loved this book! As a BSW senior, I felt so heard and recognized by this book. I am in the midst of completing my capstone graduation project and decided to center the project around this book. Dr. Burghardt's views are going to save the profession of social work."
McKay Powers
"It was excellent for professional discussion, and ideas that can strengthen the profession."
Ruth McNeil
Susan B. Smith, Ph.D., MSW, LICSW
Professor of Social Work and Sociology and DSW Program Director, Walla Walla University
"We've come a long way since the days of friendly visitors to the professionals we are today. Yet social work has not escaped its own feminization of poverty. Today we are more skilled but laden with student debt and often impoverished ourselves. We have forgotten about the sacredness of our work. This is why The End is one of the most important books in social work for the 21st century."
Dr. Barbara Milton, LCSW, Ph.D.
New Jersey 2014 NASW Social Worker of the Year
Clinical Social Worker
“An essential work.”
Sandy Bernabei, MSW, LCSW
Former President, NYC NASW Chapter
Founding Member, Antiracist Alliance
“The End of Social Work raises critical issues about the profession that must be addressed if social work is to fulfill its mission in the future. I just could not put this book down once I started reading. Dr. Burghardt is to be applauded for his blunt, straightforward analysis of challenges facing social work, as well as his recommendations for making changes that are long overdue. The profession is rooted in advocacy and bettering the social and economic conditions of those in need. This book serves as a call to action for social workers to use this skill to improve their own working environments and salaries, so that they can effectively help others in the future. Mobilization around the problems raised in this book must occur, and The End of Social Work provides a framework and data needed to help organize and fuel collective action. An uncensored, frank, and concise status of social work—just what is needed now in the profession’s history. A must-read for all social workers and those entering the profession.”
Dawn Apgar, Ph.D., LSW, ACSW
Seton Hall University, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice President, New Jersey State NASW Chapter, 2012-2014
NASW NJ State Chapter 2001-2003
Board of Directors, 1999-2006
“Steve's book was a paradigm shift for me and what I think about being a social worker. I always thought if you did this work you had to suffer and be exhausted all the time. This book makes clear that doesn't have to be the case. In the future, I plan to include in my research some of the issues discussed about agency life and burnout and what can be done about these issues. I think others will find some important answers here too."
Ric Muñoz, JD, MSW
Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma School of Social Work-Tulsa
“The End of Social Work is a tough love book and as such can be a difficult, challenging read. For some of us, this book will provide needed sustenance, affirm much of what we have been thinking, and urge us to continue. Reading this book should not be viewed as something to check off one’s social change list. We need to debate the ideas and analyses that Steve has set forth, and then we need to collectively act in ways that address the conditions he documents.”
From the Foreword by Dr. Cheryl Hyde
Associate Professor, Temple University School of Social Work
“Steve Burghardt has written a truth bomb, putting in words the unspoken experiences of so many. In doing so, he gives us an X-ray of our beloved, noble profession and where healing is needed. This book is not literary cotton candy, but these aren’t times for fluff.”
Dr. Linda Lausell Bryant, LCSW, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Katherine and Howard Aibel Executive-in-Residence, NYU Silver School of Social Work
"An important book for every social work professional and student! Dr. Steve Burghardt has written a book that every social worker – whether student or professional – can benefit greatly from reading. Do not let the title fool you! The End of Social Work is not a white flag but rather a call to collective, collaborative action and advocacy, upholding hope and possibility for urgently needed changes within the profession and the societal attitudes toward it. The subtitle is, after all, A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation. Burghardt gives a history of the social work profession in the context of the rise and fall of the social welfare state, neoliberalism, private practice, and the prioritization of licensure. This is a call for effective national and state leadership and the rewriting of aspects of the NASW Code of Ethics which fail to show support for the social worker. It is grounded in practical actions that social workers (and future social workers) can do personally and collectively to improve the working conditions and culture of our profession which, as Burghardt states, are needed for social work, and social workers, to regain legitimacy and fair compensation for the work done on behalf of, and in collaboration with, so many in need during these challenging times. This book is a protest for changes which would allow social workers to better serve their clients and communities, while also buttressing the professionals carrying out dire work, with special attention to the poor, underserved and under-resourced among us."
Matthew Zimmerman
"5.0 out of 5 stars! BSW student who loved this book! As a BSW senior, I felt so heard and recognized by this book. I am in the midst of completing my capstone graduation project and decided to center the project around this book. Dr. Burghardt's views are going to save the profession of social work."
McKay Powers
"It was excellent for professional discussion, and ideas that can strengthen the profession."
Ruth McNeil
The End of Social Work: A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation is the recipient of a 2024 Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association (TAA)! Read the press release: cognella.com/taa-awards-2024
The End of Social Work: A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation is the recipient of a 2022 Graphic Design USA American Inhouse Design Award. Learn more about the honor in the Cognella press release.
Watch the Facebook Live chat with Dr. Dawn Apgar, Chair of the NASW-NJ Conference Committee, and Steve Burghardt. During the conversation, they discuss The End of Social Work and the current state of the profession.
Read a review of The End of Social Work: A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation by Peter A. Kindle (PhD, CPA, LMSW, Professor of Social Work, University of South Dakota) in The New Social Worker.
On April 15, 2021, ACOSA, SWAA, and The Special Commission to Advance Macro Practice hosted a webinar featuring Steve Burghardt (and guests Lisa Hawash, MSW, and Ric Munoz, JD, MSW) and a conversation about his text, The End of Social Work: A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation. Watch the video recording of the webinar.
The End of Social Work: A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation is the recipient of a 2022 Graphic Design USA American Inhouse Design Award. Learn more about the honor in the Cognella press release.
Watch the Facebook Live chat with Dr. Dawn Apgar, Chair of the NASW-NJ Conference Committee, and Steve Burghardt. During the conversation, they discuss The End of Social Work and the current state of the profession.
Read a review of The End of Social Work: A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation by Peter A. Kindle (PhD, CPA, LMSW, Professor of Social Work, University of South Dakota) in The New Social Worker.
On April 15, 2021, ACOSA, SWAA, and The Special Commission to Advance Macro Practice hosted a webinar featuring Steve Burghardt (and guests Lisa Hawash, MSW, and Ric Munoz, JD, MSW) and a conversation about his text, The End of Social Work: A Defense of the Social Worker in Times of Transformation. Watch the video recording of the webinar.
